Peterhof ( or Peter's Court in German) is an island covered in breathtaking palaces and lush gardens. Peter the Great selected this island as his home due to its location beside the Kronshdadt Naval Base. Peterhof is most famous for the Grand Cascade, an arrangement of fountains that resembles those of the Louvre, and the Statue of Samson, the carving of a lion representing Peter's victory over Sweden (the lion is a symbol of Swedish monarchy). Germans occupied Peterhof during the Siege of Leningrad and destroyed many of its pieces of art. Since then, much has been recovered and restored. Peterhof stands as one of the most famous sights in St. Petersburg.