The Alexander Garden of St. Petersburg. History of creation, location

There are names of places familiar from childhood from books and movies. Such places include the Alexander Garden of St. Petersburg and many of the city's attractions. It does not always happen there, but if you still manage to visit this city, then we know that we need to find a little time and definitely to see the famous places and, of course, to learn the history. Let not always seen justify our children's ideas, but the realization that I've been here and walked through these bright alleys brings a sense of satisfaction.

What was in the beginning

The Alexander Garden of St. Petersburg is an ancient garden that has a history connected with the history of the city itself. It begins with the Admiralty, which was originally built as a shipyard, which is part of the Admiralty Fortress. Its drawings were signed by Peter I himself, who personally attended the tabulation.

Like any fortress, the Admiralty was surrounded by a ditch filled with water, and the glacis is a specially cleared place from the trees, thanks to which the enemy can not get close to the fortress unnoticed. Over time, the Admiralty as a fortress has lost its importance. The space of the glacis became known as a meadow, where grazing and military exercises were carried out.

During the holidays, mass festivities were organized here, for which buffoons, roller coaster rails, carousels, fairs were held. Under Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, the canal was ordered to be regularly cleaned, and the territory of the meadow to be paved. Completely to carry out this work was possible only under Catherine II.

Paul I decided to restore the Admiralty Fortress and made some reconstruction there, as a result of which fortification fortifications were put in order, enlarged and fortified with a muckweed.

The location of the Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg

The city plan of St. Petersburg was conceived by Peter I in the form of three rays emanating from the central point - the Admiralty. Two rays, planned even at the first emperor, represented Nevsky and Voznesensky prospectuses. The third ray, a modern Gorokhovaya street, appears in 1736.

These three rays emanating from the Admiralty, divided the giant meadow into three future areas: the Admiralty, the Isaakievskaya and the Petrovsky. In other words, the Admiralty, together with the Alexander Garden, is the historical center of the city.

Naturally, the main attractions are concentrated around the garden: the St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Winter Palace, the building of the Admiralty itself, the Senate, the Synod, the Palace Square, the mayor's building, the Lobanov-Rostovsky house and, of course, the Bronze Horseman. Find it in the city is easy, the address of the Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg: Admiralteysky Prospekt, 1.

Boulevard

The city was developing rapidly. The northern capital became the center of international relations and the face of the empire. It was here that ambassadors from all countries came. The Admiralty area gradually became the center of the city. Emperor Alexander I decided to eliminate the fortress. To do this, he ordered the Admiralty building to give a secular appearance, so that it would fit into the ensemble of the city.

Before proceeding with the reconstruction, Alexander I issued a decree with the order to create a boulevard around the building, which eventually was destined to become a prototype of the Alexander Garden of St. Petersburg. On three sides of the Admiralty were to pass three paths, along which are planted four rows of trees. This leadership was entrusted to the English gardener Gould.

On the boulevard were placed green benches for the project Ruska. Lighting was carried out with the help of 50 oil lamps. The whole territory was fenced, and it was possible to enter the boulevard through turnstiles guarded by sentries. Each lawn was surrounded by a curb of bars. Tea and coffee houses were built. Boulevard became a favorite place for people to walk.

The breakdown of the Alexander Garden

The initiator of the garden layout on the site of the boulevard was Admiral SA Greig, the greening project was developed by the botanist E. Regel. The beginning of the work on the laying of the garden was timed to coincide with the jubilee date - 200 years since the birth of Emperor Peter I (1874). It was attended by the Emperor Alexander II himself, whose name is the name of the garden.

For two years, a lot of work was done: the site was expanded, a lot of trees and bushes were planted, new benches were put out of cast iron. The grand opening was held in 1874. Over time, the garden acquired new elements that shaped its unique appearance. Six years later, under the guidance of architect L. Geschwend, a "dancing" fountain was built in the Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg, which is a landmark of the city.

By the end of the XIX century in the park were discovered monuments to V. Zhukovsky, M. Lermontov, N. Gogol, M. Glinka, N. Przewalski. After this, a partial reconstruction of the garden was carried out. The works were conducted under the guidance of the architect I. Fomin. Felling of overgrown trees was carried out, crowns were cut off, flower beds and rosaries were broken.

How to get there?

After the revolution, the garden was renamed several times, but in the end it began to be called as before - Alexandrovsky. The UNESCO Organization of the Alexander Garden has been inscribed on the World Heritage List.

How to get to the Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg? You can reach it by metro. Go to the station "Admiralteyskaya", from which go a little to the garden. But do not confuse the Alexander Garden with Alexander Park, which is located on the Petrograd side.