2 Dec 2013

Denise Van Outta here! The pretty blonde shows off her amazing bikini body while getting close to Lawson singer Andy Brown

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Denise Van Outta here! The pretty blonde shows off her amazing bikini body while getting close to Lawson singer Andy Brown

PUBLISHED: 12:16 GMT, 2 December 2013 | UPDATED: 14:39 GMT, 2 December 2013

Denise Van Outen was pictured looking sun-kissed and slim while enjoying an afternoon on the beach in Queensland, Australia on Thursday with Andy Brown from the band Lawson.

The pair chatted happily as they topped up their tans with a handful of other friends.

The Magic FM presenter is a devoted sun-worshipper and has clocked up a whopping six other holidays in the last year and a half, so no doubt she was having a blast.

Two's company: Denise Van Outen was spotted looking gorgeous while she topped up her tan with Lawson's Andy Brown in Australia on Thursday

The pair were both in the country as they each had a guest slot on the panel of ITV2 spin-off show, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Now, which is presented by Laura Whitmore.

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Denise looked amazing in a blue patterned bikini and sunglasses for her day out. She carried her belongings in a Louis Vuitton tote bag and sipped water as she lay on a towel on the sand.

A topless 25-year-old Andy looked hunky in rolled-up khaki shorts and oddly, socks and trainers.

Talk time: The pair looked like they were having a good old gossip as they sat on a beach in Queensland

Good gig: Andy and Denise were in the country to appear on the panel of I'm A Celebrity's spin-off show

On Tuesday, 39-year-old Denise Tweeted a photo of Andy sunbathing with Joe Swash and Rob Beckett who both co-present the spin-off show alongside Laura.

The hilarious lady also posted a hilarious shot of his almighty blisters before reTweeting a post by the hunky star which said: 'In the jungle, the mighty jungleeeee, the lion sleeeeeps tonight.'

Denise is single after splitting with her husband of four years, Lee Mead. There is no suggestion that she and Andy are anything more than friends.

Baked bodies: The stars were looking bronzed to perfection as they enjoyed their day trip

Water life! The pals had a beautiful view of the crystal blue seas ahead of them

Denise and Andy are both back in the UK now and on Monday morning, Denise Tweeted that she was back doing her morning duties.

She wrote: 'Morning world! Chilly school run this morning. Going to blast Calvin Harris in the car. Betsy loves CH'

Denise will also be preparing for her new one-woman show, Some Girl I Used To Know, which begins touring around the UK in February.

What a stunner: Denise looked amazing in her beach attire

Sun-believable! The 39-year-old is now back in the UK but no doubt the sun-worshipper will be looking forward to her next holiday

She co-wrote the production, about a character called Stephanie Canworth.

According to press material, 'Stephanie Canworth has it all; a successful career, supportive husband and she's a media darling.

'But a Facebook poke from a former love and the memories come flooding back. Is this really the life she wants? Songs from the 80s and 90s accompany Stephanie's journey down memory lane.'

Denise's spokesman told MailOnline he doesn't comment on the star's personal life.

Single and ready to mingle? The pretty blonde is currently single after splitting with her husband of four years Lee Mead

Not Copacabana or Corsica… but CARDIFF: Welsh capital ranked a top travel destination by National Geographic

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Not Copacabana or Corsica… but CARDIFF: Welsh capital ranked a top travel destination by National Geographic

A top American guide for summer travellers missed out the Maldives and the Caribbean - and went for Cardiff instead.

The renowned National Geographic magazine ranked the Welsh capital as one of the world's top 10 summer destinations for 2011.

The city better known for rugby, coal and drunken nights out was ranked sixth best alternative hotspot.

Hotspot: Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is among the National Geographic magazine's top 10 list of alternative destinations for international travellers

The publication listed it alongside destinations in the Azores, Honduras and Croatia for summer trips for their readers around the world.

Its July traveller guide says: 'Historically a city of castles and coal, Wales’s capital is emerging as a modern sports-entertainment destination.

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'Summer action centres on Cardiff Bay, once the world's largest coal-exporting port, now a 500-acre freshwater lake with eight miles of waterfront.

'Surrounding diversions, part of Europe's largest waterfront development, include shopping and dining at Mermaid Quay, rafting and kayaking at Cardiff International White Water, and windsurfing and powerboating on the bay.

Attraction: Cardiff Castle is in the heart of the city centre

Grey sky delight: The Millennium Centre is home of the Welsh National Opera

'Celebrate the August bank holiday weekend at the Cardiff Harbour Festival.

'From Mermaid Quay, take an Aquabus or water taxi up the River Taff or bike along the Taff Trail to Cardiff's city centre.

'Signature sites include the National Museum, Cardiff Castle, 150-store St David's, and Millennium Stadium.'

The city was sixth on the list ahead of perhaps more predictable places such as the Azores in the Atlantic and Roatan, Honduras - described as the Caribbean's best-kept secret.

Travel writer Simon Calder said it might help shake off the old image of Cardiff's industrial past.

Millennium Stadium: Cardiff is better known for its sports venue and love of rugby

Welsh Assembly: The home to Wales's national politicians cost £67million

He said: 'National Geographic's recommendation is welcome news, reflecting the remarkable resurgence in the city - and, in particular, the revival of Cardiff Bay as one of Europe's choicest waterside locations.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TOP TEN HOTSPOTS

1. MUSKOKA COTTAGE COUNTRY, ONTARIO, CANADA - a natural playground of historic towns and villages and countless waterfalls and lakes;
2. PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA - The Southern Andes offering spectacular skiing and snowboarding.
3. SAN JUAN ISLANDS, WASHINGTON - All about the weather, whales, and water on the archipelago's islands;
4. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - arts, music, and cultural festivals.
5. GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA - Humpback whales, harbour porpoises, moose, black and brown bears, mountain goats, and mountain peaks topping 15,000 feet.
6. CARDIFF
7. STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO, SWEDEN - Nearly 25,000 islands make up Stockholm's maritime ‘garden on the rocks’;
8. AZORES, PORTUGAL - Green volcanic mountains, mineral hot springs, hydrangeacovered hills, rambling vineyards, white-washed seaside towns;
9. ROATAN, HONDURAS - A diver's dream destination because of its encircling coral reef which extends directly from the shore.
10. ISTRIA, CROATIA - This densely forested peninsula has been a popular summer hot spot since Austro-Hungarian Empire days.

'For the Welsh capital to be included in such auspicious company is praise indeed.

'At a time when the tourist industry in Wales is having a tough time, this is the ideal shot in the arm.

'It will also be good news for all the people who are attracted to the capital and realise what wonders there are in the nation beyond.'

Residents of the Welsh capital greeted the news with delight – and puzzlement.

Shopworker Sophie Harrison, 26, said: 'Cardiff is lush - but I wouldn't come here on holiday. Give me the Mediterranean any day.

'The main reason I know people come to Cardiff is to go on the lash for a stag or hen night. We Cardiff girls know how to drink and party.'

But proud Welshman David Burton, 46, said: 'Cardiff is the centre of the world - well, if you love rugby, beer and speaking Welsh. We'll make all those Americans very welcome.'

But others are less surprised.

Welsh travel writer David Atkinson said: 'It's testament to the way Cardiff as a capital has reinvented itself over the past 10 years.

'During the past decade it real has established itself as a viable destination these days.'

Hywel Thomas, a spokesperson for Cardiff & Co which promotes the city, said: 'The National Geographic Society was founded in 1888 and to be featured in the pages of one of its publications is something that many would regard with almost reverence.

South Africa tourism targets Indian market

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South Africa tourism targets Indian market

South African Tourism recently has been focussing to draw Indian tourists to the country. To strengthen their initiative they recently collaborated with Kingfisher Resorts and Royal African Discoveries and conducted a FAM trip for selected travel agents from India.

Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager, South African Tourism said, “Travel agents influence tourism planning decisions and outcomes by being trusted advisors and guides for travel enthusiasts who want to explore the world. Therefore, continued engagement with the Indian travel trade for training, educating and showcasing the destination is high on our priority. Through this partnership with Kingfisher Resorts we got an opportunity to showcase their extravagant properties and luxury safaris experiences. Royal African Discoveries put together a fantastic itinerary for the group which got the travel agents to experience the innumerable activities on offer for Indian travellers in the Rainbow Nation.”

Sun International Hotels and resorts Southern Africa was in the limelight at the recently held Kids Central exhibition in Mumbai at World Trade Centre.There was a kids fashion show as well in which Rajan Kalra, Associate Director of Sales, Sun International was a special guest. The winner of the show got a chance to win a package of 3 nights/4 days stay at the Palace of the Lost City in Sun City. A major attraction at the event was Sun International set up of 3 dimensional vision of the hotel with a hot air balloon image which provided a colourful photo opportunity for the large appreciative audience.

Other initiatives taken by South African tourism are partnerships with Thomas Cook (India) and Kuoni India to offer unique travel packages to Indians which would comprise of exciting journey at affordable prices that cover the best of what South Africa as a destination has to offer.

Maldives celebrates

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Maldives celebrates the 1 million tourist arrival milestone

With the total number of 1,000,203 tourists visiting Maldives, the nation achieved a milestone of 1 million inbound tourists as of 24^th November 2013. China became the highest source market for Maldives tourism with 30.8% or 284,926 Chinese tourists visiting. Following China, Germany is at 8.3%, UK at 7.8%, Russia at 6.6%, and Italy at 5%.

In continents, Asia contributes a massive 47.2% share in terms of total arrivals to the Maldives. Other than these, France, Japan, India, Switzerland, Turkey, U.S. Middle East countries, Australia, etc. also contributed notable amount of tourist arrivals for the month of October. A growth of 1.2% was recorded from European countries.

Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation, and Airport Reps Association of Maldives (ARAM) has organised a 1 week celebration from 25th December till 31st December at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

New York, USASunset and Dusk Time View of Manhattan

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Sunset and Dusk Time View of Manhattan, New York, USA

In 2006 I shot our very first spherical aerial panorama, from which the AirPano project started, in the beautiful place of the Colorado and the San Juan rivers confluence (USA):

The result was overwhelming – by looking at the large screen one had a total illusion of flying over the canyon. And so we decided to continue our experiments.

The next attempt was made in 2007 above the island of Manhattan. I remember this photo shoot by one funny detail: there were no headphones for passengers in the helicopter's cabin. I had to shout from the back seat (while trying to overcome the engine roar that was coming from the open door) to let the pilot know where to go. He didn't hear me anyway, so in order to change the shooting position I had to tap on his shoulder and then – after he looked at me – I had to point the direction with my finger where the thumb down meant moving lower. And guess how I showed him to go higher :) It was fun.

After that incident, when hiring a helicopter I always ask: Do you have passenger headphones in the cabin?

And pilots are always surprised: But of course! Is it possible not to have them?

Yes, it is possible, - I answer - In New York :)

Despite of all the difficulties, this photo shoot was accomplished, delivering world's first virtual photo tour above Manhattan.

There were many more flights after this one, and many like-minded people joined AirPano project in the process. As of today we shot around 100 spherical panoramas of the most interesting and beautiful places in all the continents of our planet. Except for Antarctica. We also made virtual photo tours over the world's most beautiful cities.

In 2011 we returned to New York to once again photograph Manhattan: this time making it much better technically and artistically. Enjoy the sunset nd dusk time aerial panoramas of Manhattan now. Recently has been published the virtual tour of Manhattan at daytime.

New York is the most famous city of the USA, and Manhattan is the most famous part of New York. It all started 400 years ago when the most famous and profitable in human history real estate deal was made: the Native Americans sold this 'not so useful' piece of land to Europeans for 24 dollars.

Since that time the island has changed dramatically. For 24 dollars one can probably buy a ticket to the Empire State Building.

Present day Manhattan is the most populated island on Earth. The land itself costs about 40 billion US dollars, and the cost of the entire Manhattan, including its real estate, reaches over 3 trillion US dollars.

This remarkable part of New York City is best to be discovered on foot – not only because of the infamous New York traffic or cost of parking in New York. There is a joke in New York that only wasteful people can afford driving in New York, because the time one spends on finding a parking spot sometimes equals the time it takes to drive from one side of Manhattan to another.

New York is known to be a financial capital of the world, and the island of Manhattan is where all the banks, offices, largest insurance companies and corporations are located – literally one on top of another. Basically the rest of New York, and eventually, the rest of the United States, work for Manhattan, making sure that this gigantic «city inside of the city» continues its mission – processing the wealth of the whole world.

Besides a large number of museums, almost every building in Manhattan has a historical value. Old buildings harmoniously coexist with the best examples of the modern architecture. Most famous New York attractions are located in Manhattan, including Empire State Building mentioned above, Central Park and Times Square. There is also colorful China Town and bright Broadway – they are all located on this island. It is a shame not to bring a photo of Manhattan from your trip to New York!

Niagara Falls, Canada-USA

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Niagara Falls, Canada-USA

At the place where North American Niagara River separates two of the Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, nature created a magnificent cascade of waterfalls. Each waterfall has its own name: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls. However all of them are known under one name — Niagara Falls. This is the most important landmark of the USA and Canada at the same time, as it separates one country from another.

Great Lakes of North America, Niagara River, and its waterfalls are results of shifting of an ice shield that moved down from the Eastern Canada territory over ten thousand years ago. The glacier crashed everything on its way, deepening and widening riverbeds, and creating or eliminating lakes.

Interestingly enough, the geological characteristics of the area are such that the layers of soil are still moving, even if their movement is not as dramatic any more. During past centuries Niagara Falls have moved eleven kilometers south. According to scientists, the waterfall has been moving with the average speed of one, one and a half meters per year during last 560 years. Today special engineering efforts managed to slow the shifting a little bit.

Photo: Evgueni Strok

On the international scale Niagara Falls is not that high — just 53 meters. Here are few numbers for comparison: Angel Falls in Venezuela drops its water from 807 meters, and Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe is 108 meters high. However the width of Niagara Falls is 792 meters. This fact places it together with the widest waterfalls in the world (comparing with Angel and Victoria — 107 and 1800 meters respectively).

These numbers demonstrate how different a waterfall can be. Every one of them is unique. It is also true for the waterfalls that form the Niagara Falls complex.

A small island called Luna separates the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls (that truly looks like a bridal wear). Their combined width is about 335 meters. At the same time, there is a giant pile of large sharp rocks at the foot of the American Falls, which makes a visible part of the waterfall 21 meter high.

Being separated by Goat Island, which was formed relatively late (the Niagara River was split into two channels about five hundred years ago), the Horseshoe Falls stands apart from the two. The speed and power of the American Falls are considerably less than those of the Horseshoe Falls, because Goat Island slows down masses of water; and in case of Horseshoe Falls, nothing stands on its way.

Named after deceased herd of artiodactyls, Goat Island is a popular tourist destination as it offers an opportunity to enjoy a spectacular view and also to take pictures of Niagara Falls. Little bridges connect the island with the US mainland and neighboring Luna Island. The Cavern of The Winds, another Niagara attraction, is also located here. From inside the cavern, one can admire the waterfall up close and also feel the power and presence of the big water. And when we say "power" we really mean it — drops of water shower you from head to toe! This is why each tourist receives a raincoat and waterproof footwear at the entrance to the cavern.

Niagara Falls attracts not only millions of tourists, but also those who want to experience extreme sensations. In 1829 Sam Patch became famous as a first man, who jumped from the Horseshoe Falls and survived. Another so-called record was set in 1901 by a 63-year-old Annie Taylor, who went over the waterfall in a barrel. The event of 1960 is rightfully called "The Miracle of Niagara", as a 7-year-old boy accidentally fell down the Horseshoe Falls and survived. Unfortunately, raging waters of Niagara Falls also took many human lives...

Location and position of Niagara Falls doesn't allow a group view of all the waterfalls from one spot. Some people believe that the most spectacular view opens from the Canadian shore; those who travel to Niagara Falls on American side are also satisfied with the picture. And now you have an opportunity to enjoy the magnificent panorama of all waterfalls from the widest possible angle — a bird's eye view — without a risk of getting wet or falling down the stream.

Virtual Tour over Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

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Virtual Tour over Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Germany is the land of fairy tales that gave the world Wilhelm Hauff and The Brothers Grimm, for example. Germany is also home to the most magical castle on the planet, Neuschwanstein Castle, the name of which translates as «The New Swan Cliff». It was built in the second half of the nineteenth century by Ludwig II of Bavaria, or as they called him, «The Fairy-Tale King».

Ludwig II holds a special place amongst other German rulers. What set him apart from his stringent and warrior-like predecessors was his romanticism and dreamy character, so much so that he channelled all of his statesman's passion (alongside with state funds) towards making his dreams come true, dreams of magical countries populated by fairy-tale creatures.

Disillusioned by the daily routines of Munich, Ludwig II was not interested in its problems. Instead, day by day he became more and more submerged in his own dream world. This gave the world several castles - Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof and Neuschwanstein, each one is a masterpiece of world architecture, enchanting us with its weightlessness and fairy-tale silhouettes with magnificent mountains as a backdrop.

Wartburg Castle was chosen as the model for Neuschwanstein as it is the only remaining castle from the feudal period in Bavaria. Ludwig the II's creation surpassed the original. At the time the King was very deeply moved by Richard Wagner's opera «Lohengrin», he saw himself in the opera's main character, the noble white swan-knight, a fairy-tale hero of the ancient legends. And with the help of architects he created his own «Swan Castle».

The walls of the castle depict the magical world of «The Song of The Nibelungs» («Nibelungenlied»), medieval legends of Przival, Lohengrin and Tannhäuser, The Holy Grail, Tristan and Isolde... The masters spent a long time working very carefully on every hall and every panel painting, with every detail a true masterpiece. This is also the reason why the building work took so long and failed to reach completion even in Ludwig's lifetime. As an example, the wood carving in one bedroom took 14 carpenters 4 and a half years.

Yet the King had the incredible ability to combine fantasies with reality, and despite the castle's heavenly appearance, it was equipped with all the modern technology of its time. The rooms in the royal residence were fitted with hot air central heating, toilets were equipped with an automatic flushing system, electric bells were in place to summon servants and some floors even had telephones!

Neuschwanstein is first and foremost a true fairy tale made of stone. It became the prototype for the Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland Paris and a source of inspiration for Tchaikovsky's ballet «The Swan Lake». But in the end it drove the King insane, and instead of attending to the urgent duties of his country as a ruler, he went on expeditions, following the footsteps of Wilhelm Tell or had dinner with the spirit of Louis XIV. Night became day and day became night for Ludwig II and for that he was nicknamed The Moon King.

According to Bavarian law a king can be removed from power if found unfit to govern. It is not surprising then that eventually (in 1886) he was deposed. He was transported to the Berg Castle and died the next day in a lake under mysterious circumstances together, with the psychiatrist who diagnosed him as insane. These mysterious events have contributed to the intriguing image of the castle. Just two months after the King's death, the unfinished Neuschwanstein was open to visitors!

And it was the right thing to do. No stories or photos of Neuschwanstein can possibly depict its beauty. Once you have admired our aerial panoramas, we strongly recommend you see the fairy tale for yourself. Getting to Neuschwanstein Castle: there are trains and taxis available from nearby towns.

There are several other famous castles in the area surrounding Neuschwanstein, namely Hohenschwangau, Füssen and Schwangau. For the convenience of tourists, a special "romantic road" was created (Romantikstrasse), a special tour popular with visitors to Bavaria. The surrounding area also boasts ski slopes and special lifts to take skiers and tourists to the top of the Tegelberg Mountain. In general, even a whole day is not enough to fully enjoy the beauty and diversity of this place.

And now Sergey Semenov and Stas Sedov speak. They will tell us abour their trip to Neuschwanstein Castle.

This four-day trip had only one purpose - to shoot the famous Bavarian castle surrounded by colorful autumn trees. We waited for the precise moment, when leaves turn red, green and orange for the short period of time.

Technically the photo shoot of this type shouldn't take more than two days. However, we decided to give it some extra time... As it turned out, it was a wise decision. Mountains stay mountains (even if it's just low foothills of Alps in Southern Bavaria), so the weather is rather unpredictable there. It is also worth mentioning, that the only time when the castle is perfectly lit for the photo is that short 30-minutes window in the morning. Afterwards the sun travels leaving only the sidewall of the castle in light.

We arrived. But apparently the weather didn't want to cooperate. Day one - it was raining all day; photo shoot was canceled. Day two - the same thing.

On the third day the weather tricked us again. The thick fog covered everything from the very morning. Regardless, we were full of optimism, so we climbed the mountain above the castle, and then descended into the valley, hoping to find a clearing. No luck. Finally after three hours of waiting we decided to shoot the castle at any cost.

However, there are no good shooting spots when the visibility is 30-40 meters. Except for one - right from the center of the castle! Although it's rather risky to fly and shoot in the castle...

Anyhow, we took our chance. Thank God that all the tourists were asleep at such an early hour. The take-off was very difficult due to heavy fog, which was in reality 100% humidity. It condensed large drops of water on the equipment, so we had to be quick. There was no time to go back and correct mistakes.

Our RC helicopter took off and quickly disappeared into the fog. All we had was the screen of our laptop with blinking control lights and short beeps of the height sensor in Stas's headphones. The time passed very slowly.

In a few minutes, here it was - our helicopter returned from the white foam of the fog, all wet, as if it was in a shower. Everything was covered with large drops of water: the helicopter, the camera, and the lens. Nevertheless, the equipment did its job just fine, and we immediately returned to our hotel room to dry it.

So this is the story of shooting this spherical panorama.

We spent the following day waiting, and only on the forth day did nature smile at us. The weather was wonderful and we shot, and shot, and shot...

Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia tourist in russia

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BEST PANO

Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia

This panorama can be opened in several different resolutions. High resolution panorama with the best quality is about 7 Mb large and it is suitable for fast internet connections and modern computers. For slower internet and old weak computers we created the smaller low resolution panorama. Some small details have been sacrificed but the size of low resolution panorama is nomore than 2 Mb.

Open Aerial Panorama (high resolution)

This Virtual Tour is also

Nowadays Peterhof is a world-famous complex consisting of various palaces and gardens, and it's considered to be one of the most important sights in St. Petersburg and Russia. Before the 18th century its territory was occupied by only a few Finnish villages. It wasn't until year 1705 that the word "Peterhof" appeared in the first travel journal of Peter the Great (Peterhof is Dutch for "Peter's yard"). The tsar saw this area as a good place to construct a landing for travelling to and from Kotlin island.

By 1714 Peter the Great had the idea to build a luxurious country residence, as luxurious as French Versailles. The complex of magnificent buildings was meant to glorify the power of Russia, and its recent victory over Sweden for an outlet to the Baltic Sea.

To turn this idea into reality the construction was started in the nearby village of Strelna, but later it turned out that the terrain in Peterhof would allow to build higher fountains due to its numerous underground springs, so construction was moved there. The best architects of Europe were invited to participate in the construction process. However, old drawings made by the tsar, his decrees, and notes on the documents suggest that the general concept design of entire complex, and, sometimes, design of individual architectural elements and fountains belonged to Peter the Great himself. The grand opening of the residence took place in 1723: by that time they planned out the Lower Gardens, dug the Sea Channel and launched some fountains; they also placed statues, vases, and busts on cascades, terraces, and alleys. Even then the beauty of "Peter's yard" astonished visitors, but a new round of construction started by the Empress Anna Ivanovna, successor of Peter the Great, that made Peterhof one of the largest palace-park ensembles in the world.

Modern Peterhof includes several palaces and park complexes that were under construction for almost two centuries. The Lower Gardens, Upper Gardens, and English Park were built in the 18th century; the Alexandria Park, Kolonistsky Park, Meadow Park, Alexander Park, Sergievka Park, and Lower Dacha were built in the 19th century. Peterhof is often compared to Versailles (the tsar's project was realized as intended), but many critics believe that it's a wrong comparison. European palaces and parks are more continental, whereas Peterhof was born from the romance of sea and it perfectly blends into surrounding picturesque waters.

One of the most famous landmarks of Peterhof is Samson Fountain, the central fountain with 21 meter high water jets. According to the original plan, there was supposed to be a statue of Hercules defeating the Hydra of Lerna in the center of the Grand Cascade fountains, but it was replaced by a statue of Samson tearing the lion's mouth.

The Grand Peterhof Palace and the Grand Cascade

A fountain monument was erected in 1735 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic victory of the Russian army over the Swedes at the Battle of Poltava on June 27th, 1709 (the day of St. Sampson the Hospitable). It explains why Hercules was replaced by Samson: the lion is associated with Sweden, because it's depicted on the arms of Sweden.

The fountain was badly damaged during the World War II, and the original statue was lost. The Samson that we can see now in Peterhof is a copy that was carefully re-designed using archival drawings and photographs.

There were other Peterhof sights that were damaged during the war: the Upper Gardens, the Lower Gardens and fountain water pipeline system. The restoration work started in 1944 continues to this day. But it's hard to notice: the complex of palaces and gardens has been restored almost completely, which you can see for yourself through our panoramas

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2 Dec 2013