In the south of Moscow there is a unique ancient palace and park complex, which is the greatest monument of architecture, history and culture. "Tsaritsyno" -
From the history of the complex
The places that today we call Tsaritsino have been known since the end of the 16th century. In those days, it was the patrimony of Boris Godunov’s sister. Then the village was called Bogorodskoye. At the end of the 16th century, the queen’s buildings were destroyed, the area was desolate, and only a cascade of ponds remained, which was built under the Godunovs.
Since 1633, these places began to be called Black Mud. The owners of the village became the Streshnev boyars, relatives of the first tsar from the Romanov family, Mikhail Fedorovich.
In 1684, boyar Streshnev ceded the village to his grandson, A.V. Golitsyn, who was the favorite of Princess Sophia. When she was deposed, the Golitsyns' property was confiscated and transferred to the state.
In 1712, by Decree of Peter I, Black Mud and nearby lands came into the possession of Prince Cantemir, the Moldavian ruler, a loyal ally of Russia in the confrontation with Turkey. In his new possession, Cantemir built a wooden palace on a high hill.
Tsaritsyno under Catherine II
One day, the great empress, driving through the territory of Black Mud, was fascinated by the beauty of these places and, without hesitation, bought the estate from Prince Cantemir. This happened in 1775. That same summer, a wooden palace consisting of only six rooms, as well as the most necessary office premises, was built for the empress and her favorite Prince Potemkin.
In 1775, Empress Catherine II ordered the construction of a pleasure residence near Moscow on this territory. The great architect V. Bazhenov was entrusted with creating the project and bringing it to life. The Empress wanted the building to be in the Moorish or Gothic style, and the park to be landscaped.
Tsaritsyno Museum in Moscow
In 1984, a museum of decorative and applied arts appeared on the territory of the park in Tsaritsino. At this time, restoration of many buildings of the complex began. In 1993, it received the status of a museum-reserve, important for that time, and some time later it was included in the list of cultural and historical monuments of federal significance. Since 2005, the Tsaritsyno museum-estate became the property of the city of Moscow. At the same time, restoration work began on the estate. Landscape work was carried out under the direction of architect M. R. Morina. Currently, activities for the improvement and restoration of park areas - Bakhrushinka and Orekhovskaya outskirts - are ongoing.
Palace ensemble "Tsaritsyno"
This complex, built by the best architect of the 18th century V. Bazhenov, later underwent changes. The Great Palace was built at intervals from 1786 to 1796 on the site of previously dismantled Bazhenov buildings. It was built by a student of the great architect Matvey Kazakov. In some ways, he repeats Bazhenov’s plan. It is based on two square wings, in which the chambers of Catherine II, as well as Tsarevich Paul, were to be located. The “wings” of the building are connected by a monumental and majestic middle part. At the same time, despite the presence of bright pseudo-Gothic elements - towers, in its design the palace is close to the canons of classicism: a tripartite division of facades, strict symmetry, balanced proportions. In many ways it demonstrates “sovereign power.” It lacks Bazhenov's lightness and playfulness.
Due to the sudden death of the empress, the palace was not completed. It has never been used in any way. Only in 2005-2007 was the Tsaritsyno Museum created here (you can see the photo in our article). Today it is a very popular place among tourists.
Tsaritsyno Estate Museum: Small Palace
All visitors to the unique ensemble are attracted by the Small Palace, located on a hill near the shore of the Upper Pond, not far from the Figured Bridge. It was built by Vasily Bazhenov in 1776-1778. This small-sized structure, rather reminiscent of a park pavilion, is decorated with the empress’s monogram. Unlike other elegantly decorated buildings of Tsaritsyno, this majestic and exquisite emblem is the only decoration of the building, except for the complex upper parapet. There is a version that the palace was built for the empress so that she could spend time here playing cards, which she loved very much.
In a relatively small room, Bazhenov managed to create six rooms. Two of them are so small that they can only accommodate one person. Perhaps these are quarters for sentries. The most spacious is the main oval hall. From the windows of this room there is a magnificent view of the Upper Pond. All the ceilings in the palace are vaulted.
At the beginning of the 19th century, it was used as a coffee shop, frequented by those walking in the park. Then it housed a guardhouse for the estate's guards. Subsequently, it was not used in any way, and by the beginning of the 20th century it turned into ruins. Over the course of seven years (1989-1996), the building was reconstructed. Now it hosts museum exhibitions.
Bread House
Thousands of tourists visit Tsaritsino every year. The estate, park museum, fountains and, of course, the Bread House attract guests here not only from our country, but also from abroad.
The Bread House is a building that is part of a unique ensemble, erected in 1785 by the talented architect V. Bazhenov. It is deservedly considered one of its most original and interesting buildings. In addition, this is the largest building by the architect, preserved not only in Tsaritsyno, but throughout Moscow.
The Bread House received its name in the 19th century thanks to the high reliefs depicting a loaf and a salt shaker that were preserved on the front facades.
The building was constructed as a kitchen building. After Catherine II, dissatisfied with Bazhenov’s work, removed the architect from construction at the Tsaritsyno estate in 1786, M. Kazakov became its leader.
The kitchens of the Bread House were used for their intended purpose for some time. The service premises of the Tsaritsyn estate were also located here.
In 1849, by order of Nicholas I, a project was created to adapt this building into an almshouse and a hospital. In 1852, a hospital for peasants was opened here. In 1920, communal apartments spontaneously appeared in the building, which gradually occupied the entire inhabited part of the building. They existed until the 70s of the last century.
Active restoration work began in 2005, when the Tsaritsyno Museum became the property of the city. The bread house acquired a new parapet, which Bazhenov planned, but did not have time to erect. The courtyard was covered with a glass dome. In 2006, the Bread House was opened to visitors. Today it houses the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve, or rather, its main exhibitions. In addition, there are exhibition and concert halls.
Tsaritsyno Park
This is a most valuable monument of park art. It began to take shape in the 16th century, at a time when the estate belonged to Prince Cantemir. It was a “regular garden”, in which a clear geometry of alleys and green spaces could be traced.
You can also come to the Tsaritsyno Museum by car. How to get there faster? It is better to approach the estate from Tyurin Street. There are two large parking lots on this side. On weekends, you need to arrive here early, as there may not be enough parking spaces.
Today we made a short trip to Tsaritsyno. The museum, which is a unique natural and cultural attraction, will not leave anyone indifferent. The best monuments of Russian history of the 18th century are collected here. Now the estate has been restored and is in excellent condition. So don't delay your trip. Come to Tsaritsyno. The estate museum will help you feel the atmosphere of distant times and allow you to appreciate the beauty of Russian nature. Come with the whole family, with children. Such a trip will be very useful for them and will be remembered for many years.
Oh, Tsaritsyno! I knew this wonderful place in Moscow, when the palace was still in ruins, it had no ceilings or roof, and we played in it as children, despite the bricks falling from the walls. Those times have sunk into oblivion, and now you can enjoy the luxurious castle, clearly visible from afar due to the evening illumination, musical fountains, flower beds, and landscaped ponds and paths.
You can get to Tsaritsino, as before, in different ways:
Metro;
by train;
by bus;
by car - your own or a taxi.
Well, of course, if you don’t live nearby and can’t just walk to the park.
The official address of the palace and park complex is , st. Dolskaya, 1.
How to get to Tsaritsyno by metro
Two Moscow metro stations are located near the Tsaritsyno palace and park ensemble: Orekhovo and Tsaritsyno. From both you can easily walk to the park. When exiting the metro, follow the signs, and on the street almost everyone will tell you how to go further.
On the map from Yandex, I marked the palace itself with an asterisk, circled two metro stations in red, and the railway station in blue.
How to get to the Tsaritsyn complex by train
In the evenings, from electric trains passing by, you can see the majestic palace in the rays of spotlights. The Tsaritsyno railway station, which is within walking distance from the park, belongs to the Kursk direction. Accordingly, it can be reached from Kursky Station.
You can get here by train from a number of cities: Dedovsk, Odintsovo, Podolsk, Chekhov, Serpukhov, Tula, etc., as well as from many districts of Moscow: Tushino, Tekstilshchiki, Lyublino, Butovo, etc.
If you choose this method, be sure to check out current train schedule. There are breaks, particularly during lunch. Thanks to this, sometimes you can wait an hour, or even two, for the next train.
It is better to arrive at the station 10-15 minutes in advance to purchase tickets. In Moscow suburban trains, controllers are actively working, and ticketless travel often ends in fines. Yes, and find out in advance the type of train you have chosen. Some of them are distinguished by increased comfort, and with it, price.
How to get to the park and palace in Tsaritsyno by bus
You can get here by buses going to metro stations ( you need to get off at one of these stations metro):
“Orekhovo” (routes 151, 151k, 517, 275, 711, 765, 704, 704k, 274, 275k, 758, 709, 709k, 717);
“Tsaritsyno” (routes 761, 679, 289, 269, 203, 756, 221, 701, 182, 245, 269k, 389, 1130).
I indicate transport using Yandex.Maps, please check the current routes before your trip.
I think that the majority of visitors to Tsaritsino who use buses still come from different areas of Moscow. But next to the Orekhovo metro station and the entrance to Tsaritsyn Park there is also a bus station, which can also be reached by bus from several cities in Armenia, including Yerevan.
How to get to Tsaritsyno by car
The Tsaritsyn complex is located in the south of Moscow between major transport arteries: the Moscow Ring Road from the south, Kashirskoe Highway from the east, Lipetskaya Street from the west and the Kursk railway from the north. You can get here by car: from Novotsaritsynskoye Highway, Shipilovsky Proezd, Lipetskaya Street and Shipilovskaya Street. Here is a diagram from the official website of the complex:
Visitors arriving by car can park their car in one of several parking lots conveniently located near the park entrances (there are several).
Yes, and You should not come to Tsaritsyn Park at night– it is fenced and guarded. There are official opening hours when anyone can walk here - every day, from 6:00 to 00:00. In the buildings on the territory (in the palace and exhibition complex) Monday is a day off, and its work schedule for the remaining days should be checked before visiting on the official website of the complex.
I wish you a pleasant visit to Tsaritsino!
“Tsaritsyno” is not only the capital’s largest museum-reserve, but also a magnificent historical and cultural monument of the 18-19 centuries. This truly stunningly beautiful place is nothing more than the country estate of the Great Empress Catherine, which includes a gorgeous landscape park with sculptures and pavilions, stunning Tsaritsyn ponds, a light and music fountain, as well as an incomparable palace and park complex.
From the first minute of being on the grounds of the estate, guests' eyes are drawn to it - the highlight of the entire architectural complex. It is incredibly similar to a fairytale castle. This was largely due to the snow-white columns, many towers ending in spiers with golden stars and the richest elegant decor. From the main building you can walk along the arched gallery to the Bread House (Kitchen Outbuilding). The building received such an interesting name due to its unusual decor - the walls are decorated with beautiful bas-reliefs of salt shakers and festive loaves. Initially, it was in this building that it was planned to locate pantries, as well as a number of other kitchen premises.
You can get to the palace in two ways - along a figured bridge from the side of the ponds or along a bridge that is thrown over a ravine. By the way, the last bridge itself is a rather interesting structure. Indeed, according to the architect’s idea, it is decorated with rich patterns and pointed arched vaults.
Directly opposite the palace are the Cavalry Corps. One of the buildings was reserved for the protection of the empress and her ladies-in-waiting. Currently, the administration of the reserve is located here. Another building houses a modern educational and cultural center.
Between the buildings there is another object that undoubtedly deserves the attention of visitors. We are talking about an active stone temple dedicated to the “Life-Giving Spring” icon. This icon, according to popular belief, has amazing power - it heals all those who suffer from any ailment.
The Empress's personal chambers were located in the Small Palace, which was built on the edge of a high slope near the Figured Bridge. The main decoration of this building is a large, remarkable monogram with the letter “E”, which is a symbol of the Tsaritsyno estate. In the immediate vicinity of the Small Palace is the Opera House, the walls of which are decorated with double-headed eagles - a symbol of Russian autocracy. Today, the Opera House has become a venue for all kinds of exhibitions, classical music concerts and wedding ceremonies.
How to get there
Traveling by public transport: at the Tsaritsyno metro station, exiting the first carriage, walk along the passage - left to the end. Having reached the surface near the radio market, continue moving in the same direction. In a couple of minutes you will see the central entrance to the park. In addition, you can enter the estate from the Orekhovo metro station.
The Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve is one of the most powerful museum and park complexes in the capital. Here nature, architecture and a huge living space inside the city merge together, where everyone will find something interesting for themselves. Someone comes here for history, to join the Catherine era and the only example of “Russian Gothic”. Someone wants to admire the unusual territory of the reserve, which the creators tried to leave as natural as possible, harmoniously fitting architectural elements into the existing lines of the landscape. For some, Tsaritsyno is just a nice park where you can lie down with a book in the shade, take an evening walk with the dog, or go skiing.
Now the Tsaritsynsky Park complex is:
- Grand Palace;
- Bread House;
- Cavalry Corps;
- Small and Middle Palaces;
- Tower Ruin;
- Bridges, turrets, rotundas;
- Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God.
Also on the territory of the park there are many lost buildings (Great Cavalier Palace, Kamer-Yunfar Pavilion, etc.), in memory of which their foundations were left.
The key figure of the complex is the Grand Palace. The initial buildings were completed in 1784, the modern reconstruction was completed in 2007.
Now it is a venue for a variety of art exhibitions, musical programs, costume balls and photo sessions in historical costumes.
Ticket prices 2019 to the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
Entrance to the museum exhibition and ongoing exhibitions is paid. Excursion programs, ticket prices and all details can be found on the official website.
To visit all the objects that make up the museum complex, you can purchase a single ticket, valid for a month from the date of purchase. The price of a full ticket is 780 rubles, a discounted ticket is 320 rubles.
All seven objects can be viewed separately.
Ticket price:
- Grand Palace and Bread House: full ticket price 350 rubles, reduced price - 100 rubles;
- Opera House: full price - 150 rubles, reduced price - 80 rubles;
- Third Cavalry Corps: full price - 150 rubles, reduced price - 80 rubles;
- 3 objects of the Orangery complex: full price - 250 rubles, reduced price - 100 rubles.
Please note that entry to the Grand Palace and Bread House is free on one Monday of the month. Follow the information on the reserve's website.
Tsaritsyno Museum Park
The park is rare in many ways. Some of the trees here remain from the time when the Cantemir family owned these lands. The park ensemble consists of linden, oak, pine, birch, and several types of cedar. In the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries, a cascade of ponds was formed.
The total area of the park space is more than 400 hectares. Such a huge area is almost impossible to cover in one visit. For the convenience of guests of the reserve, near the entrances to the park there are boards with a plan where all interesting objects are indicated.
You can take a picture of this diagram on your phone and then you definitely won’t get lost in the numerous alleys. There are arrow signs at all major intersections in the park.
After the palace complex, the most visited place in Tsaritsyn Park is, of course, the light and musical fountain. The fountain was constructed directly in a natural reservoir, which makes it almost unique. The park fountain consists of 12 circles, 900 jets, 3312 lamps under water, which give an incredible combination of diverse configurations: the height, thickness, and direction of the falling water change every second. The fountain “plays” four melodies. The water lines rise to a height of up to 15 meters, and beautiful music can be heard from afar, so all visitors to the park sooner or later “flock” here to watch the dance of the water. In the evening, special lighting turns on and the spectacle becomes even more impressive.
There is something to do in the park at any time of the year. You can, for example, grab a cup of excellent takeaway coffee near the entrance, get comfortable with your laptop, “catch” a good local wi-fi Internet, and work productively in the fresh air. You can start the day with yoga (free master classes are often held in the park), dancing or jogging. In summer you can sunbathe not far from the ponds, escaping the heat and city noise. In addition to official events, which are always on the park’s schedule, weddings, birthdays, and get-togethers with friends are often held here (the park’s territory allows you to comfortably gather with a group of almost any size).
Near the ponds, children happily feed the local birds. There is also a boat station where you can rent a catamaran, a boat, or book a water excursion with an audio guide. They play badminton in the clearings between the palace buildings, and on specially equipped sports grounds there are always people who want to play football, volleyball or basketball. Fans of rollerblades and scooters ride along the paths of the park.
In winter, all winter fun is available in the park. Connoisseurs of good skiing, downhill skiing (sledding, tubing, ice skating, or just as is) come here, and kids make snowmen.
For those who are tired or are visiting the park for the first time, there is an opportunity to explore the entire territory at once, taking advantage of a tour on electric vehicles.
All visitors note that the reserve is kept clean and tidy. In almost every corner of the park you can find a rest bench and a trash can. There are dry closets and stationary toilets on the territory, but they are clearly not enough, especially on weekends when there are more visitors.
For those who are hungry, food tents are set up at the main intersections of the park's alleys, although most of them operate in the warm season. There are also permanent cafes on the territory of Tsaritsino.
The entire reserve is designed from the point of view of accessibility for people with disabilities.
Access to the park is open daily from 6.00 to 0.00. Visiting the park is free.
Story
Before the construction of royal apartments began here, the current Tsaritsyno belonged to Dmitry Kantemir. In the Russian-Turkish war, the ruler of Moldova sided with Peter I, which earned him gratitude and part of the lands near Moscow. The place was then called “Black Mud” - there really was a lot of healing mud in the area.
Having once gone for a walk around the outskirts of Kolomenskoye, Catherine II noticed a beautiful place - lakes, ravines, wonderful green groves. Cantemir's descendants did not like these possessions too much and happily ceded them to Catherine.
The Empress spent several summer months here, after which a decision was made to build a summer residence. So in 1775, Black Muds again became imperial property and the place was renamed Tsaritsino.
The initial design of the royal chambers and the surrounding area was created by the brilliant architect Vasily Bazhenov. According to his idea, for example, the ravines existing on the territory of the estate were not filled up, as was usually the case - they were decorated with fancy bridges. The hills, on the contrary, were not leveled, but were used to give even greater grandeur to the palaces built on them. The entire territory thus became part of the general idea, each building was connected with all the others. Construction began, but there was no mutual understanding between the great architect and the great empress, and Bazhenov was “excommunicated” from Tsaritsyno, giving the reins to his student, Mikhail Kazakov. Bazhenov was terribly offended: legends say that he did not even spare money for revenge and paid the sorcerer who arranged a kind of “damage” in Tsaritsino. The curse promised that no one would ever be able to build anything worthwhile here. Whether the curse worked or it simply turned out to be a coincidence, the palace built by Kazakov very quickly caught fire and collapsed.
Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve from a bird's eye view (video)
As a result, the imperial estate was never built here, and Catherine did not have the opportunity to live in these parts. For several centuries, Tsaritsino fell into desolation, everything was slowly destroyed and overgrown. Even the current older generation still remembers well how, as children or already students, they came to the old abandoned park, wandered through the ruins and ruins, or had picnics here on the moss-covered remains of the walls. It was difficult to even imagine that this would ever change.
Only at the end of the 20th century was a decision made to revive the territory of Tsaritsyno. In fact, the royal estate once conceived by Catherine was built, albeit much later - modern architects took as a basis the drawings of those times, modern materials and tried to recreate the initial idea.
How to get to the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
Tsaritsino is located quite far from the city center, so it makes sense to set aside a whole day for a trip there.
The fastest and easiest way to get there is the metro. There are two stations near the park: “Tsaritsyno” and “Orekhovo”, the latter is much closer to the entrance to the park.
Near the park there is the Tsaritsyno railway station - you can get here from the Kursky station in Moscow or from the suburbs, if the Serpukhov direction is convenient for you.
Many buses and minibuses, as well as long-distance buses, stop near these metro stations (another city bus station has recently been opened near the Orekhovo metro station).
If you prefer to come to the park by car, take the time to find a place to park your car. According to visitors' reviews, the parking problem here has not yet been optimally solved, and it is often difficult to find a parking space. There are paid municipal parking lots near the park.
The road from the Tsaritsyno metro station to the main entrance to the museum-reserve - Google Maps panorama
The palace and park ensemble, more often referred to simply as Tsaritsyno Park, attracts many guests of the capital and its residents. One of the first landscape parks in Russia amazes with the beauty of its palaces, buildings and Orthodox church. This project was born at the behest of Catherine II. Vasily Bazhenov worked on the creation of the architectural style. Tsaritsyno Park will help you plunge into the history of the Russian State from the times of Catherine.
Tsaritsyno Park
Tsaritsyno Park how to get there by metro - this information will be useful for guests and residents of the capital. The location of the ensemble is 5 km from the Moscow Ring Road, in the Southern Administrative District. You can get to the park by metro using the green metro line. From the center of the capital, the metro is the best option for transportation, since the trip in the subway will take about half an hour. It takes much longer to get there by land transport.
Those traveling to the sights of the capital can go from the central metro stations of the Zamoskvoretskaya line to the station of the same name - “Tsaritsyno”, but it is better to get off at the next one, called “Orekhovo”. The reason lies in the fact that from Tsaritsyno to the park you have to walk a fairly decent distance uphill. From the Orekhovo metro station, the traveler immediately finds himself in an English landscape park with a beautiful linden alley and amazing historical objects.
The alley will lead to the palace ensemble, the creation of the most famous architects of the 18th century - V.I. Bazhenov and M.F. Kazakov.
How to get from Orekhovo metro station to Tsaritsyno Park
How to get to Tsaritsyno Park by metro from a neighboring station: in the Orekhovo metro station and at the exit from it there are signs indicating the exit to the park ensemble. We should move in this direction.
Following the signs, any traveler gets to the entrance to the fenced area of the park. There is no entrance fee. But when entering during public celebrations and events, all citizens pass through a metal detector for security purposes.
The park welcomes visitors from 6.00 to 24.00. In the afternoon, an electric car is available for visitors to the museum exhibition. In order to use it, you must present a ticket for visiting the excursion.
To be fair, it should be noted that in Catherine’s times the palace was never completed. Construction was completed during the time of Luzhkov, and many of the interiors are just a copy from the pages of old albums.
Sights of Tsaritsyno Park
There are many attractions in the park: in the summer, visitors can go boating on picturesque ponds and hand-feed the numerous squirrels living in the park. In addition to beautiful nature, you will be greeted by a concert hall and an exhibition complex. You will see in all its glory the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Mermaid Gate, many palaces and the Temple of Ceres, and many more amazing objects.
There are detailed signs for tourists on the territory of the palace and park ensemble. In the summer, there is a color and musical fountain.
How to get to Tsaritsyno Park by metro when the Zamoskvoretskaya line is not accessible? You need to take the Lyublinskaya metro line to the Zyablikovo stop. This method will take a little longer. From the indicated station to the park it is 2.5 km. After leaving the subway, you need to continue moving from Yasenevskaya Street by minibus No. 644m to the Orekhovo metro station.
From the Tsaritsyno metro station you need to go under the railway bridge and go straight. You will come to the main entrance of the ensemble.
From the Kantemirovskaya metro station you can get to Tsaritsyno Park by trolleybus No. 11 or bus No. 690.
Currently, Tsaritsynsky Park is one of the most interesting places for walking and learning about the history of the Russian capital. This is a well-groomed area for a comfortable pastime and relaxation.
