Here are other suggested places of interest near St. Petersburg for those coming in early or staying later.

Kronshtadt

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A small city, NW European Russia, on the small island of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland, c.15 mi (20 km) from Saint Petersburg. It is one of the chief naval bases for the Russian Baltic fleet. The harbor is icebound for several months each year. It was founded (1703) by Peter I as a port and a fortress to protect the site of St. Petersburg, and it was the commercial harbor of St. Petersburg until the 1880s. The port lost its commercial value after the development of St. Petersburg. The visit (1891) of a French naval squadron to Kronshtadt was followed by a Franco-Russian military agreement heralding the formation of the Triple Entente of France, England, and Russia. Mutinies of the naval garrison took place in 1825 and 1882 and played a part in the revolutions of 1905 and 1917 (see Russian Revolution). A revolt of the sailors in March 1921, was instrumental in establishing Lenin's New Economic Policy. The general unrest among peasants and workers touched off this mutiny of the naval garrison that had been loyal to the Bolsheviks during the revolution. This was the climax of the anti-Bolshevik unrest in the country. In World War II, Kronshtadt played a major role in the defense of St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) against the Germans. It is also spelled Cronstadt.

Oranienbaum

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The Palace-and-park ensemble on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland opposite the town-fortress Kronshtadt (architects D.Fontana and J.Schedel). In 1743, Oranienbaum became the summer residence of the future emperor Peter III. A fortress ensemble with a petite palace was constructed for him to the design of architect A.Rinaldi. Later, A.Rinaldi was commissioned by the Empress Catherine the Great to erect the Chinese Palace and the Katalnaya Gorka (Sliding Hill) with a pavilion. The architectural style of these monuments is distinguished by the subtle blend of elegant rococo style with traces of classicism. Oranienbaum is famous for its landscape parks dating hack to the middle of the XIX century. During the winter, the following palace-museums are available to visit; the palace of Peter III, the Japanese Pavilion of the Bolshoy (Menshikovsky) Palace, exhibition halls in the Kavalersky Block and the Chinese Kitchen Pavilion, an exhibition in the central building of the Bolshoy (Menshikovsky) Palace; from May 20, also the Chinese Palace and Katalnaya Gorka pavilion.

The Palace-and-Park Ensemble
tel. 422-3753
Open: 11:00 - 17:00, Mon till 16:00
Closed:TUE and on last MON of every month
 

How to get there: Suburban trains from Baltic Station terminal to the Oranienbaum station (40 km from SI, Petersburg; travel time - about one hour); taxi-buses #300, #348

VYBORG

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Vyborg was founded in 1293 year.

Vyborg is known for its historical, architectural and nature museum reserve the "Mon Repos" park lying along the shoreline of the Zashchitnaya inlet of the Vyborg Bay. The park occupies 163 hectares of land. For two hundred years (between 1788 - 1943) "Mon Repos" was owned by the family of Baron Nikolai who eternized themselves in the history of Russia. The historic core of the museum complex is a manor from early 1800ds. The manor consists of the Principal house and the Library wing, monuments of wooden classical architecture, and the landscape rock park designed in romantic style which remains a unique monument of gar-dening art. Among the park designers were such architects as D. Martinelli, Au. Montferrand, A. Shtakenshneider, Ch.Tetam, artists Ya. Mattenleiter, P.Gonzago. The park was laid out in the region marked by special physical and geographical features, one of them being unique glacial formations of up to 20 meters high. In this nature reserve still can be found 48 species of different plants, some of them being rare. Its fauna is diverse as the park abounds in numerous birds and mammals.

Population: about 80 000 people. Climate: similar to the one of St. Petersburg  Time zone: the St. Petersburg time zone.
http://www.vyborg.ru/index.html

Museum and Natural Preserve "Park Mon repos" (At Vyborg)

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Historical, architectural, and natural museum and preserve situated on the coast of the Bay Zashchitnaya of the Vyborgskiy Gulf covers the area of 163 ha. During about two centuries (1788-1943), Park Mon repos belonged to the family of Barons Nicolai, whose progenies contributed the glory of Russian State. Manor and park ensemble created at the edge of the XVIII-XIX centuries is the historical core of the preserve. It comprises Main House and the Library Outbilding, nice examples of wooden architecture styled in classicism, and romantic landscape park with its rocks and boulders. Architects D.Martinelli, A.Montferrand, A.Stackenschneider, Ch.Tatam, artists J.Mettenleiter, P.Gonzago designed the park layout. Natural preserve lies in a particular geographical zone, unique Ice Age stone ridges up to 20 m high in it, and is able to boast of 48 species of plants including very rare, and rich wildlife.

Museum and Natural Preserve "Park Mon repos"
Tel. (278) 20-539. Open: 10.00 -18:00
 

How to get there: Bus, or suburban train from Finland Station terminal, till Vyborg (trip time about 2 hours), then city bus routes No. 6, 206.

Kizhi

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(shipping season is from Apr 19 till Sep 30)

The Kizhi outdoor museum is situated on Kizhi island 70 kilometres to the north-east of Petrozavodsk. The famous Kizhi architechtural ensemble became the cornerstone of a collection of architectural monuments. It consists of the 1714 Cathedral of the Transfiguration, the 1764 Church of the Intercession and the Belfry restored in 1874. Besides, there is a number of peasant house initially put up on Kizhi island proper.

The first monument were brought to the island for display in 1951 and the museum was opened to visitors in 1966. Today we can find 82 monuments of wooden architecture there. Monuments of folk wooden architecture, peasant life, applied wooden and ancient Russian pictorial art are still finding their way to Kizhi island.

The museum pursues the aim of exhibiting the culture of various nationalities and ethnic groups of Karelia. New displays have already appeared, such as "Russian embroidery", "The Russian of Pudozhye", "Karelian from Pryazha". Preparation are underway for creating new displays: "Karelia from Kondopoga", "Northern Karelians", "The Vepses". So the repletion of the museum is still going on.

The Kizhi museum-reserve is open to the public from May 25 to October 15 from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. daily. The hydrofoils "Cometa" or "Colkhida" carry visitors from the Petrozavodsk port to Kizhi.