Pushkin: Discover the Palace and Park Ensemble

The museum reserve includes Catherine Park and Alexander Park, along with their palaces. Alexander Park covers about 200 hectares and consists of the regular section, the New Garden, and a landscape park. Pushkin also hosts recurring cultural events, including a literary and musical evening in October and summer celebrations for the city’s birthday.

Both parks are part of the same State Museum Reserve, but they have different layouts. In Alexander Park, the regular section, the New Garden, and the landscape park sit side by side. This contrast between park styles is a useful point of reference if you are interested in exploring the reserve’s grounds.

Catherine Park is also part of the ensemble and, with its palaces, belongs to the reserve. The museum complex therefore includes not only individual palaces but also their surrounding parks. Together with its time span from the 18th to the 20th century, this provides a broad perspective on the history of Pushkin’s palaces and parks.

Construction of Alexander Palace began in 1792 by order of Catherine the Great. The occasion was the wedding of her grandson Alexander to Elizabeth Alexeievna. The construction work was completed in May 1796; on June 12 of that year, the future Emperor Alexander I and his wife moved into the palace.

The three dates mark distinct milestones: the start of construction, the completion of the work, and the move-in. This places the palace’s origins precisely in the history of the 18th century. The museum reserve’s broader time span, from the 18th to the 20th century, is also useful when comparing the palace with the reserve’s later sections.

In October, Pushkin traditionally hosts a literary and musical evening to mark the anniversary of the Imperial Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. In summer, festive events are held for the city’s birthday. Another recurring event is the annual art festival “Gorod muz” (“City of the Muses”).

The annual fashion show at the Tsarskoye Selo Museum Reserve is a separate event, held as part of the “Assotsiatsii” (“Associations”) project. The events have different focuses: the Lyceum anniversary is literary and musical, the city’s birthday shapes the summer celebrations, and the festival is devoted to art. If a particular event is important to your trip, check the exact dates in advance.

The Pushkin City Historical and Literary Museum includes the local history exhibition “Tsarskoselskiy traktir” (“Tsarskoye Selo Inn”). Its permanent exhibition also covers the subject “Poety Serebryanogo veka v Tsarskom Sele” (“Poets of the Silver Age in Tsarskoye Selo”).

The two subjects have different emphases: “Tsarskoye Selo Inn” is presented as a local history exhibition, while the poets of the Silver Age are part of the permanent exhibition. Alongside the history of the palaces and parks, you can consider the museum’s content as a distinct cultural focus in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Pargolovo, Olgino, Pavlovsk, Molodyozhnoye, Sestroretsk, Komarovo, Lisy Nos, Lomonosov.

When does the literary and musical evening take place?

Traditionally in October, to mark the anniversary of the Imperial Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum. Check the exact dates if you want to plan your trip around it.

How is Alexander Park laid out?

The park, which covers about 200 hectares, consists of the regular section, the New Garden, and a landscape park.

What subjects does the Historical and Literary Museum cover?

Its content includes the local history exhibition “Tsarskoye Selo Inn” and the subject “Poets of the Silver Age in Tsarskoye Selo” in the permanent exhibition.

For the main travel overview: Saint Petersburg.