Billion Dollar House #5
The Great Palace, Tsarskoye Selo, St. Petersburg
Talk about tsar power. This perfect country retreat was the summer home to the Russian royal family for more than 200 years. This palace--now in decent condition--was once a decrepit fixer-upper discovered by Catherine I, wife of Peter the Great. Built in the style of Louis XV, the home, which sits on about 1,428 acres, comes with several separate palaces--two of the finest being the Catherine Palace, which includes 20,000 works of art, and the Alexander Palace, which was designed by Italian architect Giacomo Quarenghi. Historically, the palace was enjoyed as a summer home, but central heating could make this baroque beauty a relaxing getaway all year round.
