Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Estonia Tallinn Kadriorg Palace
AO Edited

Kadriorg Palace

A spectacular Petrine Baroque summer palace commissioned for Catherine I by Peter the Great.

Tallinn, Estonia

Added By
subha basu ray
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The front facade of the palace.   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
The Poseidon Fountain.   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
The manicured gardens behind the palace.   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
The ceiling mural depicting Diana and her nymphs.   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
The Great Hall is filled with stucco ornamentation.   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
Catherine’s initials adorn the ceiling.   subha basu ray / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Kadriorg Palace, or "Catherine's Valley," was commissioned by Peter the Great of Russia for his second wife, Catherine I. Surrounded by 70 hectares of wooded parkland with an ornamental lake, formal gardens, and several museums, the complex sits on the edge of Kesklinn district of Tallinn. The palace, designed by famed Italian architect Nicola Michetti, is an exquisite example of Petrine Baroque architecture, which flourished in St. Petersburg in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Great Hall at Kadriorg is pristine white, with light streaming in through its many windows and an exuberance of stucco ornamentation. Stylized monograms of Peter and Catherine are crafted on opposite walls above the highly ornate fireplaces. The ceiling has a beautiful mural, depicting a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The goddess Diana is seen bathing in a celestial spring along with her nymphs, while an enraptured Actaeon watches, as yet unnoticed. 

Aside from a few paintings of members of the Romanov dynasty, little else remains to suggest that the palace was once a royal residence. Its rooms now exhibit paintings and art objects from Russia and the rest of Europe. A formal garden graces the back of the palace, with precisely laid gravel paths, flower beds, and fountains. 

When Peter commissioned his summer palace, Tallinn had capitulated to his victorious army. However, the Great Northern War was still raging elsewhere in the region. Catherine often accompanied her husband during his military campaigns and when in Tallinn, stayed in a modest cottage, since Kadriorg was still under construction. Unfortunately, Peter did not live to see the completion of his summer palace and Catherine lost all interest in it after his death.

It was not until the reign of Nicholas I that extensive renovations began in Kardiorg Palace. Once complete, the Tsar and his family began spending their summers in the palace. Members of the royal court followed and soon a district of elegant summer villas grew around Kadriorg. However, the popularity of Kadriorg as a summer destination waned with the cessation of the Crimean War. Being accessible once more, the salubrious weather of the Black Sea coastal retreats was preferable to the cool, damp, northern summers on the Baltic. Today, the palace houses a museum showcasing European art from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Related Tags

Architecture Palaces Royalty Russia

Know Before You Go

A visit to the House Museum of Peter, a short walk from the palace, is recommended. Its modest size and interiors, reflect a life of simple domesticity lived by Peter and Catherine, when in residence.

Community Contributors

Added By

subha basu ray

Edited By

Dr Alan P Newman

  • Dr Alan P Newman

Published

January 11, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Kadriorg Palace
A. Weizenbergi 37
Tallinn, 10127
Estonia
59.438508, 24.791023
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The "Russalka" Memorial

Tallinn, Estonia

miles away

'Cromatico'

Tallinn, Estonia

miles away

Soviet Statue Graveyard

Tallinn, Estonia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tallinn

Tallinn

Estonia

Places 34

Nearby Places

The "Russalka" Memorial

Tallinn, Estonia

miles away

'Cromatico'

Tallinn, Estonia

miles away

Soviet Statue Graveyard

Tallinn, Estonia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Tallinn

Tallinn

Estonia

Places 34

Related Places

  • Statues lined up in Plaza de Oriente.

    Madrid, Spain

    Royal Palace of Madrid Statues

    After the queen of Spain had a dream where these statues fell and crushed her, they were removed from the palace and given new homes around Madrid.

  • Unhyeongung

    Seoul, South Korea

    Unhyeongung

    The site of the last royal wedding in Korea.

  • Section of the River Facade

    Jelgava, Latvia

    Jelgava Palace

    This ducal residence was once home to a future Russian empress and a French king in exile.

  • Palace of Portici

    Portici, Italy

    Palace of Portici

    Before the more famous Royal Palace of Caserta, the king of Naples first commissioned this overlooked residence.

  • The picture-perfect setting.

    Hillerød, Denmark

    Frederiksborg Castle

    This striking royal residence is the largest Renaissance-style castle in Scandinavia.

  • Sunlit pavilion.

    Datia, India

    Datia Palace

    This deserted palace is one of the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture in India.

  • Galabedda, Sri Lanka

    Biso Pokuna

    This enigmatic stone pool is all that remains of an ancient palace.

  • The Grand Courtyard of Bahia Palace.

    Marrakesh, Morocco

    Bahia Palace

    This vast masterpiece of Moroccan architecture spreads across 20 acres.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.