Patriarch's Ponds in Moscow - a picturesque corner of nature in the very center of the city. A person visiting this place for the first time will be puzzled. Instead of several reservoirs, he will see only one, surrounded by a small and clean park. Once there were three of them, and now there is only one, but the name has remained - Patriarch's Ponds. "How to get there?" - guests of Belokamennaya may ask. The path to them is not particularly difficult. Any Muscovite you meet will be happy to show you the way to the city's favorite vacation spot.
What makes Patriarch's Ponds interesting
This is a unique place to stay. The park has a lot of greenery, a wonderful and clean pond with swans and ducks. Birds are not at all afraid of people and have long been accustomed to treats. Leisure places are well equipped: shops, cafes, restaurants … Paths created for walking, and around - sculptures from Krylov's fables. Alley in the eveningmagnificent illumination beckons you to walk arm in arm with your loved one, guaranteeing a romantic mood.
The area of the park complex is 2.2 hectares, and the pond itself is 0.99 hectares. The greatest depth is 2.5 meters.
Where are the Patriarch's Ponds
This is a district of old Moscow, in the very center of the city, with pre-revolutionary houses. And each of them conveys the flavor of its time. So, for example, house number 10 on Bolshaya Sadovaya was built in the Art Nouveau style. It is more typical for St. Petersburg (yard-wells were extremely fashionable at the beginning of the 20th century in the Northern capital).
Not far away is the famous residence of Soviet military leaders "House with Lions". These and others decorate the Patriarch's Ponds in their own way. How to get there? Pretty simple. The park and reservoir is located in the center of old Moscow, so there should be no difficulties. The metro, fixed-route taxis, trams are at the service of the capital's guests.
History of the Patriarch's Ponds
It was not for nothing that Bulgakov chose the Patriarch's Ponds as the place of meeting with evil spirits for his characters Ivan Bezdomny and Mikhail Berlioz. At that time, there was no place in Moscow more connected with mysticism than Patriarchal Sloboda.
This place used to be called the Goat Marshes. And if you think that they were just walking goats there, then you are deeply mistaken. It's all about the intrigues that the evil spirits arranged for the inhabitants of this area. In pagan times, the priests drowned their victims here, destined for the ancientgods, and on especially solemn occasions they cut off their heads. Perhaps that is why a similar death befell Berlioz. According to another version, there was a Goat Yard nearby, from which wool was sent to the royal court.
Until the end of the 16th century, this place was empty. At the beginning of the 17th century, the residence of Patriarch Hermogenes was settled here, and the area became Patriarchal Sloboda. At that time it was one of the richest districts in Moscow.
In 1674, Patriarch Joachim, who was a military man before being tonsured a monk, decided to fight evil spirits. It was he who decided to declare war on the devils. For this, an order was given to drain the Goat Marshes by digging three ponds. They began to breed simple varieties of fish (for sale to the urban population). And the Chertoryisky stream, flowing from the marshes, despite all attempts to fill it up, continued its movement. In 1832, a second attempt was made to eliminate the stream. Two ponds fell asleep, but this did not interfere with the stream of water at all.
During the Soviet era - as part of the fight against religion - in 1924 the reservoir was renamed Pioneer. But among the people they continued to call him by the old name, and in our years they have completely returned the former. Boat stations have opened and closed several times throughout the entire time, and in winter they arrange a free skating rink.
A square was laid out around the remaining pond, and since then the pond has become a favorite place for the townspeople to relax. At the moment, it still exists in the singular, so it would be more correct to call itPatriarch's Pond.
Mystical Patriarch's Ponds
According to the testimony of old-timers, cats and dogs very rarely come to the ponds, and ducks and swans never stay overnight on the water surface, preferring to fly to the zoo.
And in the archives of the Ninth Directorate there is an investigation into the death of a boy who, on a dare, decided to swim across the pond, but in the middle he screamed and disappeared without a trace. The body, by the way, was never found.
Patriarch's Ponds are an integral part of the literary life of the capital
Marina Tsvetaeva was born not far from this place. Her childhood passed on the banks of the reservoir and, of course, left its mark on the work of the poetess. She described him in the novel "My Pushkin".
Leo Tolstoy often brought his children to the winter skating rink. He also sent his character Levin here.
And the novel by M. A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" completely turned this place into a mystical and iconic one. The evil spirit, which has long lived in these swamps, still continues to intrigue the locals. That's why they installed a memorial sign here: "It is forbidden to talk with strangers." You never know…
In 1974, a monument to Krylov was erected in the park. Sculptors Drevin and Mitlyansky surrounded the fabulist with the most popular characters in his works.
Patriarch Ponds: how to get there?
They are located in the Presnensky district of the Central Administrative District. Patriarch's Ponds on the map of Moscow are located as follows: in the north - Ermolaevskylane, from the south they are limited by Bolshoi Patriarchal lane, in the west by Maly lane, and in the east by Malaya Bronnaya street.
The main question that arises among those wishing to visit the Patriarch's Ponds: "How to get there?" To find yourself here, you should get off at the Mayakovskaya metro station and move towards Bolshaya Sadovaya Street. At the intersection of Aquarium Garden and Malaya Bronnaya, turn left.
If you get off at the Tverskaya metro station, then the direction of movement is Bolshaya Bronnaya Street. Go down it to Malaya Bronnaya, and then to the right. Even if you get lost, passers-by will instantly tell you the right direction.
Reconstruction of the Patriarch's Ponds
In 1986, it was decided to restore the famous pavilion, which was built in 1938 and adorned the Patriarch's Ponds. Photos will not convey all its beauty with the unique stucco of the old building, reliefs and modules. All architectural features of the exterior have been recreated.
In 2003, the last and largest reconstruction of the ponds and the park itself was carried out. The banks were strengthened, the reservoir was cleaned and the fish were launched. Now it is also a favorite place for those who like to sit with a fishing rod in silence in the shade of trees. New trees were planted in the square, the paths were paved with tiles and paving stones. The benches and lanterns have been updated. Now the Patriarch's Ponds in all their glory delight guests of the capital and local residents.
And no matter what they call it: a mystical place, Bulgakov's or the most romantic -love for him will not become less because of this, and each visitor will discover something of his own and new here.
