The history of Pavlovsk as magnificent palace and park ensemble has begun on December 12, 1777 when Ekatherine II has presented a small ground in six kilometers from Tsarskoye Selo to the son Pavel and his wife Maria Fiodorovna on the occasion of the birth of their firstborn - future emperor Alexander I. The new estate has been called "the village Pavlovsk". But already shortly hardly it was possible to call promptly changing estate the village.

   In 1779 in Pavlovsk two small wooden palaces - Paullyust ("Pavlova joy") and Marienthal ("Maria's Valley") have been built. In 1780 construction has gained a bigger scope as for creation of palace and park ensemble Charles Cameron, the favourite architect of Ekaterina, the big expert on antiquity and the follower of the famous Italian architect Antonio Palladi has been invited. In 1782 the first stone of the new Big palace which was built on the former Paullyust's place has been put. Also the second wooden palace has soon been demolished, and on his place there was an amusing fortress of "Marienthal" (later "Bip") constructed on the project of the architect V. Brenn.
   In 1788 Paul I preferring Gatchina to Pavlovsk has presented "the village Pavlovsk" to the wife Maria Fiodorovna. And on November 12, 1796, in a week after the accession to the throne, the new emperor has issued the decree on renaming of the village into the city of Pavlovsk.