Monplaisir Palace, built between 1714 and 1723, was favoured by the imperial couple, probably due to its premium waterside location. Tsar Peter the Great assembled his fabulous collection of paintings by Dutch and Flemish masters here, brought back from his travels. Admire the "chinoiseries" carried out by Russian craftsmen in the Lacquer cabinets and the Ceremonial state room whose magnificent ceiling was painted by François Pillement.