Ekateringof - the park on Narva (St. Petersburg)

Magnificent and majestic St. Petersburg is rich in parks and gardens. In all seasons, they beckon guests of the Northern capital and townsfolk to the crowns of their age-old trees. They are so diverse that everyone can choose their own special place, where they want to be alone with nature. Each park has a history and is unique in its own way. There is no exception and Ekateringhof is a park that has become a very popular place for leisure time for many Petersburgers. Even in winter it is always crowded.

History of the park

Ekateringhof Park (SPB) has a long and interesting history. He knew both periods of heyday, and times of total oblivion. It is quite obvious that every historical epoch has left its imprint on its landscape and ensemble architecture.

In 1711 by the decree of Peter I the Ekaterinhof Palace was built. Before him broke the garden, built several channels, built various services. A fairly modest wooden palace marked the beginning of a beautiful palace and park complex.

Initially, Ekateringhof, whose author is Italian architect Domenico Trezzini, was simply a cozy manor house with a fairly simple layout. To the palace, which had an open terrace, surrounded by a balustrade and a wide staircase, led a canal, which, expanding, created a small harbor. It was dug simultaneously with the construction of the palace and has survived to this day.

Ekateringof (park), as, indeed, the estate, is a gift of Peter I to his wife on the day of the wedding. The place for the construction was chosen not accidentally - on the bank of the Black River Peter I with A. Menshikov for the first time in the history of Russia (1703) won the sea over the Swedes.

The appearance of the park

A modest garden was laid out in front of the palace. Its decoration was only small parterres, trellis galleries, two flower beds and arbor, created by the strange gardener, created by the French gardener D. Brocket, who was constantly engaged in the arrangement of the garden park.

On the opposite side of the house was a large meadow, which was surrounded by a picturesque grove. There was also a Dutch garden. In front of the entrance there were two booths for watchmen.

In 1717, at the invitation of Emperor Peter, a well-known French architect and engineer Jean Baptiste Leblon came to Petersburg. He was commissioned to develop a master plan for St. Petersburg. In parallel, Leblond is working on the reconstruction project of Ekaterinhof. He proposed lifting the land to three feet (about 90 cm), since the manor was in the lowland.

Leblon created a project for the reconstruction of the garden and the organization of the park. The work on its implementation was to be led by the former gardener D. Brockett.

Park at Anna Ioanovna

The project of Leblon was not destined to be realized. In 1730 Anna Ioannovna ascended to the throne, a great fan of hunting. In St. Petersburg, the menageries, which Peter the Great laid, began to be restored urgently. Anna Ioannovna wished to see on the territory of Ekateringhof a large hunting park. To develop this project, architects I. Ya. Blank, MG Zemtsov and IP Davydov were involved. In the center of the park, the area where the Hunting Palace was supposed to be was conceived. From it, the openings of the menagerie broke out like fan. Designed on the territory of hunting grounds, fields, stables and horseworks.

In 1737, work began on the reconstruction of the park, but was soon suspended - Anna Ioanovna ordered to cut expenses. The project was not implemented.

Reconstruction of the park under Elizaveta Petrovna

Ekateringhof is a park that reached its heyday during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. During this period, a large-scale reconstruction of the garden and the palace was carried out. Supervised the work of Herman van Boles.

According to the developed project, the whole territory of the complex was planned to be redeveloped, creating a beam system of avenues that would lead to the palace's grand entrance.

Elizabeth personally watched how Ekaterinhof was reconstructed. The park was really landscaped - old and new paths were laid, trees, bushes were planted, flower beds were updated and put in order.

To protect the oaks of Peter's planting around them, according to the project of architect A. Vista, they installed a stone fence with an iron grate.

Ponds and the Petrovsky Canal, located near the palace, were cleaned and deepened. Ekateringhof - the park that started to create the Great Peter, again became the place of the May festivities. In these celebrations the empress always took part.

Decline period

After the death of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna Ekateringof, the park, which in its reign was one of the favorite places for recreation of Petersburgers, is declining. At the beginning of the reign of the Empress, the ensemble was still paying attention. By tradition, glorious events and important dates in Russian history were celebrated here. But soon the lands of Ekaterinhof began to be given to nobles and prosperous townspeople. Dachas began to appear on these sites.

Park in the XIX century

By the end of the XIX century the park turns into a city outskirts. Here the proletarians began to gather for holding the tents, the merchants ate at night. After the revolution, the park got a new name - the Garden named after. 1st of May. In this period, there were two attractions - the legendary "Girl with a Paddle" and a monument to the heroes of Krasnodon.

Postwar years

During the Second World War, the park suffered a lot. In 1949, the Russian architect V. V. Stepanov developed a project for the reconstruction and expansion of a cultural object. A clear division of the garden into two parts without the connection of the existing volumetric-spatial composition led to its complete decline, especially the old, western part. It was supposed to expand the territory, but everything remained as before. Since October 1948 the object has received a new name - the Park. 30 years of the Komsomol.

SPB SCU "Park Ekateringof"

In 1993, the state institution "Park of Culture and Rest Ekateringof" was established. The following tasks are before him:

- restoration and development of the park and organization of leisure of the population;

- Improvement of the ecological situation in the city.

In order to achieve the set goals, the SPB SCU "Ekateringof Park" carries out the following activities:

- regular cleaning of the territory, maintenance of warehousing of swept snow;

- planting and caring for trees, bushes, lawns, flower beds;

- creation, repair and maintenance of park paths and sites;

- carrying out protective and preventive works on plant protection and agrotechnical care for them, for sanitary cleaning, cutting down
And replacement of diseased and damaged plants;

- installation, maintenance and care of small architectural forms, garden and park furniture, inventory and equipment;

- growing of planting material and production of plant and soil mixture on the basis of collection and processing of grass, leaves and other organic debris;

- Maintenance of engineering networks that are located in the park;

- organization of greenhouse and greenhouses for the cultivation of flowers, agricultural and woody and shrub products;

- maintenance and servicing of sledges, boats, sports, beach and game equipment, attractions;

- Conducting cultural and entertainment and sports and recreational activities in the park.

Ekateringof Park today: sights and attractions

If you happen to arrive in St. Petersburg, park Ekateringof visit necessarily. It's a quiet place in a busy city. Silky grass, a pond with boats and gorgeous horses. This is a great place for those who want to be alone with nature, to read in the shade of age-old trees and think. The park "Ekateringof" (metro station "Narvskaya") still keeps priceless historical sights.

Ekateringof is a park that resembles the legendary Peterhof. It can be considered a miracle of engineering thought of those ancient times.

The river Ekateringofka is an ideal place for a relaxing holiday. From its shore you can admire the Temple of the Epiphany.

Ekaterinhof Palace

Until now, experts argue who built the Ekaterinhof Palace. Some believe that his author was the architect D. Trezzini. At Peter I the palace was small, wooden, with narrow and low rooms.

Behind the complex was an extensive park and menagerie. Peter loved to navigate the water, so the navigable channel was dug to the palace from the Black River. It ended at the porch with a small harbor. On either side of the canal, round ponds were dug. In 1823, the first in Russia suspension hub bridge was built on the Petrovsky Canal, which has not survived to the present day.

In 1924, the Ekaterinhof Palace burnt down from an accidental fire. What was left of him, the inhabitants of the nearby villages were dragged into the wood.

Boat station

Park Ekateringof (metro station "Narvskaya") has its own ponds. Therefore, there are floating vessels. All interested persons can rent a boat or a catamaran and ride on a mirror surface. You can feed the ducks on the pond. The watchman of the park is recommended to use rye bread for this.

Colon (Molvinsky pillar)

This very high column, made of red granite, is located at the entrance to the park, not far from the Molvinsky Bridge across Tarakanovka. There are several versions about the origin of this pedestal, which has no inscriptions.

According to one of them, this is a monument to the favorite of Catherine Mons, whom Peter the Great executed as an admonishment for the unfaithful wife. According to another version, this is the burial place of Peter Lisetta's horse.

The column was set by the architect Montferrand. There is another, rather controversial, hypothesis that links the appearance of this landmark with the name of the vodka and sugar manufacturer Molvo, which had two plants and a summer residence on the banks of the Tarakanovka. The Molvinsky pillar was supposed to be an advertising pedestal - it advertised popular products.

Attractions

Surprisingly, the antique Ekaterinhof attractions, unlike those in the Tauride Garden, not only did not close, but even got prettier and blossomed. Despite its venerable age, most carousels work properly. Between them nice cottages are built, in which you can buy tickets.

And in another such house there is an old classic shooting gallery with two pneumatic guns and several targets. At the gates of attractions is a mobile unit, for the joy of children making popcorn and sweet cotton wool.

A cafe

In the vicinity of the park Ekateringof many cafes and bistros. Shawarma, shish kebabs, coffee, tea, soft drinks. In addition, there is a McDonald's and a cafe "Loft" with excellent home cooking.

Tennis

There are five underground playgrounds for tennis in the park. There are locker rooms and showers in the back rooms. Rackets can be brought or rented in the park.

Equestrian Club (Ekateringof Park)

Before the revolution, this park was one of the most popular places for horseback riding. And today there is a horse club here. Park Ekateringof invites everyone who wants to learn to stay in the saddle (600 rubles a month) or just a few times to ride under the supervision of an experienced instructor (150 rubles per hour).

The club breeds thoroughbred horses. Here you can buy your favorite specimen. All interested persons can individually engage with the coach, take part in the original photo shoot. The club has a children's section and a section for people with disabilities. Experienced trainers are engaged in miraculous hippotherapy. Here you can order wedding rides, horseback riding and chat with these smart animals.