From Travel Info
The Great Palace
The marble obelisk standing near the railing of the Upper Park in Peterhof bears the incised numbers 29, which dictate the kilometers from St Petersburg to the splendid suburb residence of the Russian Emperors and now a world famous palace and park museum complex.
The idea of building a summer residence that would not be inferior to the famous Versailles of the French kings, occurred to Peter the Great in 1714. The Emperor himself supervised work on the design of fountains, palaces and parks. The French ambassador Campredon wrote to Louis XV that the progress in the construction of the new residence was 'striking and amazing'.
