A small farm called Saaris moisio (which means "a farm on a hill" in Finnish) was located on the place of today's Tsarskoye Selo. In Russian, the name of the farm was pronounced as "Saritskaya (or Sarskaya) myza". In 1710-1720, a summer residence of the Czar was constructed on the place of the former farm. In 1719-1720, near the farm, on the place where the town would be constructed, a settlement of Czar's servants appeared, and, as the construction of the Czar's palace was continuing, this settlement gradually became a small town called Saarskoye Selo and later Tsarskoye Selo (which means "Czar's Village" in Russian).

For two centuries, Tsarskoye Selo was a summer residence of Emperors. Its construction, to a great extent, depended upon the tastes and, sometimes, even whims of the Royal owners. Hundreds of talented architects, artists and gardeners implemented their fantasies and projects.

Here, in a quiet place, near St. Petersburg, the capital of Russia at that time, the Emperor's family was not only a monarch's family living within the frameworks of the State policy, but just a numerous family, with interests and joys typical of all human beings.

The quiet and picturesque parks and the historical landmarks make the town of Pushkin not only a historical and cultural treasury, but also "the Town of Muses". For two centuries, the town developed as a Czar's residence, and it became a wonderful example of Russian architecture and the 18-th -century landscaping. At the same time, the town is also famous for generations of poets, writers and other prominent figures of Russian culture who lived in this town or visited it.

The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin spent his childhood and youth here. He was one of the pupils of the Lyceum – a privileged educational institution for children of noble families. Since that time, the town has always been associated with the name of this poet. Among other poets and writers whose lives and works were connected with this wonderful town were Nikolai Karamzin, Vasily Zhukovsky, Fyodor Tyutchev, Sergei Yesenin, Inokenty Annensky, Anna Akhmatova and Alexei Tolstoy.

Assembly.M Tour Company

Transport
The State Museum "Tzarskoje Selo" is situated in 25 km south from St. Petersburg. You can get there as follows:
Suburban train from the Vitebsky railway station in St.-Petersburg up to Tzarskoje Selo (town Pushkin) station – 25 minutes, then bus ¹ 371 or 382 up to the State Museum Reserve "Tzarskoje Selo" (7 Sadovaya st) – 15 minutes.
From metro station "Moskovskaya" in St.-Petersburg up to Tzarskoje Selo by a routed taxi or bus ¹ 287 – 30 minutes, and then by bus ¹ 371 up to the State Museum Reserve "Tzarskoje Selo" (7 Sadovaya st.) – 15 minutes.
 

Hours of Operation
The Catherine Palace (Amber Room) is open for visitors from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM (booking office — from 10:00 AM till 5:00 PM).

Closed every Tuesday and last Monday of each month.

Ticket office is opened in the entrance hall of Catherine Palace.
Tickets are not sold in advance.

The exhibition "Dynasty of the Romanovs" in the Catherine Palace works at Hours of Operation of the Palace.

The Alexander Palace (2 Dvortsovaya st.). The exhibition "Memoirs in the Alexander Palace" is open from 10:00 AM till 5:00 (as well as a booking office), days off – Tuesday and last Wednesday of every month.

Pavilion "Imperial Stables" with the permanent exhibition "Court Carriages of the 18th throughout 20th centuries in Tzarskoje Selo" is opened on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00AM till 05:00 PM (as well as a booking office).

Pavilion "Cold Baths" in the Catherine Palace. Exhibition "Attractions, Weaknesses and Pleasure (Men and Women in Olden Days)" from the collections of the Catherine Palace - Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (as well as a booking office), days off – Monday and Tuesday.

The Pavilion "Agate Rooms" is opened from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM (as well as a booking office), days off – Monday and Tuesday.

In Summer and Fall from 11:30 AM to 06:00 PM the Ferry Crossing over Great Pond of the Catherine Park works. Day off – Tuesday.