Gatchina

"Trotsk" redirects here. For the other city formerly named Trotsk, see Chapayevsk.

Not to be confused with Gashina.

Gatchina Гатчина
Town
Aerial view of the Gatchina Palace
Flag Coat of arms
Interactive map of Gatchina
Gatchina Location of Gatchina Gatchina Gatchina (European Russia) Gatchina Gatchina (Europe)
Coordinates: 59°35′N 30°08′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Leningrad Oblast
Administrative district	Gatchinsky District
Settlement municipal formationSelsoviet	Gatchinskoye Settlement Municipal Formation
First mentioned	1499
Town status since	1796
Elevation	100 m (330 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)
• Total	92,937
• Estimate  (2025)	91,514 (−1.5%)
• Rank	184th in 2010
Administrative status
• Capital of	Gatchinsky District, Gatchinskoye Settlement Municipal Formation
Municipal status
• Municipal district	Gatchinsky Municipal District
• Urban settlement	Gatchinskoye Urban Settlement
• Capital of	Gatchinsky Municipal District, Gatchinskoye Urban Settlement
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK )
Postal codes	188300-188310, 188319, 188399
Dialing code	+7 81371
OKTMO ID	41618101001
Town Day	Third Saturday in September
Website	www.gatchina-meria.ru

Gatchina (Russian: Га́тчина, IPA: [ˈɡatːɕɪnə]) is a town and the administrative center of Gatchinsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It lies 45 kilometers (28 mi) south-southwest of St. Petersburg, along the E95 highway which links Saint Petersburg and Pskov. Population: 92,937 (2010 census); 88,420 (2002 census); 79,714 (1989 Soviet census).

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1897	14,824	—
1926	16,600	+12.0%
1939	38,201	+130.1%
1959	36,725	−3.9%
1970	63,292	+72.3%
1979	75,153	+18.7%
1989	79,714	+6.1%
2002	88,420	+10.9%
2010	92,937	+5.1%
2021	94,377	+1.5%
Source: Census data

It was previously known as Khotchino, Gatchina (until February 14, 1923), Trotsk (until August 2, 1929), and Krasnogvardeysk (until January 28, 1944).

Gatchina, the largest town in Leningrad Oblast, is best known as the location of the Great Gatchina Palace, one of the main residences of the Russian Imperial Family during the 18th and 19th centuries. The historic center and Gatchina Palace are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site's "Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments". Another popular tourist attraction in Gatchina is the Prioratsky Palace.

Gatchina has placed highly in quality-of-life rankings in Russia.