White Tower (Tsarskoye Selo)

The White Tower in the landscape part of the Alexandrovsky Park in the city of Pushkin was built in 1821–1827 according to the design of A. Menelas in the Neo-Gothic style for the military and gymnastic training of the sons of Nicholas I. The structure, which gave the object its name due to its color, is divided into five floors and three tiers rising in steps, and a small garden surrounded by a cast-iron fence has been laid out around it. The interior paintings were executed by V. Dodonov, I. Bernasconi, D.-B. Scotti, and V. Brandukov, the furniture was ordered from the Gambs brothers, and the parquet floors were made by M. Znamensky. The top floor housed the studio of the artist A. I. Sauerweid, and the cast-iron knights and warriors for the tower were cast at the Alexandrovsky Plant based on models by V. I. Demut-Malinovsky and K. Landini. Since October 10, 2012, the object, which is a monument of federal significance, has been functioning as an interactive center for children's education and creativity with an observation deck.