GATCHINA

gatchina, a town of russia, in the government of st petersburg, 29 m. by rail s. of the city of st petersburg, in 59° 34' n. and 30° 6' e. pop. (1860) 9184; (1897) 14,735. it is situated in a flat, well-wooded, and partly marshy district, and on the south side of the town are two lakes. among its more important buildings are the imperial palace, which was founded in 1770 by prince orlov, and constructed according to the plans of the italian architect rinaldi; a military orphanage, founded in 1803; and a school for horticulture. among the few industrial establishments is a porcelain factory. at gatchina an alliance was concluded between russia and sweden on the 29th of october 1799.