Catherine Palace in Pushkin — Live Online Webcam

This live webcam offers a view of the Catherine Palace in Pushkin — the former summer residence of Russian emperors. The camera broadcasts the facade of one of the most luxurious palaces in Russia, whose construction began under Peter the Great. Right now you are watching the building where the destinies of empire were decided, where Catherine the Great received foreign ambassadors, and where interiors gleamed with gold weighing hundreds of kilograms.

History of the Catherine Palace: From Peter the Great to the Present Day

The palace was laid in 1717, during the reign of Peter the Great. Originally, this modest building of 16 rooms was intended for Catherine Alexeievna — the future Empress Catherine I. In August 1724, after construction was completed, a celebration was held attended by Emperor Peter the Great himself and they "fired 13 cannon three times". Immediately after the festivities, the building was named the "stone chambers of Catherine I."

The true transformation of this modest mansion into a grandiose residence took place during the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. From late 1748 to 1756, the construction of the Tsarskoye Selo residence was directed by the chief architect of the imperial court, F. Rastrelli. It was he who gave the palace that unmistakable Baroque appearance that we see today in this broadcast.

The Catherine Palace became a stylistically unified masterpiece of Russian Baroque. In 1817, by order of Emperor Alexander I, architect V. Stasov carried out renovation work in the palace, and during World War II the building was almost completely destroyed by the occupiers. After the war, painstaking restoration began, which continues to this day.

Architectural Grandeur: Rastrelli and the Enfilade of Halls

The enfilade arrangement of halls, unknown in Russia before the mid-18th century, was introduced by Rastrelli in other palaces as well, but only in Tsarskoye Selo did the length of the parade rooms equal the entire length of the building — from the Grand Staircase to the Palace Church. This architectural technique created an effect of endless space amazed visitors.

The halls were arranged according to a principle of access: the closer a room was to the central staircase, the more people were allowed to enter. The most intimate chambers were located deep within the enfilade, accessible only to a select few. The decoration of the palace consumed 100 kg of red gold — the so-called "golden madness" that gave the interiors their dazzling brilliance.

The Amber Room: The Eighth Wonder of the World

The most famous chamber of the Grand Catherine Palace is the Amber Room. Its decorative elements were crafted in Prussia, and it is entirely adorned with amber. Created in the 18th century, it became one of the most famous and mysterious rooms in the palace — its disappearance during the war spawned dozens of legends and theories.

The Tsarskoye Selo Museum-Preserve developed a special walking tour "Secrets of the Amber Room". The tour runs from October to April, offering guests a unique opportunity to walk through the empty halls of the Catherine Palace. The Amber Room is filled with the sounds of a live flute in memory of its imperial patron. Tours are conducted from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM for a limited number of groups, by advance reservation only. Ticket price is 100,000 rubles for a group of 1 to 10 people, with each additional guest charged 10,000 rubles.

Palace Halls: Golden Madness and Imperial Splendor

The Catherine Palace consists of 58 halls, but to date fewer than 40 of them have been restored. Of the 58 palace halls destroyed during World War II, 32 have been recreated. The total area of the premises is enormous, and each hall is a masterpiece of art.

There are not one but three palaces bearing the name Catherine Palace. In the first palace built here, there were only 16 rooms, but after its reconstruction it became several times larger. Today, looking at this majestic building through the online camera, it is hard to imagine that it was once a modest manor for the empress.

Tsarskoye Selo: Parks and Surroundings

Pushkin (before 1937 — Tsarskoye Selo) is not just the palace itself, but also an extensive park area. The Catherine Park surrounding the palace is one of the largest in Russia. It is here that the pavilions "Grotto," "Hermitage," "Cameron Gallery," and numerous marble statues have been preserved.

The town of Pushkin is located 25 kilometers from St. Petersburg and is an essential stop for tourists visiting the Northern Capital. The live webcam allows you to see how the residence looks in any season — be it snow-covered winter or green summer.

What You Can See on the Camera

This webcam broadcasts a view of the Catherine Palace in Pushkin in real time. You are seeing the main facade of the building — the very one created by Rastrelli, with its characteristic Baroque opulence, stucco work, and gilded details. The camera shows not only the architecture but also how lighting changes throughout the day, how shadows fall on the walls, and how the palace looks in different weather conditions.

The online camera allows you to appreciate the scale of the building — its length, height, and harmonious proportions. In good weather, from this vantage point you can see how the gold of the cupolas and stucco reflects the sun's rays, creating the very "golden madness" effect that has inspired so many legends. This is not just a broadcast — it is an opportunity to connect with the history of Russia without leaving your home.