Kadrioru loss

Unknown artist

The baroque palace was constructed in 1718 according to the designs of architect Niccolo Michetti, ordered by Peter the Great as a summer residence for the imperial family. The layout of the palace is based on Italian examples. The palace is located on a slope with a three-storey facade in the front and two-storeys in the back. Two separate side buildings are located on both sides of the palace. The front facade is decorated with a pediment on the middle risalite and a loggia in front of the entrance. The interior of the palace is dominated by a festive parlour in the middle of the building. The central hall is one of the finest examples of Northern Baroque architecture. The outcome is a mix of Italian and Dutch Baroque, both deeply admired by Peter the Great. Remnants of the original decorative scheme remain in the entrance hall and drawing rooms, for example the glazed tile fireplaces. The palace was accompanied by a large park, the parts closest to the castle – the upper and lower gardens – were designed in the French formal style. Between two World Wars the building was first used as an art museum and later as the President's residence. The back facade was complemented with a new banquet hall and a winter garden in 1933-1934. The interiors of the "Estonian room" and library originate from this time. From 1946 the space was again used as an art museum. After thorough renovations in the 1990's the space displays a collection of foreign art from the collection of the Estonian Art Museum.