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Pontefract Castle

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Pontefract Castle (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Pontefract Castle

Free entry Family friendly

Family Attraction Landmark or Historical Building Tourist Attraction

Located in the historic market town of Pontefract , from its construction in 1070 to its demise following the Civil Wars, the once-fearsome fortress of Pontefract Castle dominated Yorkshire and beyond, bearing witness to some of England’s most momentous historical events earning itself the name of the Key to the North!

Today, the castle is a place of family-friendly adventure, with wide open spaces to explore and play, and fascinating ruins to investigate. Ignite your imagination as you explore the pathways and take in some of the imposing stonework. Climb to the top of the keep and see the surrounding Yorkshire countryside, and visit the castle gift shop for a colourful range of souvenirs, gifts, books and ice creams.

There’s masses of stuff to occupy families, younger visitors can get creative and test out their soldier skills while having a go at some civil war training activities on information boards around the grounds. You’ll find awesome displays along with some of the fascinating objects found at the castle from centuries gone by.

The children’s playground is the perfect place for young visitors to burn off some energy and create their own castle adventures.

Need refuelling? Stop off at the Castle Coffee Shop for hot and cold drinks and snacks.

Monday – Friday:  8:30am – 4.30pm

Saturday & Sunday:  9:30am – 4.30pm

Play area open 10am-4pm daily

Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

VISITOR CENTRE AND GIFT SHOP:

Monday – Tuesday:  Closed

Wednesday – Sunday:  10am – 4pm

CASTLE COFFEE SHOP:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday – Sunday: 11am – 3pm

Don’t miss the latest from Wakefield Museums and Castles. Sign up to receive their eNewsletter  here .

Venue opening hours

Monday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Tuesday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Wednesday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Thursday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Friday : 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Saturday : 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Sunday : 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Access facilities

• Accessible Car Parking
• Accessible Toilet
• Baby Changing Facilities
• Guide Dogs Welcome
• Hearing Aid Loop
• Wheelchair Accessible

Venue Details

Castle Garth, Pontefract, WF8 1QH

01977723440

[email protected]

Venue Facilities

• Cafe on Site
• Dog Friendly
• Free Parking
• Picnic Area

Also at Pontefract Castle

The Castle Coffee Shop at Pontefract Castle

Events at pontefract castle.

Our Year Performance

Proms at the Castle

Musicals at the Castle

Families Heritage Our Year Tour

Pontefract Castle Dungeon Tour

Our Year Talk

Hannah French Talk

Activity Craft Families Food and Drink Our Year Workshop

Heritage for Youth Week

Activity Heritage Our Year

Escape the Dungeon!

Cooking Up History

Activity Craft Heritage Our Year Workshop

Colourful Castle Cloth

Herbs and Health

Activity Families Festival

Summer of Discovery

Craft Heritage Our Year Workshop

Museum Meet Up

Activity Food and Drink Music Sports

Summer Solstice Yoga

Have a Dabble – Resin Coasters

Activity Families Heritage Our Year Walk

Liquorice Heritage Trail Walk

Heritage Our Year Talk

The Archaeology of Pontefract Castle 

Usurper and King: Henry IV and Pontefract Castle 

Comedy Our Year Performance Theatre

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Activity Heritage Nature & Nurture Our Year

Mindful Mondays

Sunset Yoga at the Castle

Romeo and Juliet

Have a Dabble – Mosaic House Number Plaque

Activity Families Heritage Our Year

Catapult Challenge

Literature Our Year Performance

Chronicles of Culture Launch

Lives and Times of Eminent Prisoners at Pontefract Castle 

Have a Dabble – Soapstone Carving

Have a Dabble – Christmas Apron

Have a Dabble – Evergreen Christmas Wreath

Robert Aske and the Pilgrimage of Grace

The Medieval Herb Garden   - Volunteer Talk

Relaxed Crafts: Plant Art

Activity Craft Families

The Big Family Picnic

Making a Medieval Herb Garden

Activity Craft Families Heritage Our Year

Big Green Castle Fun Day

Jesters and Juggling

Families Heritage Music

Pontefract Castle Presents…

Knight School

Explosions and Trebuchets

Time Travellers

Craft a Castle

Activity Craft Families Our Year

Ilbert’s Dragon Tales

Activity Adventure Families Heritage Our Year

Witches & Wizards

10 Captivating Castle Dungeons To Visit In the UK

by Louise Humphries

Last Updated on June 16, 2023

Are you looking for a real castle dungeon to visit in the UK? Look no further because we have listed ten must-visit castle dungeons.

Dungeons are a great way to get kids and teens enthralled in the UK’s history. Their storie make us realise how lucky we are never to endure the hardships of the poor souls who inhabited these spaces.

Every dungeon has a unique and often grim story. From the imposing Tower of London, steeped in centuries of royal intrigue, to the hauntingly beautiful Chillingham Castle with its reputation for ghostly encounters.

Learn about the prisoners who endured the hardships of Edinburgh Castle Vaults and descend into the depths of Warwick Castle’s Castle Dungeon for a theatrical experience like no other.

Read on for the best dungeons in the UK. 

Carlisle Castle Dungeons

Carlisle Castle is a well-preserved medieval fortresses in England, not far from the border with Scotland. It was founded in the 11th century during the reign of William II of England.

The castle has served as a military garrison and prison throughout its history. Some famous prisoners include Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Jacobite leader Lord Lovat.

Today, you can visit the castle ruins, walk the walls, see canons, go inside prison cells with prisoner graffiti carved into the walls and visit the dungeons.

After the Jacobites were defeated in 1746, many prisoners were sent to Carlisle Castle. 90 of the prisoners were kept in the underground dungeon whilst awaiting trial. The conditions were cramped and warm but as the dungeon was damp, moisture accumulated on the walls. With little water, prisoners licked the damp walls to keep alive which must have been a grim and desperate things to do. The imprints of where they licked can still be seen today .

The Castle is also home to a military museum.

Find out more at Carlisle Castle

Warwick Castle Dungeon

If you visit Warwick Castle, you can book the dungeon experience as an extra during your castle visit.

Live actors take you through the dungeon on a scary, humorous and entertaining tour. They depict gruesome tales, stories of torture and other dark events. Visitors are often encouraged to get involved in the action!

The castle dungeons are not recommended for children under 10 years old.

Pontefract Castle, Yorkshire

The ruins of Pontefract Castle include the inner bailey, the gatehouse, parts of the curtain wall and the dungeons.

A tour of the dungeons is bookable online most weekends and only costs a few pounds (the rest of the ruins are free to visit).

The dungeons are very big but the history is fascinating. On a tour, a guide tells you about the fascinating history castle from Norman times, through to Tudor times and the Civil War. Climb down the steep stone steps to an eerie underground space. See where Civil War prioners scratched their names upon the rocks.

Book your dungeon tour online

Edinburgh Castle Vaults

Edinburgh’s amazing castle is well worth a visit. Highlights include the Scottish Crown jewels, the Great Hall and the castle Vaults (aka the dungeons)

The Vaults are a series of underground chambers below Crown Square.  In the 1700s and 1800s hundreds of prisoners of war were held in these dark, cramped spaces. Pirates were also held in this space before they became a prison of war.

Today during a visit to Edinburgh Castle you can see how the vaults looked around 1800 and experience the wretched way of life for the men who lived here.

Find out  more at Edinburgh Castle

Chillingham Castle Dungeon and Torture Chamber, Northumberland

Located in Northumbria, Chillingham Castle has a reputation of being one of the most haunted castles in the UK. It has a torture chamber and a dungeon that visitors can explore.

The dungeon is small and lit only by a small arrow slit in the thick wall. Inside letters have been carved on the chamber wall by desperate prisoners. The conditions for prisoners was nothing short of dreadful.

The torture room is another chilling reminder of the Chillingham’s dark past. Filled with numerous medieval torture devices,it provides a glimpse into the gruesome methods used in the past.

Find out more at Chillingham Castle

Berkeley Castle Dungeon, Gloucestershire

Berkeley Castle is based in Gloucestershire and is well worth a visit, having recently being voted one of the UK’s hidden gems in 2023. (Source: Stroud News )

It is home to a deep dungeon, a 28 foot pit, in the old keep. The carcesses of rotting animals were once thrown in here, along with the odd unfortunate peasant.

Famously King Edward II was imprisoned at Berkeley Castle. For five months he was confined to a windowless room above the dungeon. The stentch must have been awful.

Rumour has it that Edward was brutally murdered by having a hot poker thrust up his anus. However, many historians now discount this account of Edward’s death.

Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

This wonderful castle in beautiful surroundings is located right next to a gorgeous beach.

There is a lot to do and see here including a small dungeon. The gruesome dungeon includes figures of people being tortured which brings the horror to life.

Other highlights include the state rooms, the armoury and the aviation museum which is located in the castle.

Bamburgh Castle is also famous for being the backdrop on many scenes in the Netflix series “The Last Kingdom”. Known as Bebbanburg in the TV series, some of the battles from season 3 were filmed on Bamburgh beach with the castle in the background. Visitors can now embark on a Last Kingdom tour at the castle and see some of the props and costumes from the TV series.

Find out more at Bamburgh Castle

Lancaster Castle Dungeons

Lancaster Castle has a fascinating and varied history. It was originally built as a Roman fortress but over the years has also served as a residence for Royal visitors, a courtroom and a prison. Prisoners have been kept at the castle as early as 12th century until 2011 (it served as a category C prison for male offenders until March 2011).

The Well Tower at the Castle holds three stone-flagged underground dungeons which were used to incarcerate prisoners during medieval times. The Well Tower was built in about 1325 and as it’s name suggests contains two wells. It is also known as the Witches Tower. This is because in 1692 the Pendle Witch Trials took place at Lancaster Castle. The trial was of several individuals accused of witchcraft in the nearby Pendle Hill area. It is thought the accused were held in dungeons at Lancaster Castle before and during their trials. Ten of them were ultimately found guilty and sentenced to death.

Entry to the castle interiors which are open to the public is by guided tour only. On a tour, visitors can see the prison cells, the courtyard, castle interiors, and the Drop Room where the condemned prisoners were led to the gallows.

Please note, at the moment there is work taking place to update the fire alarm in part of the building so the guided tours are limited to 30 minute where you can see external courtyards and one of the prison buildings.

Find out more at Lancaster Castle

Tower of London

The infamous Tower of London is an amazing combination of  medieval castle, armor museum and prison complete with dungeons and torture exhibits.  The Tower of London has 21 towers and many prisoners were kept in there as well as in underground spaces which were often referred to as a dungeon.

On a visit, you can see these undeground spaces as well as where prisoners were held in the tower. At the top of the White Tower, you can find the items used for the beheadings, including actual wooden block , axe and  executioners. The Tower is steeped in history and you can see the site where the beheading of Anne Bolyn took place. Be sure to chat to a Beefeater or go on a Yeoman tour where you can hear more about the gruesome events that took place here. 

Find out more at the Tower of London

Skipton Castle

Skipton Castle is a beautiful, well preserved medieval castle with banqueting room, drawing room, bedrooms, towers, etc and nooks & crannies to explore.

It’s also home to a dungeon which is located beneath the castle’s twin-towered gatehouse. Prisoners were held captive here in complete darkness in damp conditions. Sometimes they were held in leg irons.

Other highlights include a medieval toilet and courtyard with a tree growing in the middle.

Find out more at Skipton Castle

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GHANA – Cape Coast Castle day trip from Accra & Elmina Castle slave fort tour

Table of Contents

Cape Coast Castle day trip from Accra

Cape coast castle history, cape coast castle tour, elmina day trip, elmina slave fort tour, elmina fishing village, elmina dutch fort coenraadsburg, gallery cape coast castle slave fort tour.

Most people, if not all, who visit Ghana will add a Cape Coast Castle day trip to their Ghana itinerary . It for sure is a highlight as it’s the most famous slave fort on the Ghana coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this slave fort tour from Accra which I highly recommend you not just visit Cape Coast Castle but also Elmina Castle and Fort Coenraadsburg. Elmina is also a lovely town to check out a local fish market. Let’s have a look at each of points of interest on this slave fort itinerary.

Cape Coast Castle is a 3-hour drive from Accra which is quite a drive. The road is in good condition. I drove myself and I continued to Takoradi for the night from where I would explore more lesser known slave forts and Nzulezu stilt village . You can also do an organized (private) tour but make sure you’ll stop at all the places you want to stop. Tours are often combined with Kakum National Park rather as with Elmina Castle but if you’re following my Ghana itinerary, I recommend visiting Kakum National Park on the way back to Accra from Takoradi. So, I actually didn’t do a Cape Coast Castle day trip from Accra but did it on the way from Accra to Takoradi.

The current Cape Coast slave fort which can be visited dates to the 18 th century when it was extended and rebuilt after war. The first trading post was constructed in the mid-16 th century by the Portuguese but the first actual fort by the Swedes in the mid-17 th century. It then changed hands into an English fort with Danes and Dutch involved in the process.

At first the Europeans didn’t go to Africa for slave trade but for gold and timber. The Gold Coast of West Africa was a major trading post for that. Slavery became quickly more and more important when the Americas demanded more slaves especially in the Caribbean. Barbados which I also visited earlier played an important role as it had the biggest sugar cane plantations in the world. Today slavery doesn’t exist anymore but its history is everywhere and should not be forgotten. That’s why many of the Ghana slave castles are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

I arrived in Cape Coast around 11AM which is a perfect time.  The entrance fee for Cape Coast Castle is just 7 USD and this includes a guided tour with a visit to the slave dungeons. You’ll learn all about slavery in Ghana from the guide, so you don’t need to be on an organized tour with guide. Plan about 90 minutes for a visit if you follow the guide. I only joined the guide for the dungeons but explored the rest by myself.

You’ll see the Door of No Return, various cannons and cannon balls, galleries, kitchen, commanders’ room, and various other rooms. There is a small exposition in a part of the rooms explain about Ghana slave history. Of course, there are also gift shops, but I recommend buying gifts more local. I continued to Elmina Castle which is just 15 minutes away by car.

Elmina is just a 15-minute drive from Cape Coast and I highly recommend visiting. I arrived in Elmina around 2PM and had lunch first before starting the Elmina slave fort tour. It includes Elmina Castle and the Dutch fort Coenraadsburg on top of the hill. Elmina’s fish market and harbor are worth visiting as well. Let’s have a closer look of each of the highlights for an Elmina day trip itinerary.

Elmina Castle is much older as Cape Coast Castle. It was constructed in 1482 by the Portuguese. It’s the oldest one of all the forts and the oldest remaining European building in the area. Elmina Castle also played a big role in gold trade at first but later also in the slave trade. It was captured from the Portuguese in 1637 by the Dutch. They also constructed Fort Coenraadsburg on top of the hill just 500 meters away as extra protection.

The dungeons could hold more as 1500 slaves in total. When you visit the dungeons keep that in mind. The rooms are small and it’s difficult to imagine how 1500 slaves fit there. In the middle courtyard there is a church which I haven’t seen in any of the other slave forts in Ghana. A visit to Elmina Castle takes also about 90 minutes. Then continue and explore more of Elmina.

Many towns on the Ghana coast are fishing village. Elmina has also a large fishing village with market and I highly recommend wandering around. You can opt to take a local with you. They will approach you around Elmina Castle anyway and a few USD should be enough to have them come with you. This way you get to see a bit more of the local life as they know everyone and get you inside. I wandered the market for about 30-40 minutes. It’s not only about fish but I saw also boat construction, vegetable trade and a lot more. I then continued up hill to see Fort Coenraadsburg.

Fort Coenraadsburg is a fort on top of a hill just a few hundred meters from Elmina Castle. The Dutch built the fort in the mid-17 th century to protect Elmina Castle. The fort wasn’t meant for trade, so it had only garrisons for protection. It had a prison as well but no active (slave) trade took place. In 1872 it became British as all other forts in the area. If you do a slave fort tour to Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle don’t miss this fort. It’s small but has magnificent views over Elmina.

I can’t say I had fun on this day trip from Accra. That’s a wrong word when visiting slave forts but I did learn a lot and certainly had fun at the fish market. Both slave forts are worth visiting as they are both completely different in style. In Cape Coast is most famous for its market and driving through the city I didn’t notice anything of real interest. In Elmina however it’s also great to walk through town and check out the local life. Don’t miss that! Check my Ghana road trip itinerary to check what you can do more on the gold coast.

Stay tuned for more stories and subscribe to the newsletter or follow CTB on social media ( Facebook , Twitter , Instagram including Instagram stories; on all social media you can find CTB @christravelblog) to get updated information.

Did you visit Cape Coast Castle & Elmina Castle too or do you have questions? Please leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Love to hear from you!

Click an image for a full screen gallery of more photos taken during this trip. If you like to use any photo for commercial, private or editorial use please contact first for permission and/or pricing.

• ghana coastal plain
• west africa
• west africa gold coast

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45 SONGS • 1 HOUR AND 51 MINUTES • MAY 01 2012

• TRACKS TRACKS
• DETAILS DETAILS

Austrian-born film composer Max Steiner was the grandson of the musical impresario who discovered Strauss and brought Offenbach to Vienna. Growing up with a rich heritage of opera and symphony all about him, Steiner developed into a musical prodigy; at the age of thirteen he graduated from the Imperial Academy of Music, completing the course in one year and winning the Gold Medal of the Emperor. Already a composer at 14 and conductor at 16, Steiner moved from Austria to England in 1905, remaining there to conduct at His Majesty's Theatre until 1914. With the outbreak of the war, Steiner emigrated to America, where he kept busy with Broadway musicals and operettas. One of his most beneficial American jobs was to compose the music to be conducted during screenings of the silent film The Bondman (1915); he became a friend of William Fox, the film's producer, giving Steiner early entree into the Hollywood that would so gainfully employ him in later years. In 1929, he was brought to fledgling RKO Radio Studios to orchestrate the film adaptation of Ziegfeld's Rio Rita (1929). Always confident in his talents, Steiner was realistic enough to understand that he was hired by RKO because he cost a tenth of what someone like Stowkowski would charge. While at RKO, Steiner developed his theory that music should be a function of the dramatic content of a film, and not merely background filling. His scores for such films as Symphony of Six Million (1932), The Informer (1935), and, especially, King Kong (1933) are carefully integrated works, commenting upon the visual images, augmenting the action, and heightening the dramatic impact. While Steiner's detractors would characterize his spell-it-out technique as "Mickey Mousing" (in reference to the music heard in animated cartoons), producers, directors, and stars came to rely upon Steiner to make a good film better, and a great film superb. After 111 pictures at RKO, Steiner was hired by David O. Selznick, who assigned the composer to write the score for Gone with the Wind (1939). Virtually 75 percent of this 221-minute epic required music of some sort, and Steiner rose to the occasion with what many consider his finest work. One concept refined in Gone with the Wind was to give each important character his or her own separate musical motif -- quite an undertaking when one realizes how many speaking parts there were in the film. Around that time Steiner began working at Warner Bros, where he penned the studio's famous "opening logo" fanfare and also provided evocative scores for such classics as Now Voyager (1942), Casablanca (1942) and Mildred Pierce (1945). A proud, vain man, Steiner frequently found himself the butt of good-natured practical jokes from his fellow composers, but at Oscar time it was usually Steiner who had the last laugh. Steiner remained active until 1965, contributing scores to The Caine Mutiny (1954), The Searchers (1955), A Summer Place (1959) and many other films. It was only at the very end of his career, with such retrogressive scores as Youngblood Hawke (1964), that Max Steiner's once-revolutionary technique began to sound old hat.

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

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The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

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Catherine Palace – A Vision of Russian Tsardom (History & Travel Tips)

Taking a trip through Catherine Palace feels like stepping into the world of 18th-century tsardom. Just imagine walking through some of the finest examples of Russian Renaissance period architecture and enjoying the uniqueness of that era in all its glory. Catherine Palace is the epitome of class and luxury – a depiction of the peak of the Russian Empire. Together with Pushkin’s scenic views and breezy weather, this makes for an excellent tourist destination! Let’s take a look at Catherine Palace and everything you need to know about it:

Table of Contents

• 1.0.1 Where is Catherine Castle Located?
• 1.0.2 When was Catherine Castle Built? Who Build It?
• 1.0.3 When is The Best Time to Visit the Castle?
• 1.0.4 What Other Monuments are Located Nearby?
• 2.1 Construction & Early Years (18th Century)
• 2.2.1 Under Bartolomeo Rastrelli (1751)
• 2.2.2 Gardens & Pavillions (1756-1760s)
• 2.2.3 Interiors & More Expansions (1780s)
• 2.3 Fire, War, and Later Years (Late 19th Century & Onwards)
• 3 Current Times
• 4 Interesting Catherine Castle Facts
• 5.1 How to get to Catherine Castle?
• 5.2 Ticket Prices, Visiting Hours & Travel Tips
• 5.3.1 Up to Date Information
• 5.3.2 Some words of advice and tips: 
• 5.3.3 Quick Video Tour of The Main Catherine Castle Areas

.ugb-cc08ac3 .ugb-blockquote__quote{fill:#000000 !important;width:42px !important;height:42px !important}.ugb-cc08ac3 .ugb-blockquote__text{color:#d21e1e} The mural on the ceiling of the Courtiers-in-Attending Dining Room is based on ancient Greek mythological concepts including that of Helios, the sun god, and Eos, the goddess of sunrise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is catherine castle located.

Catherine Palace is located in Pushkin , 30 km (18.6 miles) south of Saint Petersburg, Russia. 

When was Catherine Castle Built? Who Build It?

It was first built in 1723 by Johann Ferster. The architect behind the palace’s luxurious update was Johann Friedrich Braunstein.

When is The Best Time to Visit the Castle?

The best time to visit Catherine Palace is in the warm months between May and September. 

What Other Monuments are Located Nearby?

Other monuments you can visit in the area include the Katherina II monument, Morea column, Monument to Rastrelli, or Monument to Alexander Pushkin. 

FOR HISTORY | BEAUTIFUL IMAGES | INTERESTING FACTS | TRAVEL TIPS

Early History

Construction & early years (18th century).

The land was endowed to Empress Catherine I by her husband Peter I ; a castle was built on the site in 1723. It had two floors and a total of sixteen rooms, a garden in the southeastern area, along with an animal enclosure across from the main building. 

After Catherine, the estate was inherited by her daughter Elizabeth, who designed another castle on the site in 1744. The property was expanded to span out to a length of 300 meters (328 yards) consisting of a central house, a chapel, side wings, halls, gardens, and galleries. 

Renovation & Expansion (Mid-18th century)

Under bartolomeo rastrelli (1751).

In 1751, the castle was renovated with the inclusion of several more buildings, pillars, domes, and sculptures of gold. The walls were also repainted and accentuated with gilded stucco with the distinct colors seen today. This project was conducted by renowned architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli who followed a Baroque sensibility in his design. 

Other artists who contributed to the renovation project included Leprince, Giuseppe Valeriani, and sculptor Franz Dunker. The rooms added during this renovation include the Chinese Room, embellished with panels of lacquer; the Light Gallery; the Portrait Hall ; the red-hued Amber Room decorated with fine amber panels; five anterooms; and a Great Hall with an area of 860 meters square (9257 ft 2 ) . The different buildings built in this era were connected through specially designed hanging gardens.

Gardens & Pavillions (1756-1760s)

By the time the reconstruction ended in 1756, the castle hosted 40 state apartments while the total number of private and service rooms in the estate exceeded a hundred. Another garden was also incorporated into the palace while the previous garden was enhanced by deepening the pond and connecting it to the beautiful springs located 6 km (3.7 miles) away from the estate. A hermitage, a toboggan slide, and pavilions known as the Island, Mon Bijou, and Grotto Pavilions were also added to the structure.

Vast Expansions (1770s)

In the late 18th century–between 1768 and 1771–Italian architect Rinaldi added two columns: the Chesme Column and the Morea Column, along with a monument known as the Kagul Obelisk in memory of the war between a Russian-led coalition and the Ottoman Empire in Turkey. Some edifices in Gothic style were added to the compound, including the Hermitage Kitchen, the Turkish Cascade, and the Admiralty.

Some other designs incorporated into the castle include the Creaking Pagoda and the Great Caprice, both of which are symbolic Chinese patterns. The Upper and Lower Baths were constructed by Russian architect Neyolov in an Early Classic style. He also constructed the Opera House between 1778 and 1779. A music pavilion and Ceres’ Temple were constructed by architect Quarenghi. He also built a kitchen folly near the Concert Hall. By the late 18th century, Neyolov had constructed the Babolovo Palace on the site, while Quarenghi had established the Alexander Palace.

In the 1770s, the Baroque architecture of the castle was largely replaced by a Neoclassical style. This renovation was carried out by Yuri Velten, who redid the southern facade of the castle and converted one-story annexes to four-story annexes which we now know as the Zubov and Chapel Annexes. 

Interiors & More Expansions (1780s)

Service and private rooms were constructed in place of the main staircase of the castle, including an updated Chinese Room embellished with designs by Scottish architect Charles Cameron, while a new staircase was constructed in the center. Beyond that, French silk was used on the walls of Cameron’s Lyons Room while lapis lazuli was used to beautify the doors, panels, and stoves. The room belonging to the Empress herself was constructed in Wedgwood jasper bas-reliefs crafted by architects Stubbs and Flaxman. The room known as “Snuff-box” or The Blue Room was designed with bright white and blue glass upon the walls.

In the 1780s, the Arabesque Room–named for the styling of its entrance, ceiling, and walls–was added to the castle. Ancient designs from Greece and Rome were used to decorate the vertical panels on the walls. Other rooms constructed in the period included the Mirror and Silver Rooms, designed by Quarenghi in 1789.

Fire, War, and Later Years (Late 19th Century & Onwards)

The death of Catherine I in 1796 brought a pause to much of the renovation. There was a fire in 1820 during the French invasion, which resulted in the destruction of various structures including the chapel designed by Rastrelli and adjacent apartments. A restoration project for the structures was carried out by Vasily Stasov. 

In the early 19th century, architect Luigi Rusca added the Granite Terrace to the estate. By 1817, the Triumphal Arch was built in the compound, by Stasov, to commemorate the Russian victory during the invasion of Russia by the French. Between the years 1851-52, the Turkish Bath was added to the complex by Monighetti. 

In the mid-19th century, stucco ornaments and Hermitage Museum canvases were added to stateroom ceilings by Andrei Stakenschneider. The central stairway along with the main porch of the castle was renovated by Monighetti. 

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Current times.

In the Second World War, German forces destroyed much of the palace complex. Owing to good documentation of the pre-war interior by Soviet archivists, the palace was able to be reconstructed to a fair resemblance of the original in 1957, under the management of the State Control Commission for the Preservation of Monuments led by Alexander Kedrinsky. It has since been preserved as a national monument. 

Currently, the castle and its vicinity are open for public access as a museum and are managed by World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg.

Interesting Catherine Castle Facts

• The castle was originally constructed as a summer residence for Russian emperors.
• Parts of the palace were destroyed in the Fire of Moscow in 1812 and had to be renovated.
• The reconstruction of the Amber Room inside the palace took 20 years and a budget worth $12 million!
• The White Formal Dining Hall contains a mural known as the Triumph of Apollo, which was copied from 16th-century Italian painter Guido Reni.
• The mural on the ceiling of the Courtiers-in-Attending Dining Room is based on ancient Greek mythological concepts including that of Helios, the sun god, and Eos, the goddess of sunrise.
• The Great Hall of the palace, formerly known as the Light Gallery, covers an area of about 1000 square meters (10763 ft 2 ). 
• A movie based on Catherine the Great which features Helen Mirren and Gina McKee was filmed in the palace.

Visiting Catherine Castle – Tips and Tricks

Catherine Palace is one of Russia’s crown jewels; if you’re a fan of Baroque or Classical architecture, then you definitely need to visit it. Here’s everything you need to know about planning your trip:

How to get to Catherine Castle?

Getting from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport to Catherine Palace, Pushkin can be achieved by taking the night bus, the aero express, or via taxi. 

The most recommended–as well as affordable–option, is that of the night bus. The bus leaves every 30 minutes from the airport and will drop you at Teatralnaya Ploshchad, a 43-minute ride from the airport. From Teatralnaya Ploshchad, you will take the subway from Ploshchad Revolyutsii station and get off at Baumanskaya. From that point, the castle is just a 25 to 28-minute walk away. This route will cost you around €2 ($2 USD) and take you a little over an hour and 20 minutes. 

If you opt for the Aerobus, you would have to board the train, which leaves on an hourly basis, from the airport and get off at Okruzhanaya. At Okruzhanaya you will get aboard the train heading towards Rimskaya and get off at the location. From Rimskaya, the castle is a 25-minute walk. The whole journey will take you an hour and 35 minutes and cost you around €9 ($9 USD).

The third and fastest way to get there is via taxi. You can easily find one outside the airport and reach the site within 32-35 minutes. The journey should cost you around €3 to €5 ($3-$5 USD).

Ticket Prices, Visiting Hours & Travel Tips

Information was checked & updated on November 5, 2023.

During September to Mid-April, the castle is open daily from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. From Mid-April – July, the castle is accessible daily from7:00 pm to 11:00 pm and August 1–30 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

In wintertime, between the months of October through late April, the castle is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm from Wednesday to Sunday, and from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Mondays. Tuesdays, along with the last Monday of each month, the castle is closed. On national and school holidays, the timings are 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Mondays and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on other days. Other timings may be pre-arranged for organized groups.

Tickets can be purchased either online or from the two entrances to Catherine Park. Limited tickets are available on a daily basis and hence it is recommended to reach the site as early as possible. Admission tickets are free for children under the age of 16. For students with an ID and children over 16, the price is 400 rub ($ 4 USD). For adults, the price is 800 Rub ($9 USD) per head.

How Long Does it Take to Tour Around?

3 hours on-site, at the very least, is recommended to experience every mesmerizing facet of Catherine Palace to the fullest.

Up to Date Information

For up-to-date ticket prices and visiting hours visit the official website: https://www.tzar.ru/en

Some words of advice and tips: 

• Keep track of concerts and event schedules from the official website to get a rich cultural experience. 
• The castle is wheelchair friendly. A special elevator facility is available for wheelchair access; however, it is recommended to notify the staff in advance so that they can facilitate you properly. 
• Guided tours in English may not be available unless booked in advance, so you may want to book one prior to your visit or else hire an interpreter.
• It is recommended to arrive early in order to keep a time margin for the ticketing queues, or purchase tickets online.
• The park outside the palace has great spots for taking memorable pictures!
• It is recommended to wear a mask but not mandatory. 
• Very few of the plaques are in English, but you can use Google Lens to translate them for yourself.

Quick Video Tour of The Main Catherine Castle Areas

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