One of the places, after visiting which many fell in love with summer Moscow, was Tsaritsyno. True, when you begin to move towards the unknown, but recommended, the surrounding picture evokes despondency and a feeling of “below the poverty line”. A terribly dirty and uncomfortable area stretches under the railway bridge, and it seems that there will be no end to it. Thoughts are becoming darker and more uncertain. But how does the feeling change when you cross the road and find yourself in front of a long historical fence, before entering the residence. Well, the Tsaritsyno fountain in an almost 40-degree heat leads to a state of euphoria.
Tsaritsyno - for the kings?
The ensemble of the Moscow Region in the second half of the 18th century was planned as the summer residence of Catherine the Great and was built by her decree. However, the bored Empress of Kolomenskoye did not have time to change to fashionable, by European standards, Tsaritsyno. Catherine II did not like the palace that was built here according to the design of Vasily Bazhenov, the very one who would later design the St. Petersburg Mikhailovsky Castle. Bazhenov falls into disgrace. The pupil of Bazhenov, Matvey Kazakov, was invited to erect the main dominant of the future residence. But the construction drastically dragged on, and Catherine didn’t have time to live here - she died.
It should be noted that the place for Tsaritsyno estate was not chosen by chance. In connection with the celebrations surrounding the end of the Russo-Turkish war, Catherine II came to Moscow from St. Petersburg. In the environs of Kolomenskoye, the empress was struck by her splendor with the unappealing name "Black Mud", near which was located a village belonging to the owners. Catherine bought the land and changed their name in Tsaritsyno, as they were intended for her.
The creation of the great Bazhenov
Why did Vasily Bazhenova choose Catherine II for the construction of a new estate? Firstly, at that time he was a court architect. Secondly, his skill and inexhaustible imagination, which resulted in incomparable, unusual in beauty and originality structures, conquer the empress. Thirdly, she is still impressed by the unusual pavilions created by Bazhenov for victorious celebrations on the Khodynsky field.
The complex of buildings designed by Bazhenov in Tsaritsyno was to be located on the highest place in the territory. He assumed two symmetrically located palaces: the Imperial and Grand-Ducal (for Tsarevich Pavel Petrovich with his wife), as well as the Cavalry Corps - for the close.
Around the "core" below, along the ravine, auxiliary buildings were supposed to be located: Bread House (Kitchen Building), Cavalier Corps, Kamergersky Corps (for accommodation of serving girls), Hexagonal and Cross shaped pavilions.
Outwardly, all the buildings at first glance resemble pseudo-Gothic, but this effect is obtained as a result of a bizarre mixture of elements of ancient Russian architecture and Moscow Baroque architecture. The color scheme of the facades is most confusing: red-brick with white decor. The roofs were originally covered with yellow tiles, which were later replaced with metal.
The residence of Ekaterina Alekseevna in Tsaritsyno did not provide for fountains. For what reasons, Bazhenov did not use such fashionable and attractive technical refinements in the 18th century - it is not known.
The work of Kazakov
After the resignation of V. Bazhenov, Matvey Kazakov is entrusted with the reconstruction of the main palace. Catherine II, he does not seem brilliant and spacious. To erect a new building, Kazakov has to completely dismantle the Bazhenov palace building. Cossacks suggests that the main palace will consist of two parts connected by a high gallery, and an area with ramps will be broken in front of it. To fulfill this idea, it is still necessary to disassemble the Cavalier Corps and the Chamber Chamber. From the point of view of stylistics, the new palace is more like St. Petersburg and pays tribute to classicism. Only some details were saved by Kazakov from the Bazhenov project, and small gabled turrets in the Gothic style were added.
Since G. Potemkin was the main inspirer of the construction in Tsaritsyno, after his death, Catherine II grows cold to the Tsaritsyno idea, demands that Kazakov remove the too lavish Throne Hall, which could lead to the death of the whole idea of the master. But the death of Catherine the Great does not allow this to happen. However, Emperor Paul, who came to the throne, ceases all construction in Tsaritsyno. And life here freezes.
Park Tsaritsyno
The death of Catherine II determined the fate of the unfinished residence: the buildings and the park became a place for summer rest and walks of Muscovites. In the 19th century, the destinies of A. S. Pushkin, F. Tyutchev, F. M. Dostoevsky, A. P. Chekhov and other figures of Russian culture and art were associated with these places.
At one time, Catherine II was planning to equip the territory of Tsaritsyn in the form of parks of landscape English type. So that everything here reminds of wildlife for a better vacation for the owners. To do this, she even wrote from England the famous gardener Francis Reed.
The main entrance to the estate is located on a hill and leads through the Figured bridge. The lower entrance leads to the ponds and the central platform, on which the Tsaritsyno fountain (singing) is located.
Further, the paths lead travelers to the stylized castle gates with turrets and the Opera House, which was built for balls and receptions. There are also greenhouses, fashionable in the XVIII-XIX centuries. After wandering along the paths, you understand that in Tsaritsyno there are no fountains other than musical. Oh, so sorry! But to the only fountain in Tsaritsyno there are two elegant bridges, on which it is very pleasant to sit under the spray on a hot summer day.
This modern innovation fits perfectly into the historical atmosphere of the Catherine era. And it serves as a stunning decoration, a highlight. Opening hours of the fountain in Tsaritsyno are from May to October, from 9 to 23 hours. The backlight turns on at 21:00.