The social programme includes:

• welcome reception on Sunday evening, August 31 (free of charge but subject to prior registration)
• guided city tour of St. Petersburg on Monday September 1 (free of charge but subject to prior registration)
• symposium banquet (venue to be confirmed) on Wednesday September 3 (optional, and subject to prior registration)
• optional pre- and post symposium tours on Sunday August 31 and Wednesday September 3 (details below). All optional tours will leave from the Hotel. Meeting place will be in the hotel lobby shortly before starting time. Please be aware that you can book only 1 excursion per day. It is not possible to do more.

Monday September 1 - 18:30
(duration: approximately 3 hours)

An introduction tour of the city and the main attractions in the center along the impressive Boulevard "Nevskij Prospect" and the view of the many beautiful palaces facing the Neva River. Driving past historical landmarks such as Peter & Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Palace Square, the Hermitage Museum and the many canals crossing the city. During the tour several picture stops are done.

This tour is included in the registration fee.

Tour 1: Sunday September 31: 09.00 - 14.00
(Tour duration: approximately 5 hours)

One of St. Petersburg's most famous and popular visitor attractions, the palace and park at Peterhof (also known as Petrodvorets) are often referred to as "the Russian Versailles".

Versailles was the inspiration for Peter the Great's desire to build an imperial palace in the suburbs of his new city and, after an aborted attempt at Strelna, Peterhof - which means "Peter's Court" in German - became the site for the Tsar's Monplaisir Palace, and then of the original Grand Palace. The estate was equally popular with Peter's granddaughter, Empress Elizabeth, who ordered the expansion of the Grand Palace and greatly extended the park and the famous system of fountains, including the truly spectacular Grand Cascade.

Improvements to the park continued throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Catherine the Great, after leaving her own mark on the park, moved the court to Pushkin, but Peterhof once again became the official Imperial Residence in the reign of Nicholas I, who ordered the building of the modest Cottage Palace in 1826.

Like almost all St. Petersburg's suburban estates, Peterhof was ravaged by German troops during the Second World War. It was, however, one of the first to be resurrected and, thanks to the work of military engineers and over 1,000 volunteers, most of the estate's major structures had been fully restored by 1947.

Price: 80 euro

Price includes entrance fee, transportation and English speaking guide. Transportation by hydrofoil on the way back to St.Petersburg.

Tour 2: Sunday August 31 - 10:00 - 15:00
(Tour duration: approximately 5 hours)

Saint-Petersburg is famous all over the world not only for its marvelous palaces, monuments and museums, but also for its beautiful surroundings. The former Royal summer residences still delight the citizens and the guests of St. Petersburg. We propose to take a guided tour of magnificent Petersburg suburbs Pavlovsk and Pushkin.

Dating from the late 18th to the 19th century, Pavlovsk was a summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. Its architects were amongst the greatest of the period: Cameron, Brenna, Quarenghi, Voronikhin and Rossi. The rooms of the Pavlovsk palace are decorated with natural and artificial marble, molding and paintings. The landscape park, one of the largest in Europe, covers an area of 600 hectares. After the end of the World War II the palace was restored, and today it is the only completely restored palace in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.

Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) is a town to the south from St. Petersburg. It was the main summer residence of the royal family, hence the name (Tsarskoe Selo means tsars village). The second name of the town is Pushkin. It was called so in honour of great Russian poet, as Alexander Pushkin his life was closely connected to this town. The main landmark of Tsarskoe Selo is Catherine Palace, famous for its Amber Room.

Price: 80 euro

Price includes entrance fees, transportation and English speaking guide.

Tour 3: Sunday August 31 - 12.00-16:00
Tour 5: Wednesday September 3 - 15:00-19:00
(Tour duration: approximately 4 hours)

The collection of the State Hermitage includes more than three million works of art and artefacts of the world culture. Among them are paintings, graphic works, sculptures and works of applied art, archaeological finds and numismatic material.

The main architectural ensemble of the Hermitage situated in the centre of St Petersburg consists of the Winter Palace, the former state residence of the Russian emperors, the buildings of the Small, Old (Great) and New Hermitages, the Hermitage Theatre and the Auxiliary House.

The tour includes the general orientation excursion around the museum – to show the visitors the highlights of the museum collection.

Bags, coats, umbrellas not allowed / coat check. Photo an video pemissions should be ordered in advance.

Price: 40 euro

Price includes transportation, entrance fee and English speaking guide.

Tour 4: Sunday August 31 - 15:00 - 16:30
Tour 6: Wednesday September 3 - 16:00 - 17:30
(Boat trip duration: approximately 1.5 hours)

St. Petersburg was built on the delta of the River Neva and is spread out over numerous islands of varying sizes, frequently prompting the nickname the "City of 101 Islands". Over the centuries numerous bridges were built to connect these islands across the various tributaries of the Neva and the city's many canals (Moika, Fontanka, Kanal Griboyedova, etc.). A boat trip on St. Petersburg's canals and waterways is one of the highlights of any visit to the city. From the Anichkov Bridge the river boats loop along the Neva, Fontanka and Moyka rivers, taking in many impressive bridges and landmarks. Alternatively, you can choose your own route to explore the city's rich architectural heritage by taking a water taxi. A pleasant wander along the embankments of the Griboedov Canal leads past imposing 19th-century apartment houses and fancifully decorated bridges. Canal boats are available from many docking stations around the city and provide a wonderful way to see the historic city from different perspective. The boats circle through many of the 64 canals, under beautiful bridges and past magnificent palaces and other landmarks dating back to the 20th, 19th and 18th century.

Price: 35 €

Price includes transportation to docking station, English speaking guide and canal boat tour