Kuzminki Park in Moscow – history, photo, description, what to do, entertainment
Kuzminki Park in Moscow is a great place to relax at any time of the year. An extensive forested area with spacious alleys and ponds, beautiful architecture, sports and entertainment venues and clubs make it popular among visitors of all ages. Some play chess, others read, others share their skills in interesting embroidery, master the computer. There is everything for an interesting, active holiday with friends and family.
Story
The history of the creation of the Kuzminki park goes back to the 16th century. Then this place on the banks of the Goledyanka River was a wasteland belonging to the Simonov Monastery. There was a mill on it, where, according to legend, a certain Kuzma worked as a miller. In 1701, Peter I, having taken away the monastic lands, granted them to his close friend and subject G.D. Stroganov, a major industrialist who was engaged in supplying the army and navy. Under him, the area remained in its original form.
After his death and the entry into the possession of his sons, in 1716 the construction of buildings began. At first, a wooden temple of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Blachernae” was erected, then the prince's palace with outbuildings. A village was formed around the estate, which received the name Vlaherna. The territory was also transformed. The river was blocked, a cascade of ponds 80-100 m wide was created, which went one after another, creating the impression of a large full-flowing river.
In 1754, the estate passed to Prince M.M. Golitsyn, who married the sole owner of the estate, M.A. Stroganova. Under him, an English landscape park was equipped, rebuilt and reconstructed: the temple, the palace, the pier, the stables. The estate received its greatest dawn in the 19th century. The breakdown of the French park, which has a 12-beam structure, was started. Alleys departed from the central round square, on which the statue of Apollo was installed.
Under the guidance of the architect D. Gilardi, they built magnificent pavilions (Musical, Egyptian), gazebos, a greenhouse, erected triumphal and openwork gates, erected monuments to Peter I, Nicholas I. In 1917, the estate was nationalized and transferred to the Institute of Veterinary Medicine. Its employees did not care about preserving the unique natural and architectural ensemble: centuries-old trees were cut down, buildings were used for their own purposes (for hostels, laboratories, a hospital).
In wartime, dugouts, trenches were built in the park, tank troops were stationed. The park complex suffered enormous damage. In the 90s of the XX century, a restoration began, which continues to this day.
The park today
The recreation area with an area of 375 hectares is located in the south-west of the capital. Most of it is occupied by forests. Here you can walk along the paths among centuries-old trees, sit on benches along wide alleys or by a pond overgrown with yellow water lilies, take a break from the city noise and bustle, enjoy unity with nature. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is the opportunity to jog, swim, rent a bike, boat or catamaran, ride horses.
There is a skate park, rides, outdoor exercise equipment. The park offers a rich cultural program: visits to museums (Literary, Ancient carriages, Manor life), architectural monuments. Festivals, folk and city holidays, concerts, exhibitions are held on the territory.
Objects of the park and estate
Kuzminki Park is considered one of the greenest protected areas in Moscow. It preserved the remarkable features of old Russian estates: an unusual connection between buildings and objects with the natural landscape. The first owners, the barons Stroganovs, then the princes Golitsyns, invited the best architects, masters of landscape decoration for a beautiful estate. Not all objects of the park have survived to this day.
Many of them have been rebuilt. The most interesting are the house on the dam, the temple of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God, the horse yard, the round pier. There are several museums on the park territory, concerts and flower garden festivals are held in the music pavilion.
Since 2013, it has been supplemented with new territories: Sadovniki, Arshinov Park, Borisovskie Prudy recreation area, 60th Anniversary Park. Kuzminki Park is part of the Kuzminki-Lyublino Museum-Reserve. 32 attractions, a rope park, a climbing wall, and modern sports grounds have been created for visitors.
Museum of Russian Estate Culture
There are many monuments of ancient manor architecture in the Moscow region. Not all of them have been preserved in their original form, many amaze with their majestic ruins. In the 18th century, the cultural life of the future capital was formed in ancient estates.
Lush balls, concerts, literary circles were born among the walls of rich halls. Golitsyn's estate occupied a special place, and therefore the Museum arose here, filled with the atmosphere of the life of the owners of that time. The main exposition is located in the building of the service wing and contains furniture, household items, art works of a wealthy family.
Old portraits, clothes in closets, newspapers completely repeat the old atmosphere. Even the dining table is set with antique crockery, and guests' business cards are placed next to each seat. Surprise is the last hall of the museum dedicated to dancing. Seems. that the melodies of popular mazurkas and polonaises are about to sound. In the corner of the hall there is a famous table with a deck of cards with which Alexander Golitsyn lost his wife to the famous philanthropist Razumovsky.
Musical Pavilion of the Horse Yard
The horse yard was built at the beginning of the 19th century on the river bank on the opposite side of the main estate. This is a complex of buildings, which includes stables, outbuildings, fodder, carriage sheds. They are located in the form of the letter P around the Musical Pavilion. After the restoration work, the Horse Yard continued its activities as a cultural platform (exhibitions are held here) and became the center of the revival of horse breeding in Russia.
The main decoration of the complex is the Musical Pavilion. It is easy to recognize him by copies of the sculptures of the equestrian group, created by Klodt on the Anichkov Bridge. The pavilion restored after the fire reflects the unusual history of Russian horn music and is a generalized image of the estates of the Moscow region in those days. The musical pavilion is included in the lists of architectural masterpieces of the world.
Its acoustic capabilities are designed in such a way that the sound effect is enhanced without losing the quality of the sound of the horns. Sounds resembling an organ resounded through all the surroundings of the estate. The original Russian history of horn music dates back to 1751 and is associated with the name of the horn player Ya. A. Maresh. Cone-shaped horns were made of sheet copper.
Each of them made only one sound. Horn bands were very popular. Not one country in the world was able to repeat the secrets of this art. At the end of the 19th century, it completely disappeared. Only in 2002 the Russian Horn Chapel was revived in St. Petersburg. You can plunge into the atmosphere of the Russian heritage here, next to the Musical Pavilion of the old estate.
Church of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God
A wooden temple was built in the estate in 1720. After 40 years, a stone building in the style of early classicism was erected in its place. After the restoration in 1995, the snow-white church was re-consecrated and filled with the prayers of the faithful. In terms of the elegance of the interior and exterior, the church is not inferior to the architectural masterpieces of Moscow. But its main sacrament is that from 1725 to 1929 there was a unique shrine of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God here.
Now it has become the property of the Tretyakov Gallery. According to legend, the icon was painted by the Evangelist Luke and kept in a special Blachernae church. It was built in the 5th century specifically to store the relics of the Christian world: the Holy Robe of the Virgin, belts, icons. There were several lists, one of which was brought from Constantinople (after the fall in 1453) and donated to a famous Russian family.
Connoisseurs of ancient Russian painting strive to get into this temple. Its chapels were dedicated to Alexander Nevsky (the patron of Stroganov), Sergei Rodonezhsky (the patron of Golitsyn). The prince himself is buried in this church. Services and baptism rituals are regularly held in the temple.
Manor Santa Claus
A fairy tale that has come true and is loved by all the children of the country is the meeting of the New Year. How many magical letters with the most incredible desires are sent by children to Santa Claus. It is not necessary to visit him in his ancient house in Veliky Ustyug. Since 2005, the Moscow authorities have realized a fairy tale in the Kuzminki estate. Here appeared the tower of Santa Claus, the Snow Maiden, his post office, a magic mill, a well, a horseshoe that brings good luck.
Joyful children's laughter sounds here all year round. There is a path in the magical forest, decorated with fabulous sculptures. The magical forest itself consists of Christmas trees brought from the estate of Santa Claus. On the Emerald Square, the main New Year's tree is being set up.
On the skating rink, sparkling with silver, fun skating is organized. But the main expectation, the receipt of a gift, conceived in a letter, will certainly come true if it is sent in a beautiful house called “Santa Claus's mail.”
Ponds
There are about 400 ponds on the territory of the modern capital. There were many more before. Interesting historical facts, legends, myths are still alive about many of them. Some survived only in old paintings, engravings. Ponds in Kuzminki still live, although they do not have a special gloss created by the latest technologies for caring for a reservoir.
The cascade of ponds in Kuzminki was created during the life of Stroganov after 1740. By his decree, dams were erected on the Ponomarka River and a periodic system of ponds of the same width was formed. The river acquired a beautiful wide waterway. A picturesque cascade of reservoirs has formed. Guests of the estate, local residents came here for recreation, boating, and participation in exciting fishing.
Now the ponds belong to the historical monuments of Moscow and are included in the UNESCO lists. There are four of them: Upper Kuzminsky, Shibaevsky, Lower Kuzminsky, Shchuchy. It is forbidden to swim in the ponds, but boat stations operate on them, there are equipped areas for coastal recreation and fishing.
Skate Park
A modern park has many elements of its arrangement, intended for people of different ages, different sports training. This problem has periodically arisen in different countries. And surfers from California were able to solve it when, in the absence of the necessary waves, they invented skateboarding in the middle of the 20th century.
There were platforms for practicing extreme sports on various types of mobile devices. At the same time, it was possible to demonstrate riding on hands, jumping over barriers. Special terms appeared in the names of complex figures, driving technique. Now in Moscow there are about 20 skate parks. The most popular of them was the park in Kuzminki, which opened in 2014. He works around the clock. There are springboards, places for figures performed by sliding.
attractions
On the territory there is the most fun place for children's recreation. 32 names of modern attractions “Kosmik” are located near the main entrance and joyful children's laughter is constantly heard from here. Among the elements for their entertainment are Merry slides, swings, a trampoline, a children's railway.
In 2013, new attractions were installed here, suitable for joint participation with parents. The rental service offers to rent an ATV, a boat, a bicycle, roller skates or scooters. Horseback riding is of particular interest. The smallest guests of the park are happy to fly on boats and airplanes. Older children will master the speed together on a crazy track, an armored train, a chain carousel.
Rope park and climbing wall
The first rope parks in Russia appeared in the early 1990s. These were places for sports training on obstacles of varying complexity, located at a height. They appeared thanks to George Herbert (military commander), who was looking for ways for the harmonious development of the personality and borrowed rope structures from the decks of ships.
The three-level rope park is located among the trees growing near the main stage of the park. The tracks pass at a height of 1.5 to 6 m. The climbing wall is located at a level of 9 m. Routes have been developed along: the green track for the age group from 6 years old, height from 120 cm, weight up to 80 kg. Visitors from 12 years old, height up to 140 cm and weight no more than 100 kg are allowed on the blue track. Participants over 18 years of age, at least 160 cm tall and weighing up to 120 kg can go along the red track.
Playgrounds
Bright playgrounds have long become an indispensable element of parks and ordinary courtyards. Traditional carousels, slides have become familiar. An unusual playground has been built for children in Kuzminki Park. It contains many unexpected interactive attractions. Among them are exciting computer games, where the control is not with the mouse, but with the coordination of one's own movements.
The computer zone is located in the open air, but all attractions are protected from the weather. Mountains of multi-colored cubes, which not only stack, but can be safely climbed by kids. The complication of the elements of the site is organized in a spiral. The most difficult rides are at the end. The playground is thought out for the participation of children with disabilities.
Belchatnik
In any park, among the walking alleys, you can meet funny animals that are not afraid of visitors. In Kuzminki Park, a separate cozy area with houses for living was built for them. All the kids are eager to meet the four red-haired residents of the park. Here you can learn a lot of interesting facts from their life, feed them with allowed products. There is a mini zoo nearby. Various birds, goats, sheep live in it.
Outdoor fitness equipment, workout area
“Street gymnastics”, “Workout” or “workout” refers to an amateur sport. It has been known for a long time and began with the installation of simple horizontal bars, bars. Now the list of workout elements includes modern designs of sports equipment. They are available to anyone.
The main thing is to choose the nearest site with outdoor exercise equipment and use it regularly. The main emphasis in such exercises is on working with your weight, developing endurance, strength. Outdoor fitness equipment in Kuzminki Park is one of the best street workout areas in the city.
Animal and plant world
The flora and fauna of the forest park is rich and varied. Mostly pines, spruces, birches, lindens, elms, and oaks grow here. There is black alder, fir. Below the tier – bushes of honeysuckle, wild rose, viburnum, buckthorn. Of the plants from other regions, the following have taken root well: Japanese quince, Manchurian walnut, red oak, bird cherry, black elderberry. Of the herbaceous plants, many are placed in the Red Book (snow-white water lily, medicinal plant, Fisher's carnation, May lily of the valley, etc.)
From animals there are squirrels, hares, weasels, foxes, hedgehogs, moles, voles. There are a lot of fish in the reservoirs: roach, crucian carp, gudgeon. From early spring, bird voices of siskins, warblers, nightingales, kinglets, tits, buntings are heard. Thrush, black woodpecker nests here.
Recreation and entertainment
All conditions for various rest are created. For those who like to spend time actively, there is a running club where participants of races and marathons train. Roller skaters visit the skate park with jumps and areas for sliding. Every Sunday, classes in the South American zumba dance take place in an open area.
The Sports and Health Center has yoga, pilates, martial arts, etc. sections. Bicycles, catamarans, boats, skis, and sleds can be rented at rental points. Outdoor fitness equipment, table tennis tables, and a volleyball court are installed for outdoor sports. Those who want to relax can wander through the forest and alleys of the park, sit by the Shibaevsky pond, feed the ducks and squirrels. For picnics there are specially equipped places with barbecues, tables, benches.
Cozy bookcrossing pavilions are designed for lovers of reading, where they also exchange books. Elderly people communicate in the pavilion for games over a game of chess or checkers, they are going to dance to the accompaniment of an accordion in dance pavilions. It will be interesting for children to ride a pony or ride with their parents in a carriage, visit an amusement park and playgrounds. Everyone can study for free in English courses and in a theater studio. Concerts, competitions, performances by artists are constantly held on the open stage.
Where to eat
On the territory there are no problems in finding places for a snack, a full meal. Numerous kiosks sell donuts, pasties, hot corn, ice cream, coffee, and fast food. In cafes “Merkato”, “Pizza” you can taste Italian cuisine. In the cafe “Vera'n'Da” to appreciate the taste of a real shish kebab. Grilled meat is served in the cafe “Panorama”.
Where is it located and how to get there
The entrance is located next to the Vysota cinema. The same name is also used by a public transport stop. You can get to the park by metro to the station. “Kuzminki”, then 5-7 minutes on foot. From the Volzhskaya metro station there are minibuses: No. 4, 633, 522, trolleybus No. 74, bus No. 658.