Pavilion "Pyramid" is one of the first pavilion of the Park, built in neoegipetskom style which became a model for such facilities in Russia. Pavilions in the form of an ancient symbol of eternity - the pyramid - are widely used in the decoration of the European landscape parks.

The pavilion stands on the shore of Lake Lebiazhie. It was believed that the composition of the pavilion used Roman pyramid Cestius (tombstone I in. BC), but in the documents of the 18th century. "Pyramid" and called the "Egyptian" and "pyramid made of stone," and "pyramid pavilion" and "pyramid with urns" and "pyramidal mausoleum", and "China."

"Pyramid" was built of brick. Author of the project - the architect V. Neelov. Its building belongs to the 1770-1772 biennium. On the facade of the "Pyramid" is the entrance to the corners in 1773 established four columns of pink and gray marble of the Urals, some items are made of pedestals nyukshinskogo porphyry.

When in 1781 "Pyramid" dilapidated, it was dismantled. Newly it was built by architect Charles Cameron in the same place in the 1782-1783 biennium. The work, supplied craftsmen and materials merchant from Sofia Yevdokim Zhdanov led the masons Ivan Balakshin. Cameron kept the granite base and a high pedestal and put them in the same way on each side of the pyramid, changing only a few made in the form of vases decoration. Entrance to the pavilion located by the Great Pond, a little door opening tapers upward as narrowing the very brink of the building ("Pyramid" Neelova entrance was rectangular with a classic projecting portico, which was crowned with a pediment).

The pavilion was specially placed a little away from the main track, with a view to strolling accidentally nabredali him. Overgrown with moss, greenish surface of the romantic constructions, the traditional end of the 18 parks in., Giving it features of similarity with the ancient mausoleum.

Entrance to the Pavilion was closed in a simple grid pattern as a series of thin spears. Cameron differently than Neel executed interior "Pyramid". Hall he made a round, not rectangular, and cut off his spherical dome, in the center - hole. Light shining through a small, second, dome top through the window cut in it. The floor is covered with marble slabs.

On both sides of the round hall alternate semi-circular and rectangular niches intended for vases with ash. Expense of the room seems to be quite spacious. In the niches housed a large collection of antique urns and vases. In January 1780 in Tsarskoye Selo in St. Petersburg brought Roman marble statues, columns, vases, capitals. Made of various types of marble, jasper, porphyry collection is constantly replenished. The "Pyramid" was kept and a collection of antique marble vessel top incisors.

This type of pavilion, which dates back to the ancient Egyptian funerary constructions of nature, and so widely used in the architecture of the turn of 18-19 centuries., Was chosen not by accident. This is due to the fact that on the opposite side of the entrance to the building, at the foot of the pavilion buried three favorite Catherine II doggie Zemira, Tom Anderson and Duchess. Before the burial places of their boards were marked with white marble epitaphs. Epitaph for Zemirah composed Count Louis Philippe de Segur, the French ambassador. A duchess composed the epitaph for the Empress.

Pavilion "Pyramid" in Catherine Park, which is on a par with the monuments of military glory, formed a new type of historical emotion when major historical events become equal to the personal preferences.