Underground Passage and Echo Grotto
An underground passage running to the Silver Lake was built back in the time of the Palace’s first owner, Grigory Orlov.
It leads from the state rooms directly to the basement, and then into a tunnel – a unique follie of the 18th century designed for entertaining guests. The 130 meter-long tunnel is faced with limestone and lit by four round windows arranged in a vault. Thanks to good acoustics, the echo repeats up to four syllables, hence the exit to Silver Lake shore acquired the name of the Echo Grotto.
An underground passage running to the Silver Lake was built back in the time of the Palace’s first owner, Grigory Orlov.
It leads from the state rooms directly to the basement, and then into a tunnel – a unique follie of the 18th century designed for entertaining guests. The 130 meter-long tunnel is faced with limestone and lit by four round windows arranged in a vault. Thanks to good acoustics, the echo repeats up to four syllables, hence the exit to Silver Lake shore acquired the name of the Echo Grotto.