TSARITSYNO PARK

Description

Essentials about Tsaritsyno Park in brief

Tsaritsyno Park (Place of the Tsarina) is located about 20 kilometers south of the city center and is a popular recreation area for Muscovites. Both the beautiful green space itself and the ensemble of historic buildings on the grounds, some of which house galleries and exhibitions, attract many people, especially at weekends and in fine weather, and are definitely worth a visit.

The history of Tsaritsyno Park

Historically, the development of the site dates back to Tsarina Catherine the Great, who wanted to have a country residence built just outside Moscow to rival the magnificent buildings in the Petersburg area. After ten years of construction under the direction of the architect Vasily Bashenov, the capricious tsarina was very dissatisfied with the first main building and had it torn down again. Until 1793, a second design by Matwei Kasakov, a student of Baschenov, was built. However, due to lack of money, the construction activity had to be stopped when the main and the most important outbuildings were only nearly half finished.

After the death of Catherine the Great in 1796, work on the project finally came to a halt, leaving the palace unfinished in the 19th century. During the 19th century, although some smaller annexes were completed in the Neoclassical style, the main buildings continued to remain unfinished.

By the beginning of the 21st century, the half-finished buildings gradually deteriorated into ruins. In 2005, Moscow Mayor Luzhkov finally decided on a huge revitalization program to restore the park and the entire architectural complex to its original beauty and splendor.

The buildings in Tsaritsyno Park

Today, Tsarisyno Park offers an incomparable visitor experience on a good 40 hectares for visitors interested in art and history. Whether in the Great Palace, the architecturally interesting Bread House or in the extensive and artfully designed gardens with bridges, fountains and turrets – in Tsaritsyno art and recreation can be perfectly combined. Today, the palace buildings house several galleries and exhibition spaces that provide information about the life of Catherine the Great, the architectural history of Tsaritsyno and archaeological finds from the area. In addition, temporary exhibitions on other topics are also held regularly.

The gardens of Tsaritsyno Park

However, most Muscovites come to Tsaritsyno Park for its extensive green spaces. They serve as an idyllic refuge for hectic Muscovites to relax in the grass or take a walk in the shade of the trees. By the way, unlike German habits, Russians are not afraid to dance in public. If you want to join in, you will find a dance floor in the middle of the forest, where (mostly older) Muscovites are shaking a leg.