Park "Sergievka" in Peterhof: a description of how to get, reviews. Object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation

This park is not included in the popular tourist routes. It does not bring tourists from all over the world to admire the fountains and palaces. The park is located beyond the famous palace and park ensemble in Peterhof. This is the Old Peterhof in the Petrodvorets district, where the native St. Petersburgers come most often to wander along the shady avenues of the park, to enjoy its marvelous beauty.

A special feature of this place is a lot of gardens, which, it seems, everyone forgot, leaving the most beautiful nature and unique buildings at the mercy of ruthless time. Probably, it was this authenticity that turned Sergievka into a special space.

A bit of history

In the distant past on this place rustled a dense forest. After he bought land in it AI Rumyantsev - public figure, politician of the times of Peter I, - he built a manor here, but now there is no trace left of him.

In honor of Sergei Rumyantsev, the grandson of the first owner of these lands, the park got its present name. Then the estate was acquired by Cyril Naryshkin - a prominent figure at the court of the emperor, but almost immediately after his death, the territory was bought by Nicholas I for his daughter and her husband Duke of Leuchtenberg.

The new owners ordered the architect Andrei Stakenschneider to design and build a country palace, servants' buildings, a church and break up gardens in the park "Sergievka" in Peterhof.

In the twenties of the last century the park received the status of a natural monument. The manor with all the buildings and territories adjoining it was transferred to the Leningrad University, in whose jurisdiction it is today. This fact is confirmed by a tablet at the turn to the palace.

During the Great Patriotic War the park was very damaged: almost all buildings were partially or completely destroyed. To the great regret, they have not been restored and have not been completely restored until now, although restorers have already begun work in Old Peterhof.

Sergievka Park: description

The landscape park, which was created in the first half of the XIX century, covers an area of one hundred and twenty hectares. It was defeated on the site of a natural forest area and today has partially retained the original layout. The natural complex of this natural monument is represented by non-moral and southern taiga forest communities, meadows, lowland bogs and coastal reed beds.

Birch and black alder prevail in the northern part (from the Gulf of Finland to the Oranienbaum Highway), in the middle part - oaks and limes. In other places birches and spruce are found. The largest areas in the park are occupied by birch forests and spruce forests.

This park is endowed with special beauty, thanks to several artificial ponds with dams and two ravines. On their bottom flow to the Gulf of Finland streams through which are transferred numerous bridges. Since 1920, there are scientific laboratories of the St. Petersburg State University.

The park is relatively small. Especially if we compare it with the palace and park ensemble of Peterhof, the Lower Park. Despite this, there is something to see.

The Manor of Leuchtenberg

This is the first building that you will see when you enter the park. It is perfectly visible from the bus stop, to which the facade of the palace is directed. From this we can conclude that the noble inhabitants of the manor opened a stunning view of the Gulf of Finland.

The project of the palace was designed by the architect Andrey Shtakenshneider, who masterfully mastered many styles and in their works very successfully combined them. For example, in the architectural appearance of this palace, he managed to weave elements of the Neo-Greek style.

The architecture of the palace somewhat resembles the style of an antique villa with a rather complex structure thanks to the facades, which are complemented by galleries, terraces adjoining pavilions. The two-story building of the palace was built in 1842 in the style of late classicism. The apparent complexity of his plan is deceptive: it is carefully thought through to the smallest detail and organized rationally.

By the completion of construction (1842) near the palace were built Kitchen and Hofmeysterskiy Corps. Today, unfortunately, they do not look great. The decoration of the building is stylized for Pompeian art. Over the picturesque molding of the palace and its decoration several masters worked: M. Andreev, I. Tabarin, I. Drolinger, S. Davydov. Unfortunately, the furniture from the Gambs brothers has been irretrievably lost.

On the territory of the estate there are other buildings, but they, like the palace, today can be viewed only from the outside. This is a body for servants, kitchen and other, scattered almost throughout the park. They do not look as attractive as the palace, which also has only two facades restored so far - northern and eastern, but the restoration works continue, and I really want to believe that soon the palace will regain its former splendor.

Now in the building of the palace and some park buildings there is a biological faculty of St. Petersburg State University.

Stone head

Despite the fact that the park "Sergievka" in St. Petersburg was created around the estate and for a long time was called in her honor, the main attraction is not the estate. The visiting card of the park is a huge stone head, which looks at all guests of the estate from the ground.

This sculpture is covered with numerous legends, and nobody can say who and why it was carved in the park. This is the work of an unknown master, carved into a huge granite stone. The monument is located on the slope of the ravine, next to the manor house. A path passes from the owner's house to the farm.

Dimensions of the statue are 2х2,2х1,8 meters. Sculpture is the face of a person, perhaps a warrior. Only the upper part of the earth is visible above the earth. The person's eyes are wide open. The left side of the face is only roughly outlined by the master. The occipital part of the boulder was not treated at all.

Most researchers agree that this sculpture was made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. There is a version, it was created in the image of Peter I, who helped the family of an unknown sculptor. And some kind of external resemblance to the king can be seen.

According to another version, this is the head about which A. Pushkin wrote about in Ruslana and Lyudmila. It must be admitted that most tourists seem to be more attractive to most tourists. Today, part of the sculpture is buried underground and is one of the main mysteries of Peterhof. In order to see it, you need to go around the palace, go down the ladder and cross the stream. There you will find this mysterious creation.

Other stone objects

A few more large boulders are located in the park "Sergievka". The stone head is the most famous of them. In the park are three benches, cut down from boulders. On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, not far from the former building of a water-lifting machine, the author of which is believed to be Andrei Stakenschneider, is a large stone with cut steps and four holes that were intended for fixing the structure.

Versions about his appointment vary - from the stage or the podium of the summer theater to the dock for boats, or maybe the stone was a kind of viewing platform.

Beach on the lake Zelenka

You can not be a major expert in the history of Peterhof, to understand why the lake, located in the park "Sergievka", has such a name. It is enough to look at it: the water is bright green because of the shallow depth and the many plants that are visible on the bottom. In addition, it is surrounded by trees, branches of which in spring and summer are covered with emerald foliage, which is reflected in the water and further enhances this effect.

Swim here is a pleasure of doubtful property, although in the summer heat some desperate tourists try to cool in Zelenka.

Ruins of the Church

If, after entering the park, to pass about two hundred and fifty meters along the service buildings, you can find the remains of the four walls of the ancient church, which was left in such a deplorable state after the war. Historians assumed that it was a Catholic church, but since the area of construction was too far from Western Christianity, this version was quickly abandoned.

Later, it was found evidence that the church was an Orthodox church: on one plate were carved words in Church Slavonic. Especially these ruins are also considered because it is possible to make wonderful photos in the doorway: magnificent carved patterns along its edges remained untouched.

"Own dacha"

Park "Sergievka" with its eastern outskirts borders on the territory of the estate "Own Dacha". Often these territories are spoken of as a complex, but in fact these are two different manors. The main attraction of this place is the palace, which was built at the beginning of the reign of Princess Elizaveta Petrovna.

After a century of desolation, he was given the Tsarevich to Alexander Nikolaevich. In Soviet times, there was a museum. And today it began full-scale restoration work, in which the building has long been in need. But even in this state it is clear that this is one of the architectural masterpieces of St. Petersburg.

The Atlanteans on their mighty shoulders keep the carved facade, and on the high pillars the attic on the third floor rests. In addition to the palace, exquisite gardens were planted on the territory of the cesarevitch's dacha, winding paths surrounded by boulders were laid. There was also a small house church of the Holy Trinity, which for a long time was in a miserable state.

Now its restoration is almost completed, it is already in service and church holidays are held.

Nearby places of interest

If you visit the park "Sergievka", then do not be lazy to walk a bit in its immediate vicinity. There are many interesting places that are not known to ordinary tourists.

Villa Benoit

This is a complex of buildings located one and a half kilometers from the park. All of them are made in the style of Russian architecture, complemented by elements of the Northern Art Nouveau. The remains of the village Bobylskaya, which is declared a cultural property of Peterhof, are destroyed before our eyes.

Houses in this area were much larger, but many of them died during fires, and some were destroyed during the war. These estates received such a name, because architect Leonty Benois designed them for wealthy and influential families of his time. These buildings complement the mystical and sad atmosphere of Old Peterhof.

Oranienbaum

This is a truly royal residence, located in the village of Lomonosovo. The scope here is felt in everything. Once there lived Peter III, even before he took the Russian throne. Catherine II declared Oranienbaum the estate of the royal family. Although it is difficult to call this territory an estate, since it is a real ensemble of parks (Lower and Upper) with numerous palaces, sculptures, rococo buildings.

Here you can see the Chinese and Menshikov Palace, many buildings for servants, pavilions and other buildings, about which guides tell a lot of interesting stories.

How to get to the park from St. Petersburg?

If you decide to visit the park "Sergievka", how to get to it, we will tell you further. It is located in the Petrodvorets district of the Northern capital, and you can get there by bus, minibus or by car.

By bus

You need to get from the metro station "Avtovo" on the bus number 200 to Sergievka. The journey will take about an hour and a half depending on the length of traffic jams on the outskirts of the city.

Minibus

From the metro station "AvtoVO" you can get to Sergievka by minibus № 401, К300. From the metro "Prospekt Veteranov" to the monument you will take a minibus № K343.

Reviews of tourists

Despite the fact that the Old Peterhof for a long time was undeservedly forgotten and only now slowly returns to life, the "Sergievka" Park began to visit the groups of tourists more often. Reviews about this place are rather contradictory, but people who come here mostly know the history of these places, and therefore do not expect to see here luxury and beauty similar to what you can see in Petrodvorets, which is often compared to Versailles.

The main attraction of the park, according to most travelers - is nature. She's just great. Thickets of ancient trees intersect with well-groomed paths, unexpectedly appear picturesque bridges, thrown across a small river or ravine, and the alleys from the oaks, which close by their mighty crowns, give a feeling of peace and seclusion. This is exactly what is lacking in the Northern capital. In this park you need to come to escape from the stone city jungle, take a walk and get some fresh air.

The park impresses with a harmonious combination of nature's creations and man's craftsmanship. Today it is an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation, and many tourists very much hope that the authorities will find the means and opportunities to restore this unique historical monument.