Chinese Palace in Oranienbaum

The Chinese Palace was built at Oranienbaum in 1762, and eventually it became the centerpiece of the palace and park complex Sobstvennaya Dacha that was built by the Russian empress Catherine II.

When the princess Anhalt-Zerbst came in Russia and married the heir to the throne Peter III, they lived at Oranienbaum, as the empress Elizabeth gave this estate to the young court of the Grand Duke Peter Fedorovitch.

Oranienbaum Chinese Palace consists of only several rooms, but today it is the greatest art treasure. There you can see the famous Glass-Beaded Salon or Bugles Study, as well as the Hall of Muses.

The Glass-Beaded Salon of the Chinese Palace at Oranienbaum is recognized to be a unique palace interior as you can see nothing of the kind in the other palaces of the world. There remained the original decoration of 1760.There are 12 panels in the Glass-Beaded Salon of the Chinese Palace. These panels are made of silk canvases covered with glass (nacre) beads. Chenille embroidery (organzine of beige color) was made against the background of glass beads. Previously, it was believed that the glass bead panels were made in France, but now it has been proved that all of them were made for the Chinese Palace in Russia.

Also, it will be very interesting to visit the Hall of Muses – the largest hall in the Chinese Palace. On its walls between large windows you can admire the paintings of the Greek muses by Stefano Torelli.

Near the Chinese Palace you can see the other famous buildings of Oranienbaum: Grand Menshikov Palace, and the Palace of Peter III.