Traskoe Sveloe

Tsar's Village. The town of Pushkin, in the suburbs of St. Petersburg, is home to the former estate of the tsars. Catherine the Great had the estate built for her, with the assistance of about 100,000 serfs. Alexandrovky Palace, located next door, is a bit more modest, and was the preferred residence for Nicholas II and his family, until they were taken away to the Urals and eventually executed in 1918.

The castle of Catherine the Great is massive, surrounded by about 1,000 acres of trees, ponds and streams, interspersed with various guest houses, bath houses, cooking areas. Perhaps it could be compared to, say, City Park in Denver, or Balboa Park (combined with the zoo) in San Diego. The Palace is home to the famous amber room which is, in fact, covered walls and ceiling with pieces of Amber. It is truly amazing. Unfortunately, taking pictures in that room is strictly forbidden.

The palace was bombed by the Germans in World War II and practically demolished. The German government payed to have the Amber Room restored. The area of Pushkin is where the German military held the city of St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) under siege from 1941 to 1944. Many people starved.