223: Peterhoff from the 1000 places to see before you die book

Theres a masonic symbol on this chapel on the edge of the palace

first up confession....this is as close as I got. Sadly wasn't informed they were closed for cleaning  so never saw inside. What a shame...still...some facts. Built by Peter the Great - to escape his wife no doubt who he ensconced in another palace about 30mins away by today's motorway....far longer by horse and carriage in those days- it was expanded by his daughter Empress Elizabeth.

Winter restoration work 

The entrance

Bringing in her favourite architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli ,who had splashed gold all over her other palaces, he went heavy handed with the shiny stuff on this one as well. 

But the piece de resistance of this palace actually lies outside- in its ornate gardens.

 The Grand Cascade in the middle of the formal gardens stretches out to the sea- with Finland on the other side. 170 fountains and canals powered by a gravity fed pump ensures a spout of water higher than the trees comes out of the lion's mouth at the top of the cascade, his jaws being held apart by Samson to signify Russia's defeat of Sweden in 1709.

The Grand Cascade

Doesn't look like much during winter with all the trees boarded up and sculptures covered

Anyhow- good to see the outside, easy to walk around some of the 300 acres given there were no tourists...but the below is how it looks like in summer when they turn on the fountains and have bus loads of people visiting.

The fountains showing the lion

Worthwhile inclusion in the 1000 places to see before you die book. Well, apparently this is the best palace to see...so yes!

197: La Fondation Maeght, St Paul de Vence, Provence, France

An amazing little museum, hosting artworks of the world's most famous contemporary artists and all- dare I say it- artfully- arranged over an outside and inside space!!

Conceived and financed entirely by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght it opened its doors in 1964 with an indoor space to house works of art and a lovely rambling outdoor area with an initial entrance hosting about 8 large installations including this one by Miro

....and a courtyard dedicated to Giacometti statues

....a Miró sculpture courtyard

......mural mosaics by Chagall and a pool and stained glass window by Braque

All the greats are in here- Calder, Chagall, Chillida, Giacometti, Léger, Miró and the likes and more than 200 000 visitors stream in each year.

Should it be in the book- yes definately!! It was one of the loveliest little contemporary museums Ive ever visited. On par, albeit it is about one fiftheenth of the size, to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles which is also definately a must visit.

Place 166 - Museum Island, Berlin

166 place: Museum Island, Berlin: A cache of 5 museums whose lodestone is the Pergamon Museum, built exclusively to house the colossal 2nd Century BC Pergamon Altar (a 40ft high Greek Temple with 27 steps leading up to it) bought to Germany from Turkey in 1902.