The Grand Cascade is the most magnificent fountain structure of the Peterhof ensemble and one of the outstanding structures in the world. The idea to complete the maritime ceremonial entrance to the royal residence with the Upper Palace and a cascade with grottos at its foot belonged to Peter I. The Grand Cascade consists of three waterfall staircases and two grottos, 75 fountains, and 255 bronze sculptures, mascarons, and bas-reliefs, as well as other decorative details. Construction of the Grand Cascade began in May 1716, with architects Jean-Baptiste Le Blond and Nicola Michetti, Mikhail Zemtsov, and hydraulic engineering masters Pieter Souaema and Vasily Tuvolkov participating in the work.

The Grand Cascade complex can be conditionally divided into an exterior part, luxurious and magnificent, measuring 42 meters in length, and an underground part located beneath the fountains — the Upper and Lower Grottos, which are open to visitors.

The cascade was built simultaneously with the palace, serving as a kind of pedestal for it, matching its width and forming a unified architectural complex. The grand opening took place in July 1723, but construction continued even after the fountain structure was launched. Soon sculptures of Perseus and Actaeon, Galatea and Mercury, as well as two new mascarons appeared here. Much later, the fountains Samson and Two Tritons, blowing conch shells, created by architect Carlo Rastrelli, were installed.

The design of the cascade is simple and concise. Two massive seven-step staircases are connected by the arches of the Grand Grotto. The spacious platform in front of it transitions into the central three-step cascade, whose waters fall like a silvery veil into a basin connected to the Sea Channel. Above the Grand Grotto is a terrace framed by the facades of the Small Grotto. It ends with a marble balustrade on which eight marble vases are placed. In front of the entrance to the Grand Grotto on the lower terrace is the "Basket" fountain. From a tuff ring, inclined jets shoot out, intertwining like the rods of an openwork basket, from which nine powerful vertical jets rise like stems of fantastic crystal flowers. The water movement in the cascade begins with streams from two mascarons "Neptune" and "Bacchus," located on the wall of the Small Grotto, continues down the stair steps, passes under the base of the cascade, and ends at the foot of sculptures symbolizing Russian rivers — the Neva and Volkhov.

Soon after, two mascarons — Bacchus and Neptune — appeared on the terrace, and between them in niches — marble busts — allegorical representations of the four seasons. At the foot of the Grand Cascade stands the most famous sculpture — a three-meter figure of Samson tearing open the lion’s jaws.

Originally, all the decor consisted of gilded lead sculptures, which by the end of the 18th century had lost their former beauty. They were replaced by bronze ones, among which are copies of works by masters of antiquity and the Renaissance, as well as 15 original works by the best domestic sculptors of that time. The new sculptures took their places by 1806. Today, the decorative decoration of the cascade includes 37 gilded bronze statues, 16 vases, 29 bas-reliefs, herms, brackets, mascarons, busts, dolphins, lions, frogs — a total of 225 sculptures made of bronze, lead, and marble, forming the luxurious external appearance of the Grand Cascade. It was formed over one and a half centuries, but these changes did not disrupt its integrity and original design as the largest triumphal monument of its time.

The Grand Cascade is connected to the sea by the Sea Channel, which is 12 meters wide. Along it, 22 fountains are installed on the lawns, with water rising up to four meters, resembling crystal trees. Under Peter the Great, light vessels passed through the Sea Channel to the harbor at the Grand Palace. In the artistic appearance of the cascade, the key role was given to the sculptural decoration, which solved the main task of the grand structure — to allegorically glorify the power of the Russian state and the victory of Russian arms in the Northern War.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Grand Cascade was reduced to a pile of ruins. Unable to remove all the sculptural treasures from Peterhof before the beginning of the German occupation, some were buried or hidden in secret places within the park. Four statues stolen by the fascist troops ("Samson," "Neva," "Volkhov," "Tritons") had to be recreated. By 1956, the titanic efforts of restorers brought the magnificent ensemble back to life.

The Grand Cascade — the jewel of the "residence of the king of the seas" — is especially beautiful during holidays, when it becomes a stage for costume performances.

Sources:

https://www.spb-guide.ru/bolshoj-kaskad-petergof.htm

https://peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/peterhof/bolshoy_kaskad