[Geno Prussakov]

Alright!

It's 7:32 AM (Eastern US Time) and another good morning with Russian Legacy! :) We have another contest for all of our current and prospective affiliates today!

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QUESTION: What building has longest facade on the European continent?

PRIZE: 1.45% commission increase at Russian Legacy's affiliate program. For life!

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Important Condition: there will be only 1 winner (the one that gives the most detailed and well argumented reply to the question)


Looking forward to your answers!

Geno

[jrrl]

The Catherine Palace facade is the longest in all of Europe, stretching more than 1,000 feet in a fantastic profusion of columns, windows, pilasters and statues. The Palace contains exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms, decorative bronze, sculptures. Its three parks have over 100 architectural structures ranging from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures.


Of course, it also says:

The square is flanked by the General Staff Headquarters building, which has the longest facade in Europe measuring 610 meters (2,000 feet). Italian architect Carlo Rossi silenced sceptics, who predicted it would instantly collapse under the enormous weight of the bronze horses, by sitting on top of the arch the day builders dismantled the scaffolding.

and...

the Chesterfield Canal, Wentworth Woodhouse (with the longest facade of any stately home in Europe)

But I vote for the Russian one given the context of the contest.

-John.

[Geno Prussakov]

Google says it incorrectly, John...

Geno

[jrrl]

just edited the post... sorry... premature epostulation occurred earlier...

-John.

[Geno Prussakov]

John (and everyone),

I said that I need "detailed and well argumented" replies. Even if 10 people's replies are essentially the same (see contest #1 (http://forum.abestweb.com/showthread.php?t=61951) as an example), I will pick the one reply that is worth the prize.

Geno

[Ebudae]

QUESTION: What building has longest facade on the European continent?


Well, I am thinking the..

State Hermitage Museum in St.Petersburg - which also includes the Winter Palace. Construction on the The Winter Palace began in 1754 by Peter the Great's daughter, Elisaveta Petrovna. Later generations added on and the Hermitage now consists of 6 connected buildings. It houses over 3 million works of art. It is on the banks of the Neva River.

[MichaelColey]

The Arch of the General Headquarters in The Palace Square in St. Petersburg, which is over 3,300 feet.

[jrrl]

http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/imgs_En/05/hm5_2_7g0.jpg

Under the rule of Emperor Nicholas I, Russian classical architecture would reach its peak. The leading practitioner of this style was an architect named Karl Rossi, often called by the more Italianate name Carlo Rossi, although he was a native of St. Petersburg. In 1829, Rossi would complete his masterwork, the General Staff Building, sometimes called the General Headquarters Building.

And what a building it was. Two vast wings, each 1000 feet long spread along the length of Palace Square. Conjoining them, an immense arch more than 50 feet wide. More impressive than the size of the arch is the statuary that tops it. The bronze sculpture of victory weighs 16 tons and stands 30 feet tall. Critics of Rossi believed that the arch would never support such as a ponderous work. In reply, Rossi is reported to have sat atop the arch as the sculpture was placed and the scaffolding removed. The arch held and Rossi's engineering genius was clear.

Today the building is part of the state Hermitage, a fitting guardian for a building that is itself a Russian treasure as much as any of the exhibits it now contains.

-John, who took Russian history in middle school and Russian language in college, but has yet to set foot on Russian soil.

[jrrl]

It's been a long time since I took Russian, and transliteration is never pretty but:

Karl Rossi formala nabolshoi dlinii zdanie v Evropu, kto zhoby pa Engliski "General Staff Building".

-John, aka Vanya in Russian classes many moons ago.

[jrrl]

There once was a Russian named Rossi
An architect to the Czars (who were bossy)
The General Staff Building
He was famous for building
Although so big, inside one could get lost-y.


-John, who is wondering if his ear infection is spreading to his brain.

[jrrl]

Howabout Haiku?

Karl Rossi's opus
The General Staff Building
Man, that thing is long.

-John, who clearly should be building pages instead of worrying about this.

[Ebudae]

Howabout Haiku?

Karl Rossi's opus
The General Staff Building
Man, that thing is long.

-John, who clearly should be building pages instead of worrying about this.

lol John - you got my vote!

:applause:

[Geno Prussakov]

-John, who clearly should be building pages instead of worrying about this.

Alright, alright... Start building your pages! You are the WINNER!!! :trophy: :trophy: :trophy:

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! :applause: :applause: :applause:

"Zdanie Glavnogo Shtaba" (not just the "Arch", MichaelColey) or the General Staff/Headquarters Building (located in St. Petersburg, Russia - just opposite the Winter Palace, across the Palace Square) is indeed the building with the longest facade in Europe (longer than the Catherine's Palace, longer than Versailles, and longer than the Wentworth Woodhouse).

Thanks for the great picture of it too, John! There are, of course, better pictures, but this one definitely shows the length.

BTW, John, do you happen to know what Royal residence has the longest facade the world?

Geno

[Ebudae]

-John, aka Vanya in Russian classes many moons ago.

lol, I was Svetlana

[Geno Prussakov]

lol, I was Svetlana

That's my mother's name!

Geno

[jrrl]

Alright, alright... Start building your pages! You are the WINNER!!! :trophy: :trophy: :trophy:

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! :applause: :applause: :applause:



:super: Persistence and silliness will get you everywere, I guess. :nerd:
BTW, John, do you happen to know what Royal residence has the longest facade the world?


Well, given the context, I'd probably venture the aforementioned Catherine Palace, although the Forbidden City is what first popped to mind. Versailles is shorter than the Catherine Palace, I think (from my serious and thorough research :) ).

If it has to be a current royal residence, that limits it a bit. Not too many monarchies left. Buckingham Palace is wide; not sure if Windsor Castle counts as one building... no idea about Balmoral, and honestly no clue whatsoever about Norwegian, Swedish, etc. residences.

-John.

[Geno Prussakov]

It is the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, Russia, John. Here's the picture:

http://img221.echo.cx/img221/5531/1ptsarskoyeselo0021800air1cour.jpg

Let me know your affiliate ID at SaS, John and I will increase your commission, as promised.

Thanks for taking part in this contest, everyone! If you haven't won this time, don't despair. :) There will be more!

Geno

[Geno Prussakov]

John,

Your commission level is now increased by the 1.45%.

Don't see any hits from you (save sales). Start building your pages, my friend!

Geno