"Hermitage Garden" - For the Lovers of Cultural Rest

Hermitage Graden is considered to be the main cultural "green zone" of the city. It turns into the romantic skating-rink in winter, in spring and summer it makes Moscow residents happy with jazz festivals or city musical festivals such as "Moscow spiritual seasons". It is a great place for loving couples, for friends, for families and children. Many people come here just to listen to the music - jazz,classical or ethnic.

The territory of the garden is not very large, and one can wonder how so many things are located there. Three theatres, fountain, stage, squirrels, pigeons, flowers, trees coexist without any tightness. Greenery is rich and diverse : oaks,maples, lime trees, lilac, roses, hawthorns. Animal lovers can see fauna representatives here too - fluffy squirrels and majestic pheasants won't  leave you indifferent.

Garden benches deserve a certain word. First of all, you won't feel lack of them.Secondly, they fall in with the architectural and landscape ensemble perfectly well. They are comfortable and aesthetically acceptable.

You can see two wonderful sculptural works as well : bust of Victor Hugo ( gift of Paris city hall) and Dante Aligieri (gift of Italian government).

Once you get to this place, you will be looking forward to come back. It is one of the most amazing places of the city.

The entry is free.

How to get here: Karetny Ryad,3, building 7.

"Pharmaceutical Vegetable Garden"- To See and To Heal

Ancient botanical garden "Pharmaceutical Garden" is a live museum, first of all, and various species of flora world are its exhibits. At the same time it is an important green space of the city.

Its history started in 1706 when Peter the Great ordered to lay a vegetable garden for herbs raising. Since that time the garden became a place of mint, sage and succory raising. Many years later, when the "vegetable garden" turned into a place of the scientific investigations of Moscow State University, palmaceae hothouse, heather hill and shady garden appeared there.Fresh air and beautiful garden flora was appreciated not only by students and scientists, but by caring parents as well.Summer time is a period of lavender flowering, which healing scent is very good for children's sleep.

The main place of attraction is an arboretum with ancient trees (250-300 years). If you have time, find out Siberian larch, planted by Peter I, and the oldest tree of Moscow center - white willow. You will be pleased to sit beside the pond on a hot summer day and feed ducks. Those visitors who come to the garden not just for a rest, will learn new things about lanscape architecture and gardening from the guides. 

There are also special excursions for children where they can walk along tropical and subtropical hothouses and learn the way of pineapple,cacao,lemons and pomegranate raising. They will be able to see as well giant palm trees and tree on stilts. 

Ticket price - 100 rubles (from 10.00 a.m. to 18.00 p.m.) and 150 rubles ( after 18 p.m.).

How to find it : Prospekt Mira, 26, building 1.

Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Science - For Botanists

The garden is situated on the place where unique forest tracts used to be. The part of thse woodlands remained due to the scientific and ecological activity of the garden. For example, Eugeny grove, the part of Ostankino leafy-forest and Leonov wood date 1584.

Fund hothouse of the garden possesses one of the largest european collections of tropical and subtropical plants (about 5 300 species and forms). The garden colaborates with many famous foreign botanical gardens and institutes.

Ot is divided in six theme parts : " European part of Russia", "Caucasus", "Middle Asia", "Far East" and " Useful flora plants". But it is impossible to visit all of them in one day. The most popular corner of the garden is Japanese garden. There will be special excursions there since this summer. There are also excursions on arboretum. 

The garden is open from April to October daily except Monday and Thursday. Ticket price - 50 rubles, excursions - 300 rubles.

How to find it: Botanicheskaya street,4.

Neskuchnii Garden - For Dreamers

This garden is sometimes called " a necklace pearl in the centre of the capital". It is the oldest park situated on the right side of Moscow-river.

It consists of three mansions og the 18th century. Many architectural monumets remained here : the house of the count Orlov with library and reading room , house with rotunda on the shore of Elizabeth's pond, slopes- marches and stone arched bridge.

You can roller-skate or ride a bicycle in the park. There are many tables for tennis-lovers who can also rent a special equipment. In winter time ski depot  works whre you can rent skiis as well.

One of the most well-known park constructions is a Rotunda, built in 1947 and dedicated to the 800th anniversary of Moscow. In 2007 beside this Rotunda another one was founded - "Alley of Love". The main idea of this alley is to "revive" this part of the park and reproduce famous words of Russian writer Griboedov "..the happy ones don't look after time". The clock here always shows the same time : five minutes to six. That's why lovers are never late for dates. The clock is a symbol of eternal love. 

Another particular feature of the garden is gathering of Tolkienists ( fans of Tolkien). Nowadays it doesn;t happen so often as before but everybody associates this place with mysterious young people. They used to gather here and hold sword tournaments and battles. the leaders of the movement chose the time and the place of the action, they created names for themselves and set tent camps. Every participant knew his role. It was a real symbolic place for a few young generations.

The entry is free.

How to get here : Leninsky avenue,30.

Tsaritsino - To Enjoy the History

Two hundred years ago an evident Raevsky wrote the following words : " Whatever graceful of nature and art you will find in Tsaritsino".

 The territory of the park has a rich history and is related with such names as Golitsini,Kantemirovi,Streshnevi. Wonderful nature landscape and architectural creations of Russian masters Bazhenov and Kazakov are combined here. Its romantic image can't help but attract. Fate and time were merciless to this park. There were several attempts of its reconstruction,destruction, many things were lost forever, but nowadays a miracle rebirth of the residence of Katherine the Great occured. It is the most popular park in Moscow, people come here evry day regardless of weather and season. It is known as well as the main place of wedding walks.
tsaritsino is a real monument of  Russian garden and park art of the 18th and 19th centuries. It started emerging in the beginning of the 18th century when the mansion belonged to the Princes Kantemiri. At first, it was a "regular" garden with strict geometry of alleys and planatations.The park was in its flourishing in the 19th century when a special system of alleys and paths was set and also various park constructions in Empire style. Unfortunately, in the 20th century it turned into an abandoned woodland park. Its resoration was realized only four years ago.

Hothouse system appeared many years ago, along with the fruit trees and berries there were a lot of rflowers,especially roses. At present gardeners try to reinstall this system.Tsaritsino is also famous for its unique fountain, founded in 2007, surrounded by two tracery steel bridges.

Speakin about architectural places of attraction, one has to mention the Big Palace, built by Kazakov. There were different variants of its project and the second lite one was implemented. The building is a combination of classicistic volume palace structure ang "gothic" decoration.

 The entry is free.There are several types of excursions on the park territory (theme,natural, theatral), the price varies from 200 to 500 rubles.

How to get here: Dolskaya street,1.

sources:

afisha.ru, http://www.tsaritsyno.net/ru/, http://www.hortus.ru/, mosgorsad.ru/

Alexandra Dibizheva

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