Urban residents consider gardening complexes and squares to be especially valuable places where you can relax your soul from the endless bustle and enjoy the beauties of nature without leaving the metropolis. The small Grachevsky park in Khovrino is a secluded Moscow corner with a rich history that allows you to breathe fresh air and have fun on the rides.
Khovrino Manor (Grachevka)
For the first time, the Khovrino estate, part of which Grachevsky Park now occupies, was mentioned in the 15th century. The boyars of Khovrins, having built the estate, owned it for two hundred years. Then the estate passed from one owner to another. The Sheremetyevs, Golovins, Obolensky and other famous Russian families lived in it.
In 1895, the estate was acquired by the merchant M.S. Grachev. Under Mitrofan Semenovich, the estate will reach an unprecedented peak. He will transform his appearance beyond recognition. Grachev will entrust L.N. Kekushev with the task of developing a project of a manor complex including a manor house with several buildings for various purposes. And he entrusted the construction of the estate to the architect G. A. Kaiser.
The merchant, being a passionate roulette player, wishes to erect a new mansion in the estate in the image and likeness of a casino in Monte Carlo. The master's stone house is perfectly preserved, visitors to the park admire its architecture. According to Grachev’s idea, they ennobled the park surrounding the house, erected household buildings in the estate - an outbuilding, stables and a horse carriage.
With the advent of Soviet power, the estate was seized from the Grachev family by placing a sanatorium in it. Since then, the manor house with an abundance of sculptures, loggias and terraces, magnificent stucco moldings, towers with different silhouettes, baroque domes, is given exclusively to medical facilities. In the Great Patriotic War, a hospital worked in it.
Nowadays, in an ensemble with an unusual way unique to Moscow, a rehabilitation treatment center functions. The original baroque building is separated by a fence from the park. Visitors are not allowed into the territory of the medical complex.
Description of the park
Grachevsky park is divided into two zones - regular and landscape. The regular park is formed by shady linden alleys, compositions of oaks and larch. The landscape part extends along the Likhoborka River, chained to the collector. Only a large pond with duck houses, the food source of which it is, reminds of the existence of a river.
The park has a playground for playing football. It has attractions and a dog walking area. In winter, Grachevsky Park is streaked with a ski track. Basically, residents from the Khovrino microdistrict walk, relax and play sports here.
Znamenskaya church
The five-domed church in Grachev Park attracts special attention of visitors. The construction of the church in 1868-1870 was carried out by M.D. Bykovsky. He carried out the assignment of the owner of the estate of Count E.V. Molchanov. Subsequently, the church was rebuilt more than once. Once she, having suffered a fire, was left without domes. The restoration of the temple was completed in 2005. Now prayers are performed in it.
Burial of Panfilov Heroes
Grachevsky Park became the burial place of soldiers and officers who fought in the 8th Guards Rifle Division under the command of Major General I. Panfilov. Fighters in 1941 defended the approaches of Moscow. They defended the most difficult segment on the front line - Volokolamsk direction.
Warriors at the cost of their own lives stopped the attack of the Nazis, destroying about two dozen tanks. Each of them was awarded the title "Hero of the Soviet Union" posthumously. Flowers are constantly brought to the obelisk of heroically dead soldiers.
Khovrinsky hospital
Hospital buildings in the territory that belonged to the park began to be erected in 1980. In 1985, the construction of the hospital was stopped. Among the possible reasons are the termination of financing and the mistake of geologists who did not consider it necessary to take into account that the place reserved for the construction is located in a swampy area. Indeed, the rooms in the basements and on the ground floor of the building are flooded.
Muscovites consider the hospital a mystical place. The people called it Umbrella, because the top view of the building is similar to the logo of the corporation of the same name, created for the game Resident Evil. And her Muscovites nicknamed "Nemostor". The Satanic sect, which conducted ritual rites in an unfinished structure, had the same name.
The abandoned hospital, whose walls are all painted with graffiti, has become a haven for representatives of different subcultures. Goths, stalkers and other persons, representing all kinds of currents, flock here.
How to get there
Grachevsky park in Khovrino is located. How to get to Klinskaya street, which is a natural site? Buses No. 65, 65f, 745 and minibuses No. 251m, 600m, 615m, 89m go to the Klinskaya bus stop complex. From remote areas of Moscow, the park is reached by a suburban train, following to the Khovrino station.