Catherine Park, the oldest in the summer residence of the emperors at Tsarskoye Selo, is beautiful at any time of year. In winter, it is enveloped in an icy lace and seems unusually deserted and quiet. In spring, the park comes alive in the haze of young foliage, adorned with bright spots of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. In summer, it is immersed in the lush green of neatly trimmed lawns and overgrown pavilions. In autumn, the park is especially beautiful when the trees display the brightest shades, from yellow-green to crimson-red, reflecting in the mirror-like surface of the Great Pond.

The history of Tsarskoye Selo began with a small Swedish estate called Sarskaya Myza, which translates to 'elevated land.' In 1710, Peter I gifted this land to his future wife Catherine I, and soon a stone palace surrounded by a garden appeared here. The history of Catherine Park spans over 300 years.

At that time, regular French parks, like those in Versailles, were popular. During Peter's lifetime, the Hermitage Alley was laid out from the palace, and at its end, masters Roosen and Focht created the Old Garden in the Dutch style. The park was adorned with plane trees, oaks, spruces, and firs planted along the Fish Canal, but they did not survive the war.

The park featured the Mirror, Great, and Mill ponds, which later became part of a unified water system. Despite the fact that water covers one-fifth of the park, it was always in short supply, leading to the creation of the unique Vittolov and Taiytsky aqueducts.

Under Alexander I, swans with clipped wings floated on the surface of the ponds so they would not fly away. The emperor was outraged by such cruelty, and the birds were no longer mutilated. However, the swans always returned, just like the emperors, poets, and tourists.

Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter's daughter, transformed the modest estate into a royal village. At her direction, architect Rastrelli rebuilt the Great Catherine Palace in the Baroque style and created pavilions: the Hermitage, Grotto, and Katalyn Hill. The garden was expanded and decorated with sculptures on ancient themes, which were moved from the Summer Garden.

Under Catherine the Great, the park was redesigned according to new architectural trends. In the 1770s, the Neelov brothers erected the Admiralty pavilions, the Hermitage kitchen, and the Upper and Lower baths. The ponds were connected by a canal, and a picturesque English park was laid out around the Great Pond.

To create a park that rivaled the English, architect Neelov was sent to England, and from there gardener Bush the Elder was invited. All traces of intervention were hidden, creating a landscape as close to natural as possible.

The park featured picturesque ruins, pavilions in Gothic and Eastern styles, gazebos, bridges, and columns crafted by Cameron, Quarenghi, the Neelovs, Rinaldi, and Felten. Romantic parks allowed one to 'travel' the world when it was difficult and expensive.

Gothic architecture is reflected in several pavilions: the Tower Ruin, the Admiralty, and the Hermitage kitchen. Catherine the Great immortalized the triumphs of Russian arms with columns, arches, and obelisks. Catherine's descendants continued her traditions, and in the 19th century, the ensemble of the park acquired its modern appearance.

During the war, Tsarskoye Selo suffered great losses. The Germans stole the famous Amber Room and bronze sculptures from the park, which have never been found.

The 'Upper Bath' pavilion, located near the Mirror Pond, was created by the Neelovs. It served the sovereigns until the mid-19th century. It had all the conveniences of a real bath, only in luxurious execution.

The Hermitage, one of the oldest pavilions in the park, was designed by M. G. Zemtsov and reconstructed by F. Rastrelli. It looked luxurious, but only the interiors have survived to this day. A canal was dug around the pavilion to create an atmosphere of seclusion.

The English park replaced the strict geometry of the French garden with picturesque ruins and Gothic towers. The air of the park is filled with the aroma of conifers, lilacs, and wild roses, while white swans glide across the lake.

The Admiralty, consisting of three pavilions, rises to the east of the Great Pond. At its center is the Sloop Shed, surrounded by towers. The first floor housed boats of the 'Tsarskoye Selo fleet,' while the second floor featured the Dutch Hall with a huge globe gifted to Peter I.

From the Granite Terrace, there is a view of the Great Pond. The fountain 'Girl with a Pitcher' was created by Pavel Petrovich Sokolov. The Chesme Column, designed by Antonio Rinaldi, commemorates the victory over the Turkish fleet. The Germans tried to destroy it, but it withstood.

The gates 'To My Dear Comrades' commemorate the victory over the French in 1812. The Gothic gates adorn the southern part of the park, while the Orlov Gates honor Grigory Orlov for his fight against the plague in Moscow.

The Cameron Gallery, created by Charles Cameron, is adorned with busts of famous figures from Ancient Rome and Mikhail Lomonosov. The cold baths near the gallery are styled after Roman thermae.

The marble bridge, crafted by Ural masters, spans the strait connecting the Great Lake with the bay. Nearby is the Egyptian Pyramid, under which Catherine's little dogs rest.

The Turkish baths with a minaret were built in honor of the victory in the war with the Turks. Despite the park's popularity, one can always find secluded corners for reflection.