Parks of Moscow

Posted on January 2, 2007
Filed Under Travel

Vorobjevi gory

Imagine yourselves that before you – a mysterious country. If you will want to take a view of it in order to appreciate your potential better and choose a route, go to the Vorobjevi gory. Vorobjevi gory is one of the highest points of the capital. Vorobjevi gory, or just Vorobjevka, - one of the oldest promenade areas of Moscow. Only two hundred years ago here citizens of all classes and different business. Now much has changed, but an observation place has kept its attraction.

In free days here traveling buses are parked, and in weekends the observation place is occupied with wedding corteges. From here the city is clearly visible: in light haze the Kremlin towers and cupolas shine, from the right – Neskuchniy garden, from the left – Novodevichiy monastery.

High, bent like with horseshoe, a slope in the wind of the Moskva-river is another sports park. It is called a paradise by winter sports amateurs. From the Vorobjevi gori Neskuchniy garden, smoothly transforming to Central park of culture, is well seen. Old pergolas, decorating the quay, remind about centenary history of Neskuchniy garden. It is a place for secluded walks. However in Central park of culture all will find entertainment by their taste – from skating to various side-shows.

Go to station “Sportivnaya” by metro. From the exit turn to the right and in 10 minutes of unhurried walk you’ll find yourself at the walls of Novodevichiy monastery. From the corner of Bolshaya Pirogovskaya street and Novodevichiy monastery very beautiful ensemble is seen – it seems the monastery hovers above the mirror-like surface of the pond, embodying eternity and connection of times.

On the territory of the monastery there is something which is worth to see – sun-dial just at the entry and old guns of war in the bays of the far wall. In the monastery a very beautiful garden is laid. Wonderful world of Novodevichiy ponds is a huge territory, intending for rest and contemplative pastime. Its paths are set with benches, in summer there are very much green – a real oasis of clear air and calm. At the pond there is a funny sculptural group, representing a mother-duck with baby birds. The bronze ducks are very nice, though naturally you can’t treat them to bread.

Poklonnaya hill (Bowing hill)

Now let’s go to the Poklonnaya (from Russia “bowing”) hill.

It is interesting why this place has such unusual name. In turned out, formerly this name wasn’t considered proper at all. The hill, on which we are standing, was called Poklonnaya hill on Smolenskaya road formerly. By legend, formerly in this place Napoleon was waiting for the key from Moscow, but as it is known, he didn’t succeed in it. And now, enter the park with the help of a wide alley. In the distance luxuriant crowns of tree sway, and from the left in the green lawn flower clock, the biggest in the world (they are registered in the “Book ), spreads. Its minute-hand of 4.5 m length is 1.5 m longer than hands of the main clock of the country on Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin!

They say that on the Poklonnaya hill an oceanarium of 20 thousand sq. km will appear soon. In it a underwater restaurant, cinema and theater of musical fountains will be opened soon. Through oceanarium limpid tunnels on several levels will be built.

Tsaritsino

Now next in turn is Tsaritsino.

Here every season meets guests in its own way

And it is so pleasant to walk about Tsaritsinsky park! Tsaritsino is located on the steep hill, covered with high secular trees. From here for kilometers stretch majestic alleys, from them stretch cozy paths, and there are romantic grottos, pergolas and little bridges. At the approach to the museum-preserve guests are met by pensive Tsaritsinsky ponds. Near its ancient dam numerous ducks winter. Though they are wild, they are accustomed to man: gaily waddling, groaning and twisting their dock-tailed, they gather by flocks to f man, who puts out of the bag something eatable. So take with you a little loaf of white bread: in winter birds are hungry and what pleasure is to observe their simple-minded fuss just at your feet!

The greatest mystery of Tsaritsino is Big palace, in which nobody has ever lived. Its building began in 1775 by order of Catherine II. The empress had never got tired of admiring the idyllic nature. For 10 years Bazhenov was engaged in erection of tsar’s residence, but didn’t find monarchic thanks: Catherine, had hardly glanced at tsar’s ensemble, became so angry that ordered to demolish all constructions. Mikhail Kazakov’s attempt to rebuild the Big palace hadn’t met with success.

After Catherine’s death unclaimed emperor’s residence began ruining. And then something unforeseen happened – Moscowers grew fond of the ensemble, condemned by the tsarina. May be owing to the richest décor, created by Bazhenov, buildings, which have been kept to our days, look so alive, that they have many mysteries.

Stars, kokoshniks, rates, made of white stone on red brick, add to architectural fantasies of the architecture unique peculiarity.

Tsaritsino is attractive as unfinished book, - longs for thinking out own variant of denouement! For holidays fiery fountains of fireworks light up the palaces with fabulous light.

Gorky’s park of culture and rest (Krimsky val, 9), in the central part of Moscow, between Pushkinsky quay of the Moskva-river and Leninsky prospect. Entries into the park are built in the form of triumphal arch. In 1932 the park was called after the name of M. Gorky. The park represents a united green massive of over 60 kinds of trees. Dominate lime, elm, ash, oak, maple, birch, willow and others. In the central part of the park grey nut-tree and walnut-tree, chestnut, bird cherry tree Maaka are found. Rosarium, flower gardens, decorative reservoirs.

The park is situated along the bank of the Moskva-river; the park zone is of 7 km length. Here there are many open areas with lawns, flower-beds, sculptures, fountain. The central place in the parterre is occupied with a pool (its square is over 5,000 m) with slightly uplifted figured platform, onto which bridges-passages led. To the left and to the right from central alleys are shady gardens. In the eastern part is the territory of side-shows, behind which children’s town is situated. In the western part a pavilion, pavilion of culture and Green theater (1928, reconstruction 1957, architecture is J. N. Sheverdyaev). Holidays of New Year fir-tree, skating rinks, schools of figure skating work; in summer landing stage in the Moskva-river works; there is hire of boats.

Alexandrovsky garden

One of the first public gardens of Russia. It is situated in the center of Moscow, on the slope of Borovitsky knoll, along the western wall of the Kremlin. Consists of three gardens, leading down to the Moskva-river: Upper – from square of Revolution to Troitsky gates (length is 350 m, opened in 1821), Middle – from Troitsky to Borovitsky gates (length is 382 m, opened in 1822) and Low – from Borovitsky gates to Kremlevskaya quay (length is 132 m, opened in 1823).

The base of the planning is three alleys, parallel to the Kremlin wall. Numerous lime-trees, maples, blue spruces, decorative bushes (lilac, jasmine, bird cherry tree, acacia, hawthorn). Flower-beds of tulips and roses are laid. An oak of 200 has been kept.

Wonderful cast-iron gates and a fence from the side of square of Revolution symbolize the victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic war of 1812 (architecture E. Paskal); from the side of Manege the garden is fenced with forged grilles (architecture P. M. Shestakov). Under the Middle Arsenalny tower of the Kremlin grotto “Ruins” (1841, architecture Bove), in which an orchestra played, was built.

Losiniy island (Elk island)

This forest abounded in elks, from this the first part of its name is originated – Losiniy (Elk); forest giants – elks – are found here up to now.

National park “Losiniy island” (Elk island) is situated on the square of 10144 ha in the north-east part of Moscow (one thirds of the territory) and its parkland zone (two thirds of the territory) on the flat low plain with total angle of title to the east, at the borders of the southern burgs of Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge and Mescherskaya lowland.

The history of this forest massive is connected, first of all, with the great prince’s hunts in Russia, especially with the name of tsar Alexei Mikhailovitch Romanov. Just in the years of his ruling (1629-1676) in Sokolnicheskaya grove, the southern extremity of “Losiniy island”, falcon’s yard, where people studied skill of hunting for hunting birds.

The territory of “Losiniy island” is drained with a system of rivers, springs and narrows with rather shallow plains. The main channel is the Yauza river of 36 km length and 450 km of total area of drainage basin. Besides Yauza within the National park its confluents – the river Budaika (formerly Bugaika) and also the river Pehorka – flow. Unfortunately lately one can say about the Yauza river that it is practically in very grave ecological condition, which is irreversible.

The fauna of “Losiniy island” is represented by over 230 species of vertebrates, including over 160 species of birds, 38 species of mammalians; fishes are represented by 15 species and reptiles – by 5. The faunistic complex of National park is formed of combination of west-european elements forming the primary part of its population and taiga kinds, peculiar to coniferous (mostly spruce) forests. Representatives of the European fauna are hazel mouse, bank vole, wood mouse and many others. Taiga elements are bullfinch, three-toed woodpecker, mountain hare and so on.

“The island” is interesting also by historical and cultural sights. Archeological researches discovered barrows of IX-XI centuries, ancient settlements. The archeological dig in Alexeevskaya grove, where remains of the palace of XVII century were found, was sensational. And the history of Mitischenskaya water-pumping station is closely connected with settling of the first in Russia water-flowing water-pipe dating to the time of Catherine II. Formerly in these areas a chapel was situated on the famous Gromovoi spring, the most abundant spring of water for the capital. And the station Belokamennaya on the first Moscow circular railway – uncommon monument of industrial architecture. On the Yaroslavskoehighway (former way to “Troitsa”) Poklonnaya hill – a sacred place of pilgrims – is shown to visitors.

Botanical garden

The main botanical garden of Russian Academy of Sciences – a unique establishment, where several generations of research workers and gardeners collected the richest collection of plants, representing manifold plant world of the Earth. The official date of foundation the Main Botanical Garden is considered to be April, 14, 1945.

In the Botanical garden all important expositions were built and collection lots were made. In the Stock greenhouse one of the largest in Europe collection of tropical and subtropical plants, counting about 5300 kinds and forms. In the eastern part of the Garden, siding with All-Russian exhibition center, an exposition of European part of Russia, Siberia, Far East tropical and subtropical flora is situated.

In the expositions plants of tundra, various types of forests (dark coniferous, light coniferous, deciduous, mixed coniferous-broad-leaved and other), meadows, including alpine and subalpine, steppes, deserts – in total over 2000 kinds, 300 kinds of which are rare and vanishing species. At the reservoirs and channels water-resistant plants are grouped.

On the artificial little hills, different in size and form, plant groups of altitudinal belts of various botanical and geographical regions are set. Collection lots of flower and decorative plants are located on the territory, closed for visiting. These collections serve as bases for introduction researches.

One of the most beautiful and attended expositions “Rosarium” is being reconstructed now. Exposition “Rokariy” is being also reconstructed.

The stock greenhouse (built in 1954) represents the unique combination of live museum of tropical and subtropical plants, available for a wide circle of visitors. The greenhouse is a depository of live collections, originally got from botanical gardens of Germany and supplemented in the result of interchange and purchases in different botanical establishments of the whole Earth, and also collected by research workers of the Main Botanical Garden during expeditions in various tropical regions (Vietnam, Madagascar, India, Cuba, Brazil and others). The stock greenhouse is also a depository of rare and vanishing species of plants. Over a hundred species of its collection are entered into the International Red book.

Arboretum is the largest exposition of the Garden, spreading for the area of 75 ha. Among trees and bushes there are numerous migrants from various areas of our country, and also of other countries and continents – Western Europe, Japan, China, Northern America.

The arboretum is built as a landscape park, however plants in it adjoin by principle of systematic cognation. On one glade one can see a group of species close to each other, originated from different nooks of the Earth but belonging to one and the same genus.

The Garden was rewarded with international and national prizes and diplomas.

Izmailovsky park

Formerly here not far from village Izmailovo, a tsar’s estate, the place for hunting, specially for which animals were reared, was situated. Here Peter I spent his childhood. Izmailovsky park is situated in the eastern part of Moscow. Now – one of the largest municipal parks of the world (its area makes up 1180 ha). About 70 side-shows are at visitors’ service. On the territory of the park architectural monuments of XVII century – a five-domed cathedral and Mostovaya tower (1671) formerly enclosing a passage at the white stone bridge, leading to Izmailovsky island, have been kept. Two gates, which had served formerly entrances onto the territory of the tsar’s estate, belong to the notable constructions of Izmailovo. They were built in 1682 by architecture Terentiy Makarov.

Park Sokolniki

Sokolniki is one of the oldest parks of Moscow. In the 7th century and earlier here there was a large forest, the place of tsar’s falconry. The park with area of 600 ha (four times four times as much as the territory of London Hide-park) was opened in 1931 on the territory of former Sokolnichja (Falconer) grove. In 16-17 centuries the grove was a part of a huge forest, which was used by tsars for falconry.

On the territory of the park the Green theater, dance pavilion, hospitals, the famous forest school, playgrounds and exhibition complex, consisting of 22 pavilions for arranging international exhibitions.

Our walk draws to a close. Now we go unhurriedly to the night city. Twilight is mysterious time…

Moscow attracts and ravish with its lights, now warm and caressing, now cold like light of a far star. As soon as it is night, the famous house of the Pashkovs, illuminated by floodlights, return its former beauty. In the evening glass walls of the trade pavilions resemble magic crystal gallery. And bridges resemble ships of children’s dreams and fantasies.

Architectures say that light open people’s eyes to architecture. Illumination of the town, which we see now, not only resolves an utilitarian task of lightning streets, but also creates an artistic image. Visit the Historical Museum of city illumination “Moscow Lights”, which is situated in Armyansky lane, 3 (Miloslavsky’s chambers). Individual visiting is free.

About Author:

Alexander Evdokimov born in 1985 in Astrakhan (South of Russia). He has visited many russian villages, towns, cities. And then He has decided to open the site about Russia. He founded Russia-Travel.WS in 2005, and The site was opened in the middle of 2006. There are many free articles, foto, weather and other interesting information about Moscow city, Saint-Petersburg city, Lake Baikal, Altai mountains, Kamchatka Peninsula and etc. there.