Catherine's Palace and the surrounding parks were create by Empress Elizabeth and Catherine the Great, which is why Pushkin was formerly known as "village of the tsars" (Tsarskoye Selo). The palace, with its famous Amber room, is an impressive post-WWII reconstruction. The adjoining Cameron Gallery has a magnificent view of the park and the Agate room. The gardens of Catherine Park are dotted with unusual buildings, including a Chinese village.