The eastern part of the arena in the boring garden. Boring Garden. Neskuchny garden for relaxation

Neskuchnoye Estate- a unique historical place within the boundaries of modern Moscow, located on the right bank of the Moscow River. The coastline of the Moscow River was strengthened, new alleys were laid in the park, exhibition pavilions and fountains were installed, the Green Theater and other concert venues were built, and all kinds of attractions were installed for children, and children's and sports grounds were organized. But even now many ancient buildings have been preserved, which are now the main ones.

Before Neskuchnoye estate in the 18th century it passed into the palace department; on its territory there were three family estates of the nobility. The “family nests” of the aristocrats Trubetskoys and Golitsyns, Zubovs and Serikovs, Shakhovskys and Orlovs, Vyazemskys and Repnins, as well as other richest noble families of the Russian Empire were founded here. It is believed that the name “Neskuchnoye” was assigned to the ancient estate thanks to Prince Trubetskoy, who often organized various entertainment events on his estate, which occupies the southern part of modern Neskuchnoye Park.

The first “noble nests” appeared in this historical place only in the 18th century, by which time an architectural complex was being built here estate of Prince N.Yu. Trubetskoy, next to which the estate of Prince Golitsyn was built in the mid-18th century. The northern estate appeared much earlier; at the end of the 17th century it belonged to Count Orlov, and in the 18th century it was divided into several separate sections. It was on its territory in the middle of the 18th century that the famous aristocrat Demidov created a unique for that time Botanical Garden.

As a single possession of the Russian palace department, the old Neskuchnoye estate formed only in the years 1820-1840, when all the noble estates that were part of it were purchased one by one. On the territory of the former estates that previously belonged to the Golitsyns, Trubetskoys and Demidovs, a majestic architectural complex was erected royal summer residence, but at the same time most of the noble buildings that existed by that time were preserved. The central link of the palace residence was the exquisite Demidov mansion, built according to the design of the architect Iest in the middle of the 18th century, and later renamed Alexandria Palace. In those years, an access alley led to it from the side of modern Kaluzhskaya Street, which began near the beautiful white stone gates.

Before 1917 Neskuchnoye estate was under the jurisdiction of the palace department, and was subsequently nationalized. In Soviet times, Neskuchny Garden was renamed Gorky Park, the Alexandria Palace was transferred to the Academy of Sciences, and Mineralogical Museum, founded before the revolution, is still in operation. New buildings were also erected on the territory of Neskuchny Garden, intended for recreation of Muscovites, and its landscape has changed a lot since then.

The coastline of the Moscow River was strengthened, new alleys were laid in the park, exhibition pavilions and fountains were installed, the Green Theater and other concert venues were built, and all kinds of attractions were installed for children, and children's and sports grounds were organized. But even now many ancient buildings have been preserved, which are now the main sights of the Neskuchnoye estate.

You can enter the territory of the palace estate through ancient entrance gate, built in 1835 according to the design of the architect Tyurin. On the sides you can look for a long time at a unique sculptural group called “Abundance”. The outstanding architect planned other buildings Neskuchnoye estate- the building of the guardhouse, arena, Freylinsky and Cavalry corps.

The oldest building of an ancient manor - luxurious summer house of Count Orlov, erected in 1796, now houses a library with a reading room. The former mansion of Count Orlov is small in size; it was built in the classicist style and is a two-story building with one-story extensions on the sides. The entrance to the summer house is decorated with a majestic snow-white colonnade, crowned with a triangular-shaped portico, and on the second floor of the old summer mansion there is a balcony from where the previous owners admired the picturesque views of the Neskuchny Garden.

On the shore Catherine's Pond you can see a small house with a rotunda, connected to the reservoir using a flight of stairs. Although the old pond has long been overgrown, covered with greenish mud, the trees bending over it make an indelible impression. The three-span arched bridge made of stone leading to Pushkinskaya Embankment has also been preserved.

The main building of the Neskuchnoye estate - luxurious Alexandria Palace, but visitors can only examine its facade, since employees of the Academy of Sciences still work in the interior. The majestic building was built in the classicist style as Demidov’s mansion; at its core, two chambers created in the 18th century have been preserved, and the decoration of the facade clearly shows architectural elements of the 1830s, when the manor house was redesigned into a royal residence. Construction work was carried out according to the design of the architect E. D. Tyurin, and O. I. Bove worked on the interior design of the royal summer residence. Snow-white facade Alexander Palace reminiscent of a small Versailles, although there are few decorations on the external walls of the symmetrical building. On the sides on both sides at the level of the first floor there are colonnades supporting semicircular balconies.

The main entrance to the Alexandria Palace is located in the center of the building, and at the entrance there are two stone statues of dogs, which seem to guard the entrance to the building. In the very Alexandria Palace Elements of pre-revolutionary decor, and even individual items from the royal furniture set, have still been preserved. Now installed in front of the royal summer palace cast iron fountain, created according to the design of the outstanding sculptor I.P. Vitali, in the first half of the 19th century. But it appeared on the territory of Neskuchny Garden only in 1930; previously the fountain was located on Lubyankinskaya Square.

Boring Garden Now it is considered a monument of landscape and park art, with natural terraces it gradually descends to the picturesque Moscow River. On its territory you can see many flower beds and majestic centuries-old trees - slender birches and spreading lindens, tall poplars, curly maples and mighty oaks. On the site where the Demidov Botanical Garden was once located, there is a Green Theater, capable of accommodating more than 15 thousand spectators. The open summer structure is still the largest amphitheater in Eastern Europe.

On the territory of Neskuchny Garden there is also Hunting lodge- a spacious pavilion of the mid-18th century, where regular games of the intellectual casino “What? Where? When?". You can admire the grace of the classical forms of the Summer and Bath Houses, preserved from the end of the 18th century.

Wanting to visit the ancient Neskuchnoye estate, stroll through the picturesque Neskuchny Garden and explore the preserved cultural heritage monuments; you don’t have to book an organized excursion - Muscovites and guests of the capital can get here on their own. The estate is located at the address: Leninsky Prospekt 14-20, the nearest Moscow metro stations are “Oktyabrskaya” and “Leninsky Prospekt”, from which tourists can drive directly to the entrance to Neskuchny Garden by trolleybuses No. 4, 33, 7, 62.

The Alexander Palace is located in the landscaped Alexander Park not far from the Catherine Palace. It is located in the interior - a wonderful, quiet and picturesque place to live. Walking to the palace, I imagined how the imperial children, and adults too, walked here, frolicked in the fresh air, fished and even hunted.

Once upon a time, there was a forest in this place - so dense that even a wild animal could live in it. Having reached the palace and taking a look at what you see, you catch yourself thinking: “Modest, but tasteful.” Of course, it’s modest if you compare it with the flashy luxury of the Catherine Palace.

It's a completely different atmosphere here! I want to live and spend time here. A cozy country residence, of course, on a royal scale. For me, as for others, probably, the Alexander Palace is best known as the birthplace and life of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. Subsequently, his children were born and raised here. Unfortunately, the palace also became the last refuge of Nicholas, who had already renounced the crown. It was from here that he and his family were transported during the events of 1917.

Story

The Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo was built by order of Empress Catherine II. This was her gift for her beloved grandson Alexander I. As you know, the empress did not want to leave the throne to her son Pavel Petrovich. Their views on the future fate of the country were so different. But the empress doted on her grandson Alexander Pavlovich.

He was born on December 12, 1777. From the very first months, the empress herself took up the upbringing and training of Alexander. He was not yet a year old when he was transported to Tsarskoye Selo. Alexander Pavlovich and his younger brother Konstantin Pavlovich spent a happy childhood here.

In 1793, Alexander became engaged to Grand Duchess Elizaveta Alekseevna. In 1792, construction of the palace began. Giacomo Quarenghi was appointed as the architect. By that time, this genius owned such works as:

1. English Palace in Peterhof.
2. Concert hall in Tsarskoye Selo.
3. Hermitage Theater.
4. Building of the Academy of Sciences.
5. Assignment bank.

Architecture Features

The palace became his most famous and best work. According to the architect's idea, the castle was a two-story building with the letter “P”. Outbuildings were attached to it to the left and right. Thanks to this closed space on three sides, a small front courtyard was formed at the entrance - court d'honneur.

The main entrance to the palace passes through a double colonnade. It kind of moves away a little from the building, forming a small courtyard inside. Thanks to this, there is a gradual transition from the park to the palace halls. The entrance through the colonnade is decorated with two statues. One of them depicts a young man playing knucklebones, the other a young man playing pile. Both of these games were very popular at the time. From the windows of the palace there was a beautiful view of the pond and the surrounding park.

This is what the opposite façade of the building looks like.

The halls of the Front Enfilade were located on the ground floor. On the second floor there are rooms for children and servants, on the sides there are private chambers.

Notable residents and visitors

Emperor Alexander I did not use the apartments of the Alexander Palace for long. After ascending the throne, he moved to Catherine's. The rooms were more often used by guests and the emperor's associates. He himself was almost always on the move or at war and rarely had the opportunity to visit Tsarskoye Selo.

Almost all subsequent emperors spent their childhood here. They lived here from spring until late autumn. They played on Children's Island, where a house was built for them, and even with furniture; wandered through the parks, studied animals, birds and plants together with adults. In addition to teaching science and social etiquette, they engaged in horse riding, fishing and much more.

Alexander I's brother, the future Emperor Nicholas I, loved Tsarskoye Selo and spent a lot of time there with his family. They preferred a simple way of country life and the whole family lived in the Alexander Palace, and held official receptions and balls in the Catherine Palace. Under him, the interiors of the palace underwent significant changes. But, after the death of Nicholas I’s daughter, Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna (Adini), the emperor and his family began to appear here less and less, where every corner reminded of a huge loss.

Emperor Nicholas II and his family lived in the palace for the longest time. During his tenure, some rooms were rebuilt, and the heating and water supply systems were improved. The summer residence became suitable for year-round use. After 1905, during a turbulent time for the country, the emperor and his family lived almost inseparably in Tsarskoe Selo. Here they felt safe under the protection of officers. As I mentioned earlier, it was from the Alexander Palace in 1917, after a long house arrest, that the whole family was sent to Tombovsk, and then to, where they were shot. They spent the last night literally “sitting on their suitcases.” It was already known that they would be taken somewhere, but no one said where exactly. Finally, already sitting in the car, the empress crossed either her former servants or the palace. The Romanovs never returned here again.

After the Romanovs

As soon as the royal family was taken out of the Alexander Palace, an inventory of the interiors began. It was decided not to destroy or transport anything, but to create an exhibition here dedicated to the life of the last Russian emperor. Already in 1918 it was opened to visitors. State rooms, personal apartments of the imperial couple, and art collections collected by the Romanovs over many generations were shown.

The museum did not exist for long. Soon it was decided to give the building to a rest home for NKVD employees and an orphanage named after Young Communards. The fact is that the Revolutionary government had long been looking for a place where a large number of children could be accommodated. To create a kind of “Children’s Kingdom” in one of the suburbs of what was then Petrograd.

Several thousand children were placed on the territory of Tsarskoye Selo. On November 20, 1918, the city received the name “Children’s Village”. The children also lived in some rooms of the castle.

During the occupation of Pushkin, the Alexander Palace served as the headquarters building for the German command. That is why the building itself was practically not damaged. In front of the palace, the Nazis set up a cemetery for their officers. They installed birch crosses and fences on the graves.

Many interiors were damaged or looted during the occupation, but some rooms still retained elements of decoration. After the liberation of Pushkin, the roof of the building was restored, and the palace itself was mothballed. In 1949, the All-Union Pushkin Museum was moved here. By this time, the facade of the building and the halls that were least damaged during the war had been restored. Since 1951, the palace was transferred to the Ministry of Defense. For a long time, research organizations and schools were located here. The territory of the palace became closed to visitors, scientists and artists. The finished walls and even the parquet were carefully covered with boards. Neither heavy equipment nor the constant presence of workers here spoiled what remained of the interiors. In 1996, a grant was received from the World Monuments Fund (WMF) for restoration work. And already in 1997, in the right wing of the palace, where the chambers of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife were previously located, the exhibition “Memories in the Alexander Palace” was opened. Here you could see preserved interior items and belongings of the emperor himself and his family members.

Unfortunately, the Alexander Palace is currently closed for restoration work. On the museum’s website they write that they are planned to be completed by mid-2018. This undoubtedly pleases us, since new rooms and exhibitions will be opened for us, and we will be introduced to still unknown facts of the life of the last emperor and his family.

If this does not stop you, then below is how to get to Tsarskoye Selo, as well as a map for better orientation on the area.

How to get there

The State Museum-Reserve Tsarskoye Selo is located at the address: , city, st. Sadovaya, 7.

You can get to the place in the following ways:

• An electric train ran from the Vitebsky station to the Tsarskoye Selo station in the city. A ticket costs about 40 rubles. Travel time is about 30 minutes. And you can get from the station to the museum using minibuses No. 371, 377, 382, ​​buses No. 371, 382. You can also walk to the place. This will take about 30 minutes.
• By minibus from Moskovskaya metro station. Taxi numbers: 286, 287, 342, 347, 545. Their stop is located near the House of Soviets behind the singing fountains. Travel time will be about 40 minutes, provided there are no traffic jams. The cost is about 40 rubles.
• From Moskovsky Prospekt opposite McDonald's there is bus No. 187. Here you can also catch minibuses that go from the House of Soviets. The bus goes to the station in . The fare will be approximately 30 rubles.
• From the Kupchino metro station by minibuses No. 545, 286, 287, bus No. 186. Travel time will be about 30 minutes if there are no traffic jams. The minibus ring is located on Vitebsky Prospekt on the metro side.
• You can also take a taxi from anywhere in St. Petersburg. The trip will cost you approximately 500-600 rubles. A taxi will get you there in about half an hour, if there are no traffic jams.

Halls of the palace

In 2009, the Alexander Palace was transferred to the ownership of the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum. In 2010, three halls of the Front Enfilade were opened to visitors:

1. Semicircular hall.
2. Portrait Hall.
3. Marble living room.

The premises are united by through arched spans, thanks to which there is no feeling of division of space: one smoothly flows into the other.

Semicircular hall was located in the middle part of the enfilade. This is one of the largest and most elegant rooms. Official events and receptions for guests were held here. The room is decorated with paintings by famous artists. There is a candelabra vase in the center of the room. It was presented to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna by King Frederick William III. Later, bronze flowers were specially made for her, into the holes of which candles were inserted. On the wall of the hall you can see a small fragment of the painting of the vaults. Unfortunately, it itself was destroyed (painted over with white paint) by order of Emperor Nicholas I. The Romanov family spent their last night here with their suitcases already prepared, awaiting departure to.

Portrait Hall. Even under Emperor Nicholas I, portraits of members of the Romanov family began to be collected in this room.

Marble living room, it is also called the Billiard Room, since there used to be billiards there. Now the room contains pieces of furniture, paintings, vases and decorative ornaments that have survived to this day.

Following to the eastern wing of the palace, you find yourself in a small living room of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. Musical evenings were held here for family members and friends. In the center of the hall stood the Empress's piano, which she loved to play and pamper visitors with her talent. There is an interesting tapestry hanging on the wall of the room. Later, when Emperor Nicholas II had already abdicated the throne, and the future fate of the family did not bode well, they began to call him unlucky. The tapestry is a copy of the work of the master Vigée-Lebrun (1887). It depicts the Empress of France, Marie Antoinette, with her children. Her fate is similar to the fate of the family of the last Russian emperor. She was executed during the French Revolution; her children did not survive either.

In the next room ( former maple living room, divided into two parts for exhibitions) you can admire the exhibition where toys of the emperor’s children, furniture and clothing are displayed. Another part of it presents interior items and personal belongings of the Empress. On one of the walls of the room there is a photograph depicting the room under its last owner.

Rosewood living room used by the imperial family as a dining room for family dinners. Those especially close to them were also invited here for a meal, since the living room was located on the territory of the personal rooms of the imperial couple.

Former Lilac office Empress Alexandra Feodorovna is designed in her favorite colors. Here she did needlework and sorted out correspondence. The interior is modest, as in all the other private rooms of the family.

Former bedroom empress. What is most surprising about the interior of the room is the large number of images on the wall. Despite the fact that a small part of them is now on display. Asceticism and simplicity never cease to amaze after the flashy luxury of the Catherine Palace. I can’t even believe that the imperial family lived here: everything is so simple and unpretentious.

In the reception room of Emperor Nicholas II, chairs, a fireplace, and a table where the tsar worked were preserved. Here you can see a collection of plates on which bread and salt were presented to the emperor when he came to a city, as well as outfits, portraits and photographs of the Romanov family.

Lavatory (Moorish basin) Nicholas II. There used to be a swimming pool here. Now the room displays cabinets made in the likeness of those that used to be in the library of the Alexander Palace.

Front office Emperor Nicholas II. Meetings with ministers were held here. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful and comfortable room in the palace. Here you can admire the interior items and the layout of the room for a long time.

There is a truly warm, homely atmosphere in the hall.

***

The Alexander Palace is not as wildly popular as the Catherine Palace. You can easily enter here by purchasing a ticket in advance. There are no huge queues and crowds of the same eager to see the beauty.

I hope my review was useful and interesting for you. If you love and want to know Russian history, you should definitely visit the Alexander Palace. Don't deprive him of your attention! After all, a tour of the Catherine Palace is more of an aesthetic pleasure for the tourist’s eyes; all this luxury and gilding is dazzling and dazzling. When visiting Alexandrovsky, you find yourself in a completely different atmosphere. There are so many personal things here, some seemingly ordinary and everyday ones, that make the interiors so homely and cozy, and a visit to the palace unforgettable.

Address: Russia, Moscow, Leninsky Prospekt (metro station Leninsky Prospekt, Oktyabrskaya)
Main attractions: Alexandrinsky Palace, Manege, Summer House, Hunting Lodge
Coordinates: 55°43"14.0"N 37°35"37.0"E
Object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation

Content:

On the right bank of the Moscow River, in the very heart of the capital, there is one of the largest Moscow parks, which used to be called Neskuchny Garden. Smooth linden alleys, beautiful fountains, attractions for children, a huge Green Theater and sports grounds. Everything is as it should be in a place where people come to relax from the city noise. In different parts of the park you can see the picturesque buildings of the ancient Neskuchnoye estate.

Alexandrinsky Palace

History of the estate

In fact, on the territory of modern Neskuchny Garden, park alleys and buildings that belonged to three noble estates have been preserved. The owner of one of them was Prokofy Akinfievich Demidov, who, like his famous father, owned large mining enterprises. P.A. Demidov was known as a passionate gardener and lover of birds and bees. On the territory of the estate, he built a rich palace for himself and placed in it many cages with songbirds.

The Demidov Botanical Garden appeared on the estate in 1756 and had the shape of an amphitheater. In addition to unusual ornamental shrubs and fruit trees, one could see palm trees, exotic for Russians. And the first plants - shoots and seeds - came to the Moscow estate from the botanical garden in Solikamsk. In 1781, academician Peter Simon Pallas lived at Demidov’s estate for a whole month and, at his request, compiled a detailed catalog of trees, shrubs and herbs growing around the miner’s house.

The owner's eccentricity manifested itself in different ways. He ordered the guards of the botanical garden to be dressed in white suits and forced them to make up themselves to resemble the park sculptures. The watchmen stood motionless and “came to life” only when one of the visitors tried to break a tree branch or plucked beautiful flowers from a flowerbed. Because of this, Muscovites began to call the garden “Neskuchny”. But this is only one version of the origin of the unusual name.

Maid of Honor Corps

After Demidov’s death, Elena Nikitichna Vyazemskaya bought the land, and after her, Count Fyodor Grigorievich Orlov. Under the new owner in 1806-1808, a large arena was built on the territory of the estate.

Adjacent to the Demidov estate to the south was the estate of Prince Nikita Yuryevich Trubetskoy, who acquired these lands in 1728. In the middle of the 18th century, a beautiful two-story house appeared here. It was erected for the princely family by the architect Dmitry Vasilyevich Ukhtomsky, a famous master of the Elizabethan Baroque. The prince's descendants remodeled the estate in their own way. They built a “Versailles garden”, a menagerie and poultry house, wooden galleries and a stone grotto.

After Trubetskoy, Neskuchnoye changed several owners. Some owners tried to establish production of iron and copper products on the estate. Others, chasing profit, opened the city's first clinic with artificial mineral waters on the shores of Moscow. However, all attempts to obtain income from the estate failed. Neskuchnoye continued to be a place of mass celebrations and entertainment, and the public who came here had fun as best they could. At the beginning of the 19th century, balloon flights, which were rare in those days, were very popular.

Summer (Tea) house

At the very beginning of the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, vast lands on the right bank of Moscow were bought by the palace department in order to create a new summer royal residence here. The southern section of the lands acquired by the treasury was occupied by the former estate of N.Yu. Trubetskoy Neskuchnoe. It is believed that it gave the name to the entire palace and park ensemble built later. Nearby was the Golitsyn estate. The north of the new royal residence previously belonged to the Orlov counts and consisted of several sections. And in the center of the vast palace estate was the ancient estate of Demidov with a botanical garden well known to Muscovites.

From that moment on, the territory of Neskuchny Garden began to be developed as a single architectural and park complex. Regular parks of individual noble estates were gradually planted with new trees and shrubs and turned into landscape ones. The famous architect Evgraf Dmitrievich Tyurin magnificently decorated the two-story building of the Oryol arena and gave it a solemn appearance.

The Demidovsky Palace, or as it came to be called, the Alexandria Palace, was also remodeled in the traditions of the late Empire style and equipped with chambers for the emperor and spacious halls for receiving guests. At the same time, according to the project of E.D. Tyurin added two large buildings to the main palace - the Freylinsky and the Cavalry, as well as a small guardhouse building. A grand entrance road led from Kaluzhskaya Street to the main entrance to the palace. It originated from the beautiful gate, which was decorated with the allegorical sculpture “Abundance”.

Hunting lodge. Filming of the program “What? Where? When?” is taking place here.

In 1917, the royal estate was nationalized. Then Neskuchny Garden was renamed the Maxim Gorky Park of Culture and Leisure. Year after year, many new buildings and pavilions were erected here, and the landscape was also changed - alleys were laid out, the river bank was strengthened and new plantings were made. Therefore, the modern park is very different from what it was 100 years ago.

What buildings have been preserved in Neskuchny Garden

In the “Demidov” part of the park, the Alexandria Palace, built in the mid-18th century in the classicist style and reconstructed in the 1830s as an imperial residence, has been preserved. On the sides of the luxurious house there are small colonnades that support neat semicircular balconies. To the left and right of the main entrance you can see chamber statues of dogs. In 1930, a beautiful cast-iron fountain appeared on the square in front of the palace, which until that time adorned Lubyanka Square. This fountain was built at the end of the 19th century according to the design of the talented sculptor Ivan Petrovich Vitali.

Former playpen. Mineralogical Museum named after A.E. Fersman in Neskuchny Garden

Nowadays, the palace is occupied by the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and, unfortunately, it is impossible to examine the building inside. On the terrace where the famous botanical garden once grew, today there is a large Green Theater that can accommodate up to 15 thousand spectators.

From one of the owners of the estate, Count Fyodor Orlov, a two-story manege building, built at the beginning of the 19th century, remains in the park. Since 1936, it has housed one of the most famous mineralogical museums in the country, named after Academician A.E. Fersman. The unique museum collections began their history in 1716 and still attract many visitors.

The Summer (or Tea) House also remains from the Oryol estate. It was erected in 1796 and today is the oldest of the manor buildings. The picturesque two-story building in the classicist style is decorated with a slender colonnade, and one-story extensions are built on either side of it. Nearby there is a small area and benches where park visitors like to relax.

Small (Grotesque) bridge

From the estate of Prince N.Yu. Trubetskoy in Neskuchny Garden has preserved a small, neat hunting lodge-rotunda, built in the mid-18th century. The hospitable owner loved to spend time with friends there. In modern history, this ancient building became famous as the filming location for the TV show “What? Where? When?". In memory of the princely estate of Neskuchnoye, there also remains a large ravine with a dam and several alleys of the old regular park.

Neskuchny garden for relaxation

The park area has long been favored by Muscovites for walks and leisure. Guests of the Neskuchny Garden can walk along the paths past several ponds, admire the picturesque bridges thrown across the ravines and feed almost tame squirrels. Many people just like to sit on benches in the shade of trees and watch the pleasure boats plying along the river.

Some places in the Neskuchny Garden look like a dense forest. On the territory of the former noble estates, oaks, maples, poplars, lindens and birches grow, and in the summer there are many flower beds. Playgrounds and attractions have been built for children in the park. For horse lovers there is an Equestrian Development Center.

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The palace is currently under reconstruction and is scheduled to open in mid-2018.

If the luxurious Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo was created for pompous receptions, then its simpler neighbor was intended for living. The future Romanov family residence was built under Catherine II. In 1796, the palace became a worthy wedding gift to the Tsarina’s grandson Alexander Pavlovich. During his visits to Tsarskoye Selo, he himself loved to live in Bolshoi Tsarskoye Selo, but his younger brother and successor Nicholas I preferred the Alexander Palace and enjoyed its improvement. On the left side of the building were the living rooms of his grandson Alexander Alexandrovich, however, after becoming king, Alexander III chose the Gatchina Palace as his residence. The Alexander Palace became a real family nest for Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Fedorovna. From there the Romanovs went into exile, from which they never returned.

In 1918, the palace turned into a museum, then the building was converted into a rest home for representatives of the NKVD, on the second floor there was an orphanage; during the occupation there was a German headquarters and the Gestapo with prison cells in the basements. After the war, the palace premises were given to the Institute of Russian Literature, and then to the Military Department. Now the Alexander Palace again serves as a museum.

Architecture Features

The two-story building seems quite simple, especially when compared with its nearest neighbor, the Catherine Palace. Despite this, the Alexander Palace is recognized as one of the outstanding examples of classicism architecture. The author of the project was the famous Giacomo Quarneghi, the building was erected under the supervision of the architect Pyotr Neelov. There are double wings on both sides of the palace - previously there were living quarters there. The main façade is decorated with a luxurious through colonnade - in the center were the halls of the front enfilade. Part of the building is complemented by a semi-rotunda with a dome in the shape of a sphere.

Halls and interiors

The same Kvarneghi worked on the furnishings of the Alexander Palace, and with him a dozen eminent artists, sculptors and decorators. The interiors of the residence corresponded to classical canons. Today they are actively recovering.

3 halls of the front part of the residence were reconstructed: the Marble Living Room, decorated with gilded furniture, mirrors and tiger skin, the Semicircular Hall, where at the beginning of the last century the Christmas tree was lit every year, and the Portrait Hall with images of members of the imperial dynasty. At the end of the enfilade there is the Emperor's Reception Room, paneled with oak, and his State Office.

The living rooms of the imperial family were located in the eastern wing. The Corner Living Room, which belonged to Alexandra Feodorovna, the Lilac Study, the Maple Living Room of the Empress and her bedroom were restored. The decoration of some rooms was lost entirely; only archival photographs of the interiors remained.

From the estate to the palace and park ensemble: an architectural and historical cheat sheet

The park was built outside what was then Moscow on the river bank. The chosen site was inconvenient for construction, so for two years 700 people worked to level the ground to give the park the shape of an amphitheater. But the result was worth it: from the manor house to the river the garden descended in ledges, of different widths and heights, but the same length of 95 fathoms. The park had many stone greenhouses with palms and trees from hot countries: 2,000 varieties of rare plants were collected especially for it. On the fifth platform from the top there was a large pond and a poultry house with rare birds and animals imported from Holland and England. And pineapples and grapes were grown in ground sheds and greenhouses.

The plants were guarded by guards covered with chalk. At a quick glance, they were no different from garden sculptures. But when visitors began to break something, the “sculptures” came to life and began to speak. Rumors about talking statues filled Moscow, and people flocked en masse to the garden, which they called “Not Boring.”

Under the next owner - Count Alexei Orlov-Chesmensky - monuments in honor of military battles, pavilions, gazebos and various garden “undertakings” appeared in Neskuchnik. But since the owner’s main passion was horses (it was he who bred the famous Oryol trotters), an arena and stables appeared in the park. The main house was also rebuilt. Among the possible architects are I. Sitnikov, V. Iehta, V. Yakovlev.

In 1830, an open-air theater was built in Neskuchny Garden - the so-called “air” theater. Its backdrops and backdrops were bushes and trees. There was no curtain or stage. Because of this, sometimes performances were performed in knee-deep water. But the audience liked the innovation, and the theater enjoyed enviable popularity.

...the theater set up in the open-air garden delighted me; The decorations included centuries-old trees, a babbling brook, turf benches and double rose bushes. During the intermission, the ladies ran from box to box, the chairs were also full of elegant ladies' hats, the gentlemen presented their chosen ones and their silent and unsmiling bodyguards with bouquets, fruits and ice cream.

In the summer of 1830, the “air” theater in Neskuchny was visited by Pushkin with Goncharova and Nashchokin. The rehearsal was going on, but when the famous guest appeared, it was interrupted, and the actors followed him in a crowd while the poet inspected the stage and the audience seats. And in 1834 the theater closed.

In 1923, the first All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft Exhibition was held on the territory of the Neskuchny Garden.

Several pavilions were erected in the park, including “Shag” by K.S. Melnikova and “Mechanical Engineering” I.V. Zholtovsky. And in 1947-1951, in Neskuchnik, according to the design of Sergei Ikonnikov, a gazebo was built in honor of the 800th anniversary of Moscow. The main events from the history of the city are depicted on its walls.

And in 2006-2007, the area near the rotunda was landscaped and called “Lovers’ Alley.” Fountains were launched on it and a special clock was installed: now lovers do not need to worry about being late for a date - the clock always says five minutes to six.

In Neskuchny Garden, on the edge of the Andreevsky ravine, there is a Hunting Lodge, where the games “What? Where? When?". The summer house has a library, a small zoo, and the oldest ping-pong court in Moscow. From the pond you can see the sculpture of a girl diver by R. Iodko above the only cascade fountain in Moscow. And right next to the river there was a small grotto.

They say that......if lovers walk together across the Grotesque Bridge, their love will be strong. And if they also kiss, they will never part again.
...a nondescript green building on the shore of a pond in Neskuchny Garden is all that remains of the Bathing House of the late 18th century. Emperor Alexander II loved to bathe there in marble baths. And even the bottom of the cleanest pond was lined with marble slabs.
During Soviet times, catering establishments were set up in the Bath House, but after the fire it was empty. And now this park pavilion is slowly being destroyed.
...on the bricks of buildings and alleys of Neskuchny Garden you can find the stamps “N.Ya.” These bricks were made in the 19th century at the factory of merchant Nikolai Yakunchikov near Moscow.
...on his site P.N. Trubetskoy arranged the first voxal - an entertainment garden with illumination, theatrical performances and snacks. Here, in 1805, Muscovites watched the first hot air balloon flight. The next owner of the site, Shakhovskoy, set up a hydropathic clinic there. But no one sat in the baths there, didn’t drink water, didn’t walk in the galleries - the project turned out to be commercially unsuccessful, and the property had to be sold to the treasury.
...Ilya Ilf loved to walk in the Neskuchny Garden. One day he approached a trained elephant calf from a local circus tent. He suddenly stood up on his hind legs. Ilf was taken aback, but raised his camera, took a few shots and said with relief: “Sit down!” Here the baby elephant was already taken aback and sat down.
...for several years after the revolution, the Moscow Furniture Museum was located in the Alexandrinsky Palace. This is the same museum where in the novel “The Twelve Chairs” Ostap Bender and Kisa Vorobyaninov were looking for precious chairs.