The Conservatory with the Catherine Palace Church in the Background

At the corner of the Naberejnaya and of the Sadovaya, facing the latter, stand the so called Low Stables, one of the oldest buildings in Tsarskoe Selo, erected in the style of Rastrelli in 1751 on the site of a yard belonging to Chulkov, master of the ward-robe. The building of the Low Stables, must be attributed to Tchevakinsky, who was one of the architects, building the Great Palace, from the plans of the Count Rastrelli.

The next building on the right hand side of the Sadovaya is the Court Manege, built by the architect Nilov in 1786, it was, altered by the architect Stassov in 1819 in the Empire Style. When the Emperor is at Tsarskoe Selo on Christmas time, a Christmas tree is generally made in this Manege for the rank and file of His Majesty's Guards, of the infantry regiment and for the officials, who serve in the police and palace administration.

In the XVIII century a beautiful stone gateway stood on the Sadovaya between the stables and the manege on the comer of the Konushennaya Street.

 

The Orangery

Just behind the manege stands the palm-house which was built in 1900 by the architect Bach in the Empire style. In front of the palm-house is a square, and a stone wall, which hides the hotbeds and hothouses. Some of these hothouses, for instance the Rotunda, was built at the end of the XVIII century, during the reign of Catherine by the celebrated Tsarskoe Selo gardener Bush. Opposite the palmhouse in a red-brick building with a tower, is at present the court bakery; a bridge leads over the canal to the bakery' and to the park. This building was erected in 1776 by the architect Nilov on the spot of the old kitchens of the Hermitage, which existed before 1750.

Along the quay, past the Orangereynaya street, and close to the Leontievskaya, stands on the right side of the Sadovaya the Great Orangery. It was rebuilt in 1820-23 by the architect Stassov on the spot of the old Orangery, which was erected in June 1762. Stassov finished his work, without altering the half circular part of the old orangery, which faced the Sadovaya and the Orangereynaya streets.

This part however no longer exists. The glazed parts of the building, between the so called pavilions, are in reality intended for laurels. Officials of the Palace Administration live in the pavilions, and likewise in the part of the building, facing the yard at the back of the orangeries. In the so called IVth pavilion, nearest to the Orangereynaya street, lived formerly, the gardener Bush under Catherine II, and Liamin under Alexander I. In 1784 the theatre, which had been arranged in the first antechamber of the Grand Palace in 1765, was moved into the hall of the central building. In the so called I Pavilion at the corner of the Leontievskaya Street, have resided ever since the time of Alexander I the governors of Tsarskoe Selo. During the reign of Catherine, the architect Cameron lived here. The whole space beyond the lines hothouses of the Great Orangeries, is occupied by flower hothouses.

On the other side of the Leontievskaya, facing the Sadovaya, stand four "Cavalier's Houses". They were built in the reign of the Empress Elizabeth Petrovna for the accommodation of Court officials, in case of their arrival to Tsarskoe Selo.

In 1823 the so called "stables of the horses on duty" formerly called the "Imperial Private Stables", were built in the Empire Style between the second and the third of the "Cavalier's Houses".

The "Cavalier's House", which stands at the corner of the Leontievskaya and of the Sadovaya Streets, was occupied in 1820 by the historian Karamzin, who enjoyed the particular esteem of his contemporaries and the special favour of the Court, where he was received without ceremony. The Emperor used to consult him about new reforms and about his historical works, and not withstanding the suspiciousness of his character toward the end of his life, had perfect trust in him.

Sadovaya Street ends at the Great Palace, where an arch is thrown over from the wing of the Lyceum to the church wing of the palace. The five gilded cupolas of the palace church were restored after the fire of 1868 from the sketches of Rastrelli. The original cupolas by Rastrelli were burnt in 1820, they were replaced by inaccurate copies of Stassov, which existed till the fire of 1868. Along the Sadovaya in the park is to be seen the magnificent avenue of limes, mentioned by Pushkin.

If you want to visit the palace or drive in the parks, You must have a special permission. Tickets are to be had at the Court Office "Dvortzovoie Pravlenie" at the corner of the Leontievskaya Street. This house was rebuilt in 1817. On this spot in 1746 was erected a building for the palace cellars and store rooms, for lodgings for servants and for architect office of the patrimony. But, ever since the beginning of the XVII century, mention is made of this old stone store house, and it seems, that this building is the oldest in Tsarskoe Selo. Up to 1811 part of the wing in the Peveheskaya Street was occupied by the palace choirboys, while the rest of it was the palace laundry.