A place of perfect relaxation can be found without leaving Moscow. Here and the centuries-old forest, consisting of firs, pines and birches, and places for picnics, and ponds, and sports facilities. Shrouded in secrets and legends, the place is the Meshchersky Natural Park, based on the territory of the Bakovsky Forest Park. Why is shrouded in secrets and legends, you ask. Because it is a historical place, and it is difficult to find an equal. The forest park existed during the time of Ivan the Terrible, he knew Napoleon, and World War II swept through him, subjecting him to cutting down centuries-old trees. In the village of Peredelkino, built in the Bakovsky Forest Park, poets and artists, writers and artists have lived and worked for decades. But can such a layer of history be without secrets and legends?
Meshchersky Park
The Meshchersky nature park appeared in 2007 as a private structure. The name of the park was the same as the nearby village, located within Moscow and a half kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road. Since that time, order began to be restored in places covered with legends, but over the centuries turned into dumps and swamps. Paradoxically, the biggest damage to the Bakovsky Forest Park was done not in the era of turmoil and world wars, but by local prosperous landowners since the 90s of the last century.
In 2010, the Sukovo swamp, located in the center of the park, was cleared. Currently, it appears in its pristine beauty with a restored landscape.
Sports park
What is the park interesting for vacationers? In summer, you can ride a rental bike along the forest paths or relax on the beach by the pond; in winter, a wonderful cross-country ski track awaits fans of this sport. At present, playgrounds have been organized here, a rope Panda park has been created, bicycle routes have been laid. Meshchersky Park of the Bakovsky Forest Park is an ideal place for playing sports. It regularly hosts sporting events with relay races and competitions. Alleys and paths between trees are an ideal place for Nordic walking enthusiasts.
For those who come to the park with their pets, there is agility - a special platform for walking and training domestic dogs. The only rule that dog owners should not forget is the obligatory muzzle on the animal and the leash.
Bike rides
For lovers of cycling, there is a wonderful place in the Meshchersky Park - a four-kilometer long bike path. Through each kilometer on this track sets of shells for cardio and strength training are installed. You can just travel around the Bakovsky Forest Park by bicycle along the paths laid between the trees and meet amazing stories on your way. For example, you can see the famous burial mounds of Napoleon or the places where "War and Peace" and "Heavenly Squalor" were filmed. Even Peredelkino is in cycling availability. And if you really want to, you can ride a bicycle to the grave of Malevich, lost and found decades later.
There are two rental points open in the park where you can rent any bicycles: sports, walking, bicycle choppers, fat bikes. If you come for a walk with children, you can rent a children’s bike, and for kids a bicycle seat or a bicycle trailer. The rental points are very convenient, one at the entrance to the park from the side of the Meshchersky Pond, the second - from the direction of the Novomeshchersky passage.
What to do in the winter?
In winter, you can go snowboarding, ice skating and skiing in the Bakovsky Forest Park. A cross-country ski track has been laid here, which runs along an almost flat terrain without descents and ascents. Cross-country skiing professionals believe that this is a very good, high-quality walking track where sufficient aerobic exercise is possible. Usually on weekdays there are few people who want to go skiing, unlike weekends. Adults and children come to learn to ride here on weekends. Throughout the route posters with information about the route are displayed. The circle is nine kilometers, including a loop around the Meshchersky pond of the Bakovsky Forest Park.
A cross-country ski track is prepared using a special machine. Retrak prepares the track before the weekend, training and after the snowfall. It all depends on the snow, the thickness of its layer and the state of the track. For normal operation of the retrac, the snow layer thickness should be 15-20 cm. As already mentioned, rental points work in the park. In winter, you can take cross-country skis, poles, ski boots of different sizes for adults and children.