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Catherine II liked to change not only
consorts but architects as well. She found that Cameron's style was close to
baroque, which she considered suitable for palaces but not for completing the
construction of her capital or for the reconstruction of other major Russian
cities, which were included in her ambitious architectural program. For a time
it looked as if she had found what she wanted in another French architect, Yu.
M. Velten, who later became director of the Academy of Arts. He first
distinguished himself by building the embankments of the Neva river, 1762-1780,
and a few bridges across numerous Saint Petersburg canals. He also drew-up
plans for several churches and mansions in Saint Petersburg and built a
pleasure castle for the empress in Tchesma, some ten miles south of Saint
Petersburg. The castle was built in Gothic style, though it was supposed to
commemorate the Russian victory of 1770 over the Turks.
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