The Ceremonial Staircase

The Staircase leads out from the Vestibule, faced with Pudost limestone, into the staterooms and up to the second floor of the Main Building. As part of the mid-19th century remodelling, the walls of the upper landing were hung with canvases made by Russian painters showing views of Gatchina.

The Anteroom

The Anteroom opens to a suite of staterooms. It was intended as a place for visitors to wait for public appearances of His Highness. The changing of the guard ceremony took place here.

The Marble Dining Room

This stately and spectacular hall was intended for grand dinners. Its architectural decoration features a set of sixteen fluted Corinthian columns fashioned of Carrara marble in Italy.

The Upper Throne Room of the Emperor Paul I

With its lavish decoration of mouldings and gilding, the room appears grand and stately. Its principal decorative features are the tapestries woven at the Gobelins Royal Manufactory in France, a gift from Louis XVI to the grand duke couple in 1782.

The Crimson Drawing Room

The room was named after the three crimson gobelins tapestries hanging here. They come from the Story of Don Quixote series and were given to the Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich and the Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna by Louis XVI in 1782.

The State Bedchamber

This is one of the most spectacular rooms in the palace. Harmonious decorative elements, an exquisite color scheme of the walls and the ceiling, the silk of French make – all of this combines to produce what was probably Brenna’s highest accomplishment.

The Oval Boudoir of the Empress Maria Feodorvna

This room was used as a smaller drawing room. Of particular interest are the polychrome wall paintings depicting vases of fruits and garlands of roses. Plant ornaments can be traced in the parquet floor patterns and the plasterwork decorating the ceiling, covering and frieze.

The Tower Study of Empress Maria Feodorovna

This relatively small room was in use by the Empress as a study. It affords a splendid view of the park, the White Lake with the Chesma Obelisk and the semi-circular gallery of the palace.

The Dressing Room of Empress Maria Feodorovna

The decor of the dressing room immediately reveals the skills of Antonio Rinanldi as interior designer. The richly decorated interior that the architect created was, to be sure, appealing to a woman - a variety of garlands, wreaths and flower bouquets, thyrsi, and images of birds that never repeat themselves.

Passage Room

The Green Corner Room

It was originally an entrance room on the way from the open gallery to the Main Building. Under Paul I, new staterooms were arranged in the semi-circular gallery and the Corner Room turned into a passage room. The room has preserved Rinaldi’s original decor

The Throne Room of Empress Maria Feodorovna

The distinctive decorative feature of the Throne Room is the collection of Western European paintings that show predominantly rural scenes and landscapes. Included in the collection are also historical and biblical pictures.

The White Hall

This is the largest of the staterooms located in the Main Building. It was designed for balls and concerts, and courtiers waited here before the audiences of the emperor and empress.

Balcony

Rinaldi’s Passage Room

This room was created to commemorate the great Italian architect and the first architect of the palace. The sculptured portrait of Rinaldi is the work of F.I. Shubin.

The Chesma Gallery

Designed by Vincenzo Brenna, the gallery decor perished in the fire of 1944. The remaining gilding and mouldings on the walls are evident of its former grandeur. The exhibition “Unrealized Hopes…” (The Gatchina Palace during the years of 1944-1951) is displayed here today.

The Oval Room. Access to Kitchen Wing