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The Catherine Palace also known as the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace, the Great Catherine Palace, the Grand Palace, the Old Palace is a former imperial palace, the official summer residence of three Russian rulers — Catherine I, Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II; the palace is located 26 km south of the center of St. Petersburg in the former Tsarskoye Selo now the city Pushkin.
It is an object of cultural heritage of Russia. It is part of the `Palace and Park Ensemble of the city of Pushkin and its Historical Center`, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site `The Historical Center of St. Petersburg and related monument complexes`.
The building was founded in 1717 by order of the Russian Empress Catherine I, after whom it is named; during the XVIII century it was repeatedly rebuilt and in its modern form represents an example of late Baroque. In Soviet times, a museum was opened in the palace. During the Great Patriotic War, the palace was severely damaged. Its restoration took many years and is not finished yet. The restoration is carried out by the Leningrad School of Restorers on a strictly scientific basis.