Lefortovo Park in Moscow can hardly be classified as a particularly popular recreation area for both Muscovites and city guests. Nevertheless, this does not prevent him from being one of the objects known and loved by many.
One thing can be said with complete certainty: having visited its territory at least once, you will strive to get here again and again, because Lefortovo Park actually knows how to win the hearts of everyone, even the most seasoned travelers.
You can talk about this area endlessly. An interesting story attracts curious visitors, those who want to escape from the summer heat find long-awaited coolness here, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy playing ball or badminton in the warm season, and skiing or building snow castles in winter.
General Description
Lefortovo Park is an ancient palace and park complex. It is located in the district of the same name, stretching in the eastern part of Moscow.
The park, which has an area of 32 hectares, can boast of a second name that sounds like Golovinsky Garden.
Until our time, only partially preserved on its territoryarchitectural monuments and historical and landscape ensemble of the 18th century.
Lefortovo Park in Moscow: history of creation
Golovinsky Garden is actually a huge historical architectural and landscape-park array.
It should be noted that it is also considered the first stationary and one of the oldest parks in Russia, which is one of the most famous in Europe. For example, now not many people know that it was he who once became the prototype for most parks in St. Petersburg.
Initially, the palace of Field Marshal F. Golovin, head of the Foreign Ministry, who, among other things, was also an associate of the great reformer Peter I, was built here.
The Golovinsky Palace was built in 1703, and such, no doubt, an important task as designing and managing work, was entrusted to the then-famous architect D. Ivanov. The latter built the building on the model of the Versailles ensemble.
The park itself got its name in honor of F. Lefort, the famous teacher and friend of Peter I, in the very first years of his reign. They wanted to hold festivities and hold receptions in the palace, and a garden was laid out around it, which the emperor personally laid.
Later, under Empress Anna Ioanovna (starting from 1730), the park was called "Versailles on the Yauza".
It was then that the architect Francesco Rastrelli designed the Annegoff palace and park ensemble in the Baroque style.
It should be noted that Lefortovo Park was considered the largest in Moscow in the XVIIc.
What did you manage to save?
By the way, Golovinsky Garden is far from 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: “Where is Lefortovo Park? How to get to this place? - did not cause problems. Why? The thing is that many people knew about it, and there was no end to visitors here.
To this day, overgrown ponds, the remains of red brick terraces, a dam bridge that separates the ponds and serves as the basis for the main alley of Lefortovsky Park lined with lindens, and once delightful, but now, unfortunately, the collapsing grotto of Rastrelli.
Not far from the lower pond there is a semicircular gazebo erected in memory of Peter I and recently restored.
Many say that the park with such an interesting and impressive history is now in dire need of reconstruction and improvement.
Metropolitan gondolas
Lefortovo Park (Moscow) is truly unique. Once upon a time, a special hydraulic system was built on its territory, through which Peter I hoped to get from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
Today, specialists are actively working here, more than 50 archaeological works have been carried out, the bottom of reservoirs has been examined and about 200 m of the Annegof Canal line has been passed. The real discovery was the discovered fortifications of the banks, built at that distant time, embankments on the surface, the bases of pavilions,bridges, piers on the Big Pond and a fountain in front of the Grotto.
Another interesting attraction of the park is the semi-rotunda gazebo. 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 that swept in June 1904, it, unfortunately, was completely destroyed, but it was possible to restore it, returning its former appearance.
What is the park today
During the restoration of the gazebo monument in Lefortovsky Park, it was rebuilt and made a complete copy of the 18th century building. A granite obelisk is installed on a high base near a semicircular pavilion with eight tall gray stone columns.
The words of Peter I are carved on it that he hoped to get by water from St. Petersburg to Moscow, said in November 1724, when the construction of a hydrocanal to connect the two capitals had just begun. It is perhaps difficult to imagine that such a Lefortovsky Park station could actually exist. "How to get to St. Petersburg?" - guests of the city would ask, and Muscovites would recommend such a scenic route along the river to them … It didn’t work out.
This area, according to the Dutch style, was created with many dams, ponds, islets, canals and cascades. Despite the fact that it had to be rebuilt several times, it was still possible to maintain the original layout.
The main compositional axis of the Lefortovo park runs parallel to the river. Yauze. Three terraces of the 18th century have survived to our time,built of red brick, a system of canals and flowing ponds fed from the river. Titmouse, a dam bridge connecting the ponds, a balustrade and a dilapidated picturesque grotto by K. B. Rastrelli.
Lefortovo ponds, which are located in the upper and middle reaches of the river, are considered a separate attraction of the park. Titmouse. Each has its own name. They are inhabited by fish, usually a pair (or even more than one) of white swans and several flocks of ducks swim. The unusual Venus dam, which separates two beautiful ponds, has survived to this day.
How to get to the park
"Lefortovsky Park" - a metro with this name cannot be found on the map of the capital's metro, which means that people who are poorly oriented in the city will not be as easy to get here as they would like.
Note that this facility is located a 20-minute walk from the Baumanskaya station.
From the Square of Three Stations (metro station "Komsomolskaya") it can be reached by tram number 50, and from the metro station "Kurskaya" - number 24.
Trolleybus No. 24 runs from Aviamotornaya and Krasnye Vorota to the park.
Also you can get to Lefortovsky Park (whose address: Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya st., 3) by minibus No. 545 "Kurskaya - Aviamotornaya".
Archaeological excavations in the park
Under the supervision of Moscow's chief archaeologist A. Veksler, archaeological excavations were carried out in Lefortovsky Park for three years at the expense of the city budget. They provided specialists not only with a lot of valuable information aboutthe initial planning of the garden and park monument, but also the initial data for its future reconstruction. The excavation provided a historical basis for the restoration of the area.
Lefortovo park is truly inimitable and unique. The official website willingly shares information that to date, more than 50 excavations have been carried out along the entire length of the park’s hydraulic system, the bottom of the reservoirs of the garden and park ensemble of the imperial times of Peter the Great, Anna Ioannovna and Catherine was examined, about 200 m of the Annengof Canal line was covered, and a fortification was discovered shores, ancient embankments, the foundations of the once popular piers on the Big Pond, colorful bridges, expertly executed pavilions and a fountain in front of the Grotto.
Great place to stay
Few people doubt that Lefortovo Park is actually a great place for walking and distraction from the bustle of the city. Muscovites, guests of the capital, mothers with strollers, young couples in love and pensioners rest in it.
Historical excursions for guests of the palace and park ensemble, theatrical performances are systematically arranged here, and on big holidays the brass band plays various military music.
Since 1934, there has been a stadium on the territory of the park, which has been receiving visitors to this day. This is where all sports fans should definitely visit.
The foggy future of the park
Today, the question of the future fate of this palace and park ensemble is very acute. Why? It's all aboutthat such a historically valuable architectural object is in a very deplorable state: half built up, partly abandoned, and the original ensemble is completely divided into parts.
From the very beginning, both the park and the palace were one. Now only the green area can be considered part of the city, while the palace and other ancient buildings are owned by the federal authorities and transferred to the use of the military.
To save "Lefortovo", a cultural and historical, in the past magnificent ensemble, in the beginning. 21st century Under the territory of the park, a huge city tunnel was built up to 3.2 km long. It became the fifth longest tunnel in Europe.
Hope for a better future of the park is also inspired by the fact that in 2005, by order of the Moscow government, it was included in the MGOMZ (Moscow State United Museum-Reserve). And this means that, most likely, the object will still not be allowed to be destroyed.
Visitor reviews
As they say, how many people, so many opinions. For example, young people claim 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 one could eat or buy something to remember.
It's a shame, but many people even associate Lefortovo Park with a wasteland. For example, athletes who train at the stadium report that the nearby building 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 unhurried walks. It is actually not crowded here, and there is an opportunity to have a great rest from the bustle of the city in the shade of large trees, admiring the quiet backwaters and picturesque ponds.
