Lefortovo Park in Moscow

Lefortovo Park in Moscow can hardly be classified as a particularly popular holiday destination for both the Muscovites themselves and the guests of the city. But nevertheless, this does not prevent him from being among the known and beloved by many objects.

One can say with complete certainty: having visited its territory at least once, you will strive to get here again and again, because Lefortovo Park actually can conquer the hearts of all, even the most experienced travelers.

About this area you can talk endlessly. Interesting history attracts curious visitors who want to escape from the summer heat find a long-awaited coolness here, lovers of active rest play with pleasure ball or badminton in the warm season, and in winter they ski or build snow castles.

general description

Lefortovo Park is an ancient palace and park complex. It is located in the eponymous area, which stretches in the eastern part of Moscow.

The park, which has an area of 32 hectares, can boast of the second name, which sounds like the Golovin garden.

Until now, on its territory only partially preserved architectural monuments and historical and landscape ensemble of the XVIII century.

Lefortovo Park in Moscow: the history of creation

Golovin Garden is in fact a huge historical architectural and landscape-park area.

It should be noted that it is also considered the first stationary and one of the oldest parks in Russia, which is among the most famous in Europe. For example, now not many people know that it was once the prototype for the majority of parks in St. Petersburg.

Originally, here was built the palace of General Field Marshal F. Golovin, the head of the foreign policy department, who, among other things, was also an associate of the great reformer Peter I.

The Golovinsky Palace was built in 1703, and such, undoubtedly, an important occupation, as the design and management of the works, was assigned to the then famous architect D. Ivanov. The latter built the building on the model of the Versailles ensemble.

The park itself received its name in honor of F. Lefort, the famous teacher and friend of Peter I, in the very first years of his reign. In the palace, they wanted to hold festivals and arrange receptions, and around it was a garden that the emperor himself laid down.

Later, under Empress Anna Ioanovna (since 1730), the park was called "Versailles on the Yauza".

It was then that the architect Francesco Rastrelli designed the baroque palace and park ensemble "Annief".

It should be noted that Lefortovo Park was considered the largest in Moscow in the XVII century.

What was saved?

By the way, the Golovin Garden is not the only name of this territory, in Soviet times it was called the Park of the Moscow Military District. Already at that time, questions like: "And where is Lefortovo Park? How to get to this place? "- did not cause any difficulties. Why? The thing is that many people knew about it, and there was no end of visitors from here.

Until now, there are preserved overgrown ponds, the remains of red brick terraces, a dam bridge that separates ponds and serves as the base for the main avenue of Lefortovo Park lined with lime trees, and once the delightfully, and now, unfortunately, Rastrelli grotto.

Not far from the lower pond there is a semicircular gazebo erected in memory of Peter the Great and recently restored.

Many people say that the park with such an interesting and impressive history is now in great need of reconstruction and arrangement.

Capital gondolas

Lefortovo Park (Moscow) is truly unique. Once on its territory was built a special hydraulic system, according to which Peter I was hoping to get from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

To date, specialists are actively working here, more than 50 archaeological works have been carried out, the bottom of reservoirs has been inspected and approximately 200 m of the line of the Annhofa Canal passed. The real discovery was discovered fortifications of the banks, built at that distant time, embankments on the surface, the bases of arbors, bridges, marinas on the Great Pond and the fountain in front of the Grotto.

Another interesting attraction of the park is a gazebo-half-rounder. This ancient building with a bust of Peter I was built in 1805 in honor of the place of "rest" of the emperor. During the strongest hurricane, which swept in June 1904, it, unfortunately, was completely destroyed, but it managed to restore, returning the former appearance.

What is the park today?

During the restoration of the gazebo monument in Lefortovo Park it was rebuilt and made a complete copy of the 18th century building. On a high base, a granite obelisk is set at a semicircular pavilion with eight tall columns of gray stone.

It is carved the words of Peter I that he hoped to get on the water from St. Petersburg to Moscow, said in November 1724, when the construction of a hydro canal for the connection of the two capitals had just begun. Perhaps, it's hard to imagine that in fact there could actually exist such a station "Lefortovo Park". "How to get to St. Petersburg?" - would ask the guests of the city, and Muscovites would recommend to them such a picturesque way along the river ... It did not work out.

This corner, according to the Dutch style, was created with a lot of dams, ponds, islets, canals and cascades. Despite the fact that he had to repeatedly rebuild, still managed to maintain the original layout.

The main composition axis of the Lefortovo Park runs parallel to the river. Yauza. Until now, three terraces of the XVIII century, built of red brick, a system of canals and flowing ponds, feeding from the river. Sinički, a bridge-dam connecting the ponds, the balustrade and the dilapidated picturesque grotto of K. B. Rastrelli.

Lefortovo ponds are considered as a special attraction of the park, which are located in the upper and middle reaches of the river. Sinichki. Each has its own name. They are fish, usually a couple (or even one) of white swans and several flocks of ducks. Until today, an unusual dam Venus, separating the two most beautiful ponds.

How to get to the park

"Lefortovo Park" - a metro with such a name on the map of the Moscow metro is not to be found, which means that people who do not orient themselves in the city will not be able to get here as simply as we would like.

Note that this facility is located within a 20-minute walk from the Baumanskaya station.

From the Square of three stations (metro station "Komsomolskaya") you can reach it by tram No. 50, and from the metro station "Kurskaya" - 24.

From the "Aviamotornaya" and the "Red Gate" to the park there is a trolley bus No. 24.

Also, you can get to the Lefortovo Park (address: Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya St., 3) by the minibus № 545 "Kurskaya - Aviamotornaya".

Archaeological excavations in the park

Under the supervision of the chief archaeologist of Moscow A. Veksler, archaeological excavations were carried out for three years in the city's budget for the money of the city budget . They provided experts not only with much valuable information about the original layout of the garden and park monument, but also the initial data for its future reconstruction. Thanks to the excavations, the historical basis for the restoration of the territory was provided.

Truly inimitable and unique is the Lefortovo Park. The official site willingly shares information that to date, over 50 excavations have been carried out along the entire length of the park's hydraulic system, the bottom of the reservoirs of the park of Peter the Great, Anna Ioannovna and Catherine of Imperial Times, about 200 m of the Annenhof Canal line, Coasts, ancient embankments, the grounds of once popular quays on the Great Pond, colorful bridges, expertly executed gazebos and a fountain in front of the Grotto.

A great place to relax

Few doubt that the Lefortovo Park - it's actually a great place for walking and distraction from the city bustle. Muscovites, guests of the capital, mothers with wheelchairs, lovers of young couples and pensioners rest in it.

Historical excursions for the guests of the palace and park ensemble, theatrical performances are systematically arranged here, and on big holidays the brass band plays different military music.

Since 1934, the park has a stadium that hosts visitors to this day. There it is necessary to visit all lovers of sports.

The foggy future of the park

Today, the question of the further fate of this palace and park ensemble is very acute. Why? The thing is that such a historically valuable architectural object is in a very deplorable state: it is half built up, partially abandoned, and the original ensemble is even divided into parts.

From the very beginning, both the park and the palace were a single whole. Now only green territory can be considered a part of the city, and the palace and other ancient buildings belong to the property of the federal authorities and transferred to the use of the military.

To save Lefortovo, a cultural-historical, in the past, magnificent ensemble, in the beginning. XXI century. Under the territory of the park built a huge city tunnel up to 3.2 km long. It became the fifth longest tunnel in Europe.

The hope for a better future of the park is also instilled by the fact that in 2005, by the order of the Moscow government, he was included in MGOMZ (Moscow State Joint Museum-Reserve). And this means that, most likely, the object will still not be destroyed.

Guest Reviews

As they say, how many people, so many opinions. For example, young people say that there are very few holidays in the park, and apart from a couple of stalls, there are no shops with souvenirs, no restaurants, no cafes where you can eat or buy something for memory.

It's a shame, but many people and at all associate Lefortovo park with wasteland. For example, athletes who are engaged in physical training at the stadium, say that the building, which is nearby, has been empty for about three years.

But there are those who are proud of Lefortovo Park. Among them, as a rule, people who prefer solitude and quiet leisurely walks. There is really little people here, and there is an opportunity to relax perfectly from the city bustle in the shade of large trees, admiring the quiet windmills and picturesque ponds.