Bird’s-eye view of the Gatchina Palace

Aerial photography. Early 20th century. Postcard.
The Gatchina Palace is one of the largest palaces around St. Petersburg, the capital of Imperial Russia. It was built for a favourite of Catherine II and since 1782 belonged to the ruling Romanov family. The Palace was surrounded by a large park with natural lakes, pavilions and the Menagerie, where animals for hunts were kept.