The Petergof
 

The idea of creation a suburban residence, which by its luxury was not inferior to the French Versailles, came to Peter I in 1714. Due to the sketches and marks on the documents it is possible to argue that the general concept of the ensemble and a numbers of elements of the architecture and fountains belonged to the founder of Peterhof. The speed of erection of buildings admired. In August 1723 It was the grand opening of Peterhof (Peterhof, translated from Dutch - Peter's Yard).
By this time, The Lower Park was laid out , The Sea Canal was dug, a part of the fountains were working and some chambers were decorated, The Monplaisir was constructed, The Marly and The Hermitage were almost ready, more than 20 wooden galleries and pavilions.
The Peterhof seaside residence, arguing the magnificence with the famous royal and princely parks ensembles in France, Germany and Italy astonished Europe no less than the new Russian capital - St. Petersburg.

The Opponents of the Peter's reforms, surrounding the young Peter II, who was kept in Moscow, made St. Petersburg and Peterhof forgotten, dooming them to desolation and destruction.
And only in 1730 by order of Anna Ioanovna, who seeks to present herself a worthy heir of Peter I, in Peterhof a new rise of constructions began, which lasted ten years.

The Second World War was the time of trial for The Peterhof's ensemble. Hitler's troops stormed the Peterhof on the 20th of September 1941, and after three day of battle took the city.
Occupants stayed here until the 19th of January 1944. During this time, they looted and destroyed art treasures of Peterhof.
In all parks, trees were cut down, palaces, pavilions, bridges were ruined . The biggest damage was caused to The Lower Park and The Upper Garden. The Nazis have taken out the statue of Samson, Magus, Neva, newts, lead reliefs of the Grand Cascade, thousands of museum items.

After the war, thanks to the work of engineers and thousands of Leningrads who went to clean up parks, allowed on the 17th of June 1945 to open The Lower Park for walks, and on the 25th of August 1946 to enter into force 38 water jets of the central part of the park.
An important moment in the history of Peterhof was on the 14th of September 1947, when the front of the Bolshoi stage took its place gilt bronze group "Samson rending the lion's mouth. " Risen from the ashes, The Peterhof fascinating fusion of architecture, sculpture and moving water, the harmony of works of art and nature.