{"id":1816,"date":"2020-03-09T07:53:53","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T07:53:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/russiable.com\/?p=1816"},"modified":"2024-01-06T11:36:39","modified_gmt":"2024-01-06T11:36:39","slug":"tsaritsyno-museum-nature-reserve-moscow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/russiable.com\/tsaritsyno-museum-nature-reserve-moscow\/","title":{"rendered":"The Palaces and Gardens of Tsaritsyno in Moscow: the Empress\u2019s Caprice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Tsaritsyno Museum & Nature Reserve in Moscow is a picturesque group of palaces, bridges, pavilions, ponds and gardens. It is a unique place in Russia\u2019s capital city and will be a very pleasant surprise for you. Admission to the park is free, although you pay for the palace tours. I invite you to join me on this dream tour of Tsaritsyno that you can combine with the visit to Kolomenskoye.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"The<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

1. What is Tsaritsyno? A park, palace and museum all in one<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Tsaritsyno Museum & Nature Reserve<\/a> (\u0426\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0446\u044b\u043d\u043e in Russian) is a complex of palaces and parks, built by Empress Catherine the Great as her country residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this area covering 405 hectares what stands out is its architectural complex<\/strong> from the 18th and 19th centuries, most of it completely rehabilitated and restored for public use in the period between 2005 and 2007. The main palace, Tsaritsyno, is the only pseudo-Gothic palace in Russia. The buildings house various museums and exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the green area occupies most of the park<\/strong> and includes gardens, forest, ponds or ravines. Its surface is not completely flat and the little elevations you will find give it even more variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Tsaritsyno may give you enough for half or even a whole day, my preferred option would be to combine this tour with the tour of the Kolomenskoye Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Tsaritsyno<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. The History of Tsaritsyno: the Empress\u2019s Caprice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1775, Catherine the Great bought a large piece of land in southern Moscow with greenhouses that produced grapes and lemons, etc. The location began to be known as Tsaritsa, <\/strong>“the Tsarina\u2019s Town”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empress Catherine II wanted to have a suburban palace on this estate because of its magnificent natural setting<\/strong>. So she engaged the services of architect Vasily Bazhenov who began the construction in 1776. The edifice, which was part of a group of buildings, was intended to symbolize Russia’s recent victory over Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making an irrational decision that\u2019s still not understood today, the empress, because she did not like the work and had serious differences with Bazhenov, ordered it demolished and fired the architect. The remains are still visible in Tsaritsyno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was replaced by Matvey Kazakov, another very highly regarded architect, whose work had evolved into a style called Russian pseudo-Gothic. The Empress died while it was being built (1786-1796), the almost finished palace remained unfinished and Tsaritsyno was abandoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of all this, the Grand Palace is known as “the Empress’s Caprice.<\/strong>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the passage of time, what remained of the Grand Palace and the remaining the buildings in the complex, whether started or planned, deteriorated completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the middle of the 19th century Tsaritsyno has been occupied by dachas<\/em>, a kind of country house where many Muscovites still spend the summer or weekends. This is something you should know because the “dacha <\/em>culture” is widespread in Russia. The term covers houses ranging from simple cottages to other houses that are larger and more comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the park became a fashionable place for taking a walk through the countryside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Russian Revolution, Tsaritsyno was turned into a museum and the tour of the burial mounds, piles of earth and stones raised on the tombs of the Slavic Vyatichi people (8th to 13th centuries) was very successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 1987 and 1995 the restoration of some of the ancient monuments was completed by Polish and Russian specialists. Tsaritsyno came to be called a Museum & Nature Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, at the beginning of the 21st century, between 2005 and 2007, the Grand Palace and other ancient ruined buildings, such as the Bread House, were rebuilt. The park space was also greatly improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, there is the memorial statue to Catherine II that you will find in the main hall of the Grand Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Monument<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

3. Practical information for organizing the visit to Tsaritsyno<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

3.1. How to get to Tsaritsyno<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tsaritsyno<\/a> is located in the south of Moscow a little less than 20 km by car or bus from the center of the capital, but the best option for the tourist is to take the Metro to get there in less than 45 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can stop at the Tsaritsyno or Orekhovo Metro stations (Metro Line no. 2, Green). I recommend stopping at the Tsaritsyno station since it is the one that is closest to the main gate, although once you have done the tour you can go back using the Orekhovo Metro station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this link<\/a> you have the official map of Tsaritsyno.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Map<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

3.2. Tsaritsyno Opening Hours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The park is an outdoor space with free admission<\/strong> and is open from 6 in the morning to 12 at night. It can be accessed by any of its 11 different entrances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tours of the Grand Palace and the buildings of the architectural complex require payment. Their opening hours are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n