Chesmenskiy Obelisk

The Chesme obelisk was erected in honor of the victory of the Russian squadron over the Turkish fleet in 1770 in the Mediterranean Sea. In this battle, the general command of the land and sea forces was carried out by General-Admiral Alexei Orlov, the elder brother of Count Grigory Orlov. After the victory at Chesma, Alexey Orlov received the right to bear the surname Orlov-Chesmensky. The younger brother Fyodor Orlov also took part in the battle, showing miracles of courage on the ship "Eustathius" and miraculously survived. The monument in honor of the victory at Chesma, erected on the shore of White Lake, is one of the oldest in Gatchina. It is believed to have been designed by the architect Antonio Rinaldi. In appearance, the Chesme obelisk has a simple shape and looks light from a distance, although four types of marble were used in its creation. The artful combination of its colors and the high base give the stele a light and expressive feeling. The total height of the monument is 13.4 meters, and the height of the four-sided stele itself is 6 meters. The upper part of the monument is made of light pink marble. The base is divided into three parts and consists of marble of different colors - gray, silver and red. The architect very well determined the location of the stele. The Chesme obelisk is surrounded by water on almost all sides and therefore looks very impressive, resembling a lighthouse in the bay. In addition, it is visible from the windows of the Gatchina Palace, from the observation deck of the Signal Tower, from the islands of the White Lake and from the paths along its shore. The image of the monument was included in the Orlov family coat of arms.

There are many unexpected and picturesque corners in the park. Here is the Chesme obelisk - a monument filled with meaning, hiding in a corner of the Palace Park.

Picturesque corner of Gatchina park

Cozy quiet place