The Upper Garden in Peterhof

Upon the entrance to the park one can see the fountain named Mezheumny (“indefinite” in Russian). In the center of the round pond there is the sttatue of a dragon and four dolphins around it. Over the centuries décor of this pond was changed many times. Maybe this is the reason for such a name.
The compositional center of the Upper Park is the fountain named Neptune. This is the only fountain in Peterhof that was produced beyond the borders of Russia. The sculpture of Neptune, the mythological god of the sea, stands on the high pedestal. On the sides of this pedestal there are sea creatures, sparkling water. At the foot of this composition there are fantastic riders mounted on the backs of the sea-horses driving on eight dolphins. The sculptural composition originates from Nuremberg. The town authorities commissioned it from the local craftsmen to be put at the fish market in 1650s. When they started to install the fountain they have discovered there was not enough water to make it work. The composition was put into storage. More than a hundred years passed. Grand Duke Paul, the son of Catherine the Great, visited Germany and came to the Nuremberg town in 1782. He was offered the sculptural group for the fountain and purchased it for 30 000 roubles. When Paul ascended the throne, he ordered Neptune fountain to be installed in Peterhof. Neptune was put in the center of the Upper Garden in 1799.

Under Nicholas II the copy of Neptune sculptural group was sent to Nuremberg. During the Nazi occupation of Peterhof this sculptural composition was stolen. The Soviet army discovered it on the territory of Germany in 1950s and brought it back.

The Upper Garden can boast of its own cascade. It is really small in size, though. There is a copy of the famous Belvedere Apollo statue standing in the park on the shore of the pond, and there is a waterfall sliding down at the feet of the statue.

The Oak fountain is not far from the Neptune fountain. The name has derived from the old design. There was an oak tree, and after several years it was moved into the Lower Garden. Now there is a different composition. The marble sculpture of the Cupid trying on the mask is encircled by the four dolphins. In the mouth of each dolphin there is a water jet sprinkling water into the air.

Placed closer to the Grand Palace there are two square ponds. They are the water reservoirs, accumulating water for the fountains in the Lower Garden. They are the little part of the intricate plumbing system feeding the fountains of Peterhof. In the middle of each pond there is a statue. These are the allegories of spring and summer, classical Italian sculptures. Around both statues are water jets set up in a circle.