Magical Enchantments: Peterhof Palace

Showing posts with label Peterhof Palace. Show all posts

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Places of Inspiration and Beauty

Flower gardens St Sergiyev, Posad

Trinity Cathedral from wikipedia:

Assumption Cathedral from wikipedia:

The Monastery of St Sergiyev at Posad is of enduring beauty and inspires with the magnificent

architectural styles, the peaceful gardens and the beauty to be found there of the religious

paintings, icons and art in the churches. A majestic place!

There is also a wonderful little gift shop. I lived visiting this little town not far distant from Moscow.

The Baltic Sea: views across the Gulf of Finland from the coastal regions of St Petersburg:

Wild, windswept and beautiful. I loved looking out over this area from the coast and to imagine Finland over the water. A magnificent setting in its beauty of water and but so sky. This was in October

and the weather was getting very cold. The colours of sea and sky merged as the weather was often

overcast.

Peterhof Palace and gardens: St Petersburg: from wikipedia:

A wonderful place to visit for the beauty of the interior and the magnificent gardens and fountains.

A fascinating history, built by Peter the Great who had visited and travelled in Western Europe. He would have been inspired by the beauty of the architectural designs which he had seen while on his travels. This palace may have been modelled on Louis XIV's Versailles as he would have taken inspiration from his travels in France.

River Thames, London

A beautiful scene of water, landscapes, architecture and sky seen from the Embankment and Temple stations. I loved the view. It was magnificent. The water and sky again were overcast in grey, white and silver colours and the landmarks stood out so vibrantly and clearly. Not far from here was the Palace of the Savoy which was destroyed in the fourteenth century during a rebellion. There were once landscaped terrace gardens on the banks of the Thames which would have been beautiful.

Hyde Park, London:

Wonderful in the autumn with the varying shades of trees. A lively place with people walking their dogs and bicycling.

Oia on Santorini: a Greek Island:

Wonderful to view the majestic sunset from high up on the hill which overlooks the beautiful blue

Aegean Sea.

Sunset at Oia from wikipedia:

I remember watching from between two white washed walls high up on a hill. It was so peacful and beautiful and silent. This is a beautiful place to visit. There are also wonderful churches with blue domes on the island.

Limon Tree at Poros: Greek Island: a magnificent walk through countryside to a beautiful place called Limontree where there is a lemon grove. Wonderful lemon drinks were available in the heat of the day and after the long walk. There is also a maagnificent monastery on a hilltop where to view the visitors must don a robe to enter. The architecture is wonderful with old stone columns and the scenry is beautiful. Spiritual and peaceful.

A Sunset over the River Seine, Paris: so beautiful
a Sunset over vineyards: magnificent, with so many vibrant colours!
Many places of inspiration and beauty!

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Kaleidoscope of Dreams

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Romantic Road, Germany from wikipedia:

Old Town of Dubrovnik from wikipedia:

Renaissance splendour in Venice at Ca Rezzonico:

A wonderful travel evening of European travel

was held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre last week.

This was an enjoyable event to attend.

Refreshments were served and there was a great deal of

interest in the European evening with many in attendance.

Wonderful slide shows and presentations were given

of the various options available for touring in Europe.

The beautiful, wonderful scenery of the Romantic Road

of Germany with images of the magnificent towns and

castles found along the Rhine Valley.

In so many places

it is as though travelling in time for the unique aspect of the

medieval architecture of the towns and cobblestone lanes and

streets.

The markets of France, the spectacular scenery of travelling

by train in Switzerland, the different and unique advantages

of travelling on a river cruise boat were some of the insights

given.

Travelling on a river gives a different perspective as many

of the old towns and villages are accessible which may not always

be seen when travelling by coach or car. The rivers were also the mode of

transport for the trade of goods from the earliest times.

Russia and Eastern Europe have opened up more for travel since the fall of

the USSR and these places also offer wonderful attractions.

Beautiful medieval architecture and magnificent little villages and towns.

Krakow in Poland, once the old capital of Poland and home of the kings

has beautiful architecture and is a popular destination.

Warsaw is also a city of beauty. I remember admiring the beautiful colours

and architecture of the city and the rolling green fields of the countryside.

Warsaw was rebuilt after the war to the specifications of its appearance

before the war. A city

of unique splendour.

Romania with its folk-lore and images still of horses and carts. I recall seeing

a procession of a brightly coloured wagon and horses and gypsy travellers

once travelling in the rural areas of Romania. I once visited a folk lore

museum in the city of Bucharest, which unfortunately was heavily bombed

during the second world war.

Dubrovnik, the city of marble, was also shown. A picturesque walled town on the

coast with crystal clear sea for swimming.

The Dalmatian Coast and Italy were the first holiday destinations and the

Dalmatian Coast was also

popular with royalty in the earlier years.

Pictures of Montenegro were also shown which looks pristine and beautiful.

Magnificent Russia and its unique and beautiful cathedrals and architecture

is a splendour. Gold domes of churches and monasteries bring magic and opulence

to splendid views and the bell towers and cathedral of St Sergiyev

is a wonder.

Set in a quiet and peaceful setting of gardens and trees

the cathedral is a centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Peterhof Palace with its fountains of beauty, statues and gardens

on the Baltic Sea is a place of beauty.

The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg with its

collection of paintings and beauty is wonderful. This is a magnificent palace

of the Tsars, formerly the Winter Palace.

St Petersburg is a beautiful city, built by Peter the Great in 1703

with European concepts of architecture and design. He had spent time

in Western Europe and some of the designs would have been inspired by

the architecture of France, England, and the Netherlands.

Many of the palaces in Russia were renovated.

The Amber Room of Katherine's Palace was also described. It was also replaced

after the war.

For art, architecture and beauty European travel does seem to have much to offer.

Also the colours, the magical wind-mills, the tulips in the spring time and the reflections

of beauty cast on the rivers by the magnificent castles and palaces, to see Paris in the fall when the colours of the leaves are changing on the trees, it is all a splendour of magnificence.

Well recommended.

So, a feast of places to think about for future travel!

What can I say but a kaleidoscope of dreams!

Last Christmas I booked to go on a trip to Mont St Michel in France, Giverny

(to view the gardens of Claude Monet), Chartres, Normandy towns and villages

and chateaux of the Loire Valley of France and also to Venice for travel in April of

this year.

Beautiful Venice with its magnificent palaces glimmering in reflections

on the waters of the Grand Canal and the lively colours of fishing villages on the islands

of Murano, (famous for glass blowing) and Burano. These are places

which I still hope to visit though unfortunately did not get away this year.

St Michael's Mount in Marazion, Cornwall, England is spectacular, a marvellous castle overlooking

the beautiful sea where can be seen windsurfers and the yachts of sails. I thought

at the time that this was a magnificent setting. There is a causeway to walk across

when the tide is out. I expect that the famous Abbey of Mont St. Michel is similar

also set in a dramatic setting of sea, landscape and sky. Wonderful!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Splendours of Russia

flower gardens at St Sergiyev Monastery

Splendours of Russia

I once visited Russia and Eastern Europe

many years ago. I was excited to visit these

places behind the communist curtain. I was also attracted

to the folk lore and traditions of these Eastern European

countries.

Checkpoint Charlie at the time was quite spooky,

like a no-man's land and also so poignant, I remember,

with memorials for young people who had been shot

attempting to cross the border. I remember also hearing

the dogs barking in the distance as I walked on this no

man's land between the east and the west in Berlin.

I was also impressed by the beauty of cities with their

medieval charm as for example the Old Town of Prague

and also Buda and Pest divided by a silver looking river

which disappeared into the distance.

Wasrsaw was also beautiful and the historic centre of

the town was rebuilt to the same plans and original architecture

of the old Warsaw, which had been completely destroyed in

the second world war. The city seemed vibrant with the

colourful buildings. The rolling countryside of Poland

was beautiful and also very green.

Romania was also fascinating and there I visited a little folk village.

At the time coffee and items which were taken for granted in the west

were very expensive to purchase for the Romanian people.

I also loved the decorative arts and gypsy Hungarian blouses with

their intricate embroidery which

were often on display in Budapest, Hungary.

On a recent visit of Russia I saw

some beautiful and exquisite decorative

renovations which had been completed

in Peterhof Palace. This is a magnificent

palace to visit in St Petersburg. It was

late in the autumn and fortunately there were

not long queues to visit the palace as apparently

there are during the summer months as many of the cruise ships

arrive at St Petersburg and there can be long queues to visit

this spectacular palace.

The palace is quite majestical and very beautiful.

To me, it also seems quite magical, with the wonderful

fountain displays in front of the palace. There was

a chequered black and white design on the paving by

the balustrade outside the palace which was interesting.

The weather was cold but this did not take away

from the magnificence of the palace and fountains.

Peter the Great travelled to western Europe and

St Petersburg is designed along European concepts.

The palace at Peterhof is magnificent, with a walkway

of trees and beautiful fountains with statues. This

is a beautiful setting. The interior décor

of the palace is magnificent, decorated in gold and white.

I loved this palace.

I do have a few pictures taken from my trip to

Russia last year. I was constantly held in awe

by the beauty and majesty of the wonderful gold

domes and spires of churches. These wonders add

enchantment to the splendours of Russia.

I noticed the change and relative freedoms from

my previous visit to Russia.

There are young people in Russia today who would

not have lived during the repressive earlier times.

The Spirit Wrestlers by Philip Marsden was a wonderful

book to read regarding these earlier times. It is actually

a travel book interspersed with stories of people the writer

interviewed and met. It was a different book as he travelled

to distant places and mountain villages, attended a prayer meeting,

met a priest who was building a church, a painter who explained

that the images and beautiful paintings of religious icons, etc

for some people would be the closest they

would have been able to come in understanding God for some of the

people. (I expect in times when people may have been illiterate.)

There were images described of Cossack horsemen riding across the

plains which seemed to be so evocative and real.

The Kremlin in Moscow is also magnificent to visit.

There was a church with medieval paintings and art works, which was

magnificent to view.

Beautiful trees softened the scene and I noticed the wind whistling

through the leaves, shimmering, as a guide was showing the group around.

They may have been maple leaves. It was quite beautiful and I also had a picture

taken beside a cannon at the Kremlin. This cannon is a decorative cannon and was

not ever fired.

Red Square is another magical place with St Basil's Cathedral. A gothic looking and brightly

coloured cathedral. On the day I visited

the many brides dressed in white were quite noticeable as this is a place which is popular for

weddings and brides. This was on a Saturday. There was also a horse parade in the square,

with many tourists and people watching the display.

The cathedral may have been inspired by an earlier church of Kolmenskoye as it has been described

as being a mixture of northern Russian architecture or of a mosque which was destroyed and also

of Byzantine influence. It is also fascinating to contemplate that the colours are taken from the Book

of Revelations with the twenty-five gold domes and the rainbow described for the blue and green

tones.

I was

constantly amazed by the wonderful treasures in Russia. The

underground also has splendid art works and decorations. Also

magnificent chandeliers. People from the villages who came to the city would have admired

the artistic creations, realising that it was not only the Tsars who could

create beauty and splendour.

I loved the visit to St Sergiyev's monastery and the marvellous

architectural splendours

there. The churches are magnificent in a wonderful setting of trees

and a courtyard, flowers and also a few cats. It is a very beautiful

peaceful place. This was built to honour St Sergiyev, who became

a hermit.

The white, blue and gold domes and spires which

soar into the sky and can be seen from a distance give a sense

of wonder and beauty to the scenery. The bell towers also add

a magical touch and give another dimension of the beauty at St

Sergiyev Monastery as also the beauty of the frescoes and paint

works. It is quite magnificent.

On an earlier visit to Russia I had visited a little village of Kishinev,

which I had thought at the time looked very pretty. It did seem

to be different from many of the towns, perhaps because of the little cottages

instead of the high rises. It is now a part of Moldava.

I also once remember visiting a little pavilion or monument to a famous poet

and the guide mentioning the numbers of people who were lost during the second

world war.

In St Petersburg we were also informed of the Siege of Leningrad in 1942,

when the city was cut off from supplies of food. This would have been severe

during the winter months. The railway could not reach St Petersburg with

essential food supplies.

The film “Dr Zhivago” depicted the Russian winters

quite vividly in some of the rural settings.

The guide on the tour often mentioned the famous poets, Russian literature

and the history of the Tsars.

St Michaels Castle in St Petersburg is itself an architectural

splendour. Apparently, as this castle was being built there was a warning or premonition

from a gypsy woman that for as many windows and balconies that the castle would have,

would be the number of days that Tsar Paul would live there. This prophecy was

proved correct. He was a son of Katherine II, Empress of Russia. His castle was built as

a means of protective security with a drawbridge and an older style fortress design.

There is a boat at the docks at St Petersburg, which is also fascinating to look around

and go on board. It was from here that the distant alarm was sounded which started

the revolution and the ministers were arrested and held captive at the palace.

The Winter Palace in St Petersburg is also magnificent. I can well imagine the fairy-tale balls
which would have been held here, with the dresses, costumes and settings, these magical balls would
seem from another world today.

The Winter Palace has a wonderful display of magnificent art works and is set in a majestic courtyard.

I was also fascinated by the magnificence of a square in St Petersburg which was

illuminated by wonderful lanterns in the early hours of the mornning. This looked

very majestic and beautiful. A story book setting. Beautiful! This square

was not far from the train station at St Petersburg. I had arrived in the early hours after

travelling from Moscow. The carriages of the trains were painted brightly. St Petersburg

is a very picturesque city, with fascinating sights and colourful buildings on the banks

of the river.

I also enjoyed

looking out over the Baltic Sea and towards Finland from the hallway windows of the

hotel in St Petersburg. The scenery looked wild and windswept, the coastline looked rugged

and it was cold, but also beautiful. This was in autumn.