Where is the Central Park in Moscow? Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Gorky: history, description

Until the beginning of the XIX century, the territory, which today occupies the Central Park of Culture and Rest named after Gorky, was located outside the city. Today it is the center of the capital, a favorite holiday destination for Muscovites.

In this tranquil and picturesque place, located on the banks of the Moskva River, everyone will find a small corner in which you can hide from the hustle and bustle of the city, ride on a boat or stroll along the alleys of the Neskuchny Garden.

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure: history

Once upon a time in this land was the estate of Prince Trubetskoy, which was famous not only for its magnificent buildings, but also for the botanical garden, where the Moscow high society enjoyed spending time with pleasure.

In 1923, in the neighborhood of this garden, the All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition was held. It was at this time that it was decided to create "The Combine of Culture in the Fresh Air" on the territory of the exhibition, Vorobyovy Gory and Neskuchny Garden. So there was the first park of the Soviet period, which was intended for the organization of leisure of the population, conducting political, educational and cultural-educational work.

In March 1928, the Moscow government decided to create a Central Park of Culture and Recreation on the territory of the former VSHV. For this purpose, a commission for construction was set up, which received many proposals from citizens. Some thought that the park should be equipped with everything necessary for recreation. "The central green massif should be given to athletes!" - asserted others. There were many opinions. Someone wanted the Central Park of the city to be the venue for musical competitions and concerts. Muscovites not only heatedly discussed what it will be, but also created it with their own hands. On subbotniks they broke paths, dismantled unnecessary buildings, rammed the grounds, uprooted the stumps, and so on.

Opening

Officially the park was opened in August 1928. The capital newspapers on the eve (August 11, 1928) invited everyone here to the townspeople. They reported that on the opening day the entrance to the park will be free, and then the cost will be 10 kopecks. In addition, season tickets were issued, the price of which was 50 kopecks.

The opening was an international event. Nowhere in the world has a park been created for the working people. The central cultural and entertainment complex attracted the attention of the foreign press.

The layout of the park

The Moscow architect Constantivist K. Melnikov was appointed the chief architect of the construction. He owns the idea of parquet design, which has survived to our time. She replaced the one designed by architect IV Zholtovsky during the preparation for the All-Russian Exhibition.

Melnikov planned to install a fountain in the center of the stalls, in which, according to him, the architecture should have been formed by water jets. His project was not implemented. In the mid-thirties, on the site that Melnikov assigned to its construction, a very different fountain was created, designed according to the design of architect A. V. Vlasov.

The central park of Moscow began to be built up with the first exhibition and sports pavilions. Also there was a decorative pool, attractions and a children's town. In 1932, it got its name - Gorky Central Park.

Betty Glan

The name of this woman in gold letters is inscribed in the history of the park. Betty Glan was its first director (1929-1937 gg.). This time historians are often called the "golden age" of the park. In the twenties, it was often referred to as "a cultural combine for the alteration of consciousness."

In 1929 the reconstruction of the park continued. Architect Rodrigo Dacosta (Brazil) restored the pavilion "Handicraft department" (the current administration), and it housed a sound cinema. He became truly legendary and most popular in Moscow and worked until the war, but the bomb destroyed it in 1942.

The park has a lot of attractions. Especially popular was the 35-meter long parachute tower with a spiral descent, located near the Moskva River. On it, visitors moved down, using for this purpose special rugs.

The main part of the attractions was located between the Hexagon and the Pioneer Pond. Pavilion "Hexagon" - a restaurant with tables around the fountain in the courtyard. The park was regularly held many different events. More and more often, the central park was called a "cultural combine", a "green university", a "propagandist of a new way of life", a "weekend school", etc.

Under the leadership of Betty Glan, he became known throughout the world, turned into a symbol of a new socialist state.

In 1937, Betty was arrested after her husband. In the camps, she spent a long seventeen years, but survived and was rehabilitated in 1954. After liberation, she worked for a long time in the Union of Composers. Her book of memories came out in 1988. In 2008, when the Gorky Central Park celebrated its 85th anniversary, Betty Glan's book was reissued again.

Development of the park

Muscovites immediately fell in love with this park. The central garden and park complex of the city became a favorite place for their rest. Gradually, here began to appear: the Lenin Square, the Bolshoi and Maly theaters, a children's playground, the "Spiral descent" (attraction), and so on.

In Neskuchny Garden was created a military town, a symphony stage, in the park Golitsyn - "Corner of Silence." Hunting and Bath houses turned into tea-snack bars - "Samovarnik" and "Poplavok". The southern part of the Neskuchny Garden (beyond the Andreevsky ravine) was taken under the town of one-day rest. Here, in addition to the residential building, there was its own park with paths, lawns and flower beds, dance and physical training grounds, music and cinema-stage, reading room and various attractions.

Gorky Park today

As already mentioned, a project of building this wonderful park zone, stretching for seven kilometers along the Moscow River, was developed by a group of architects led by avant-garde KS Melnikov. It should be noted that the layout has remained practically untouched until our time.

The huge Triumphal Gate is the entrance to the park from the side of the Crimean shaft. Another entrance is from the embankment (near the Andreevsky Bridge), as well as from Leninsky Prospekt. The central park covers an area of 109 hectares. It can be divided into two zones - Neskuchny garden and ground floor. The center of the latter is decorated with a magnificent musical fountain, where Muscovites and guests of the capital like to rest. There are a lot of small fountains on the territory.

An impressive part of the park is occupied by Golitsinsky ponds (half-hectare) and several smaller ponds, which are surrounded by rosaries and flower beds. Golitsinsky pond can be divided into two parts: on one of them, swans and ducks swim all summer, the second part is intended for riding on catamarans and boats.

In the west of the park is the Green Theater, which was built in 1928 and reconstructed in the late sixties. Today, various concerts and competitions are held here. Pushkinskaya embankment and the magnificent Neskuchny garden begin behind it. The park has free Wi-Fi, there are excellent bike paths, rope town for children "Panda Park", playgrounds and many more interesting.

Entertainment

Today Muscovites, Russian and foreign tourists with pleasure visit the Gorky Park. The central cultural and entertainment complex of the capital attracts people with magnificent landscapes and a lot of various entertainments for both children and adults.

With Pushkinskaya Embankment, you can go on an exciting three-hour journey along the Moscow River on the yacht "Radisson Royal Moscow". Open-air summer cinema "Pioneer" works. Here you can see the famous Soviet films.

Sport

Central Park (Moscow) retains its sporting focus laid down in the years of its creation, and today. Here runs a running center, yoga classes are held. Fans of table tennis will like the "Ping-Pong-Park", and a modern tennis court with a professional coating meets European standards. There are fields for beach volleyball and football. In the park you can rent a velomobile or rollers, scooter or bicycle and other sports equipment.

Many Muscovites look forward every year to the opening in the Gorky Park ice rink with artificial ice and luxurious illumination. It works from November to March. It should be noted that the coating can withstand even a plus temperature. This is the largest ice rink in Europe - its area is eighteen thousand square meters.

Amateurs of extreme sports appreciated the artificial hill for snowboarders. This is the largest such structure in the world. It is built on a unique project. Trails are areas for beginners snowboarders and experienced craftsmen. Artificial coating allows the hill to work all winter.

Culture

In the park, "Garage" - the center of modern culture. His main task is to promote contemporary art. The pavilion regularly hosts demonstrations of experimental works by beginning artists and exhibitions, film screenings and lectures.

Are there any rides in the park?

Today there are no rides in the park, they were dismantled in 2011. Instead, a lot of interesting places for children appeared. One of them is the Green School. Here, kids get acquainted with the heroes of children's cartoons and fairy tales, for them the club that has the ridiculous name "Mamalish" opened its doors.

Older children will be interested in visiting a mini-zoo or a petticoat. Here you can feed the animals with delicacies, bought in special machines.

Teenagers are pleased to visit the National Observatory, which was established in 1929. It was reconstructed and today again meets visitors. The dome of the observatory rotates 360 degrees. It has a telescope, which increases the heavenly bodies 840 times. The observatory holds free lectures by leading employees of the main planetarium of Moscow.

Restaurants and cafes

There are a lot of such establishments in the park. For example, in the restaurant near the "Vremena Goda" river you can taste delicious dishes of Russian cuisine and European (fillets of black cod, for example). In the cafe Pelman you will be offered a portion of fragrant hot dumplings with fillings for every taste. For lovers of light desserts, we recommend you go to the Fruit Bar, where you will be treated to an original fruit salad.

How to get to Central Park?

In a wonderful entertainment complex you can go from the metro station "Park Kultury". The journey will take you no more than ten minutes.