Petrovsky Park and its sights

Moscow is not only museums, numerous architectural monuments and high-rise buildings. The city is also famous for the abundance of green areas, gardens and squares. In this article, we suggest that you make a correspondence excursion to Petrovsky Park. Photos of this wonderful corner of the Russian capital you can see below.

Briefly about the park

Petrovsky Park (Moscow) is considered a monument of landscape art of the XIX century and is protected by the state. It is located in the north-western part of the capital and adjoins one of its sides to Leningradsky Prospekt. On the opposite side, the recreational city zone is bordered by the Petrovsky-Razumovskaya alley.

Several architectural masterpieces have survived in the park. We are talking about the Travel Palace, the Annunciation Church, the Villa "Black Swan". All these sights will be discussed further.

Petrovsky Park currently occupies an area of 22 hectares. The nearest metro station is "Dynamo". How and when did this park appear on the map of Moscow?

The emergence of the park

It all started in 1774, when the tsarina Catherine II ordered to build on this place a chic stone palace (preserved to this day). During the restoration of Moscow after the Patriotic War of 1812, it was decided to surround the given structure with an orchard.

Thus, Petrovsky Park (Moscow) was founded in 1827. Planning for the future green oasis of the city was done by architect Ivan Tamansky. Under his leadership, the restoration of the palace itself, which suffered greatly in the war, was carried out. In the park dug a pond, and also laid three beam avenues from the palace.

The park immediately became the center of the city's festivities, and rich aristocrats with pleasure built here their own villas and villas. In the XIX century, there is a whole range of restaurants, in particular - "Yar" and "Eldorado". By the way, it was the Petrovsky Park that connected the first electric line in the city with Strastnoy boulevard .

Black pages in the history of the park

After the coup in October 1917, the Bolsheviks came to power. The first years of their rule were marked by brutal repressions, which went down in history as "red terror". And it was the Petrovsky Park that became one of the places of an indicative execution of the displeased new authorities.

So, in September 1918 in the park the Bolsheviks shot at least 80 people. Among them were priests, former ministers and officials of the Russian Empire. According to eyewitnesses, the execution was public, and after executions all the executed were also robbed.

In the early years of Soviet power Petrovsky Park has significantly changed: the pond was filled, and on most of it the stadium "Dynamo" was built.

Petrovsky Traveling Palace

Being in the park, one can not help noticing the huge chic red building, built either in Turkish or Neo-Gothic style. This is the Petrovsky Travel Palace.

It was built in 1780 and served as a place (residence) for the stops of high-ranking individuals who traveled from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Catherine II also stayed here (in 1787). And after all the Russian monarchs came here before their coronation. Today the palace serves as a venue for receptions of various delegations by the Moscow government.

In 1812 in this building was the rate of Napoleon. The French emperor stayed here four days, and from the windows of the palace he contemplated burning Moscow. This event Alexander Pushkin devoted a few lines to his work "Eugene Onegin."

Petrovsky traveling palace is depicted on a commemorative coin of 25 rubles nominal value, issued in 2015.

Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Annunciation church in Petrovsky Park was erected in the middle of the XIX century by the project of Feodor Richter. The church building is built in Russian style and has two levels. A quadrangular bell-tower with a porch and two stairs adjoins the temple.

In the 1930s, the church was closed by Soviet power. It housed the warehouse of the Zhukovsky Academy. During this time, the belfry, dome, and also the porch of the structure were badly damaged. In 1990 the temple was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Villa "Black Swan"

Another architectural decoration of the Petrovsky Park in Moscow is the villa "Black Swan". It strikes with its beauty, grace and exoticism. The villa belonged to the famous Russian philanthropist Nikolai Ryabushinsky. He was a great connoisseur of art, he published for his money the magazine "Golden Fleece", and also organized many art exhibitions in Moscow.

The villa was built at the beginning of the 20th century by a rather famous architect Adamovich in the style of neoclassicism. About it among the townspeople there were a lot of different rumors and conjectures. It should be noted that most of them were initiated by the owner of the building.

The name "Black Swan" villa was not accidental, as all the furniture in the house, as well as dishes and even napkins were marked with a special sign with the image of this bird.

Thus, Petrovsky Park is not just a monument of landscape art, but also a place with a rich history and several beautiful architectural masterpieces.