Petersburg is a city that surprises not only with its sights and cozy corners, but also with folk myths and place names. One of the examples of popular toponymy, that is, spontaneously arising informal names, can be considered the toponym "Katkin kindergarten". What is this place in the northern capital? We will try to answer this question.
The principles of toponymy of St. Petersburg or how is it formed?
There are about 18 principles by which official historical names of places of St. Petersburg arose. The oldest were: “see-call”, associated with the resettlement of Finno-Ugric tribes in the northwest, landscape or natural, the principle of renaming in connection with the signing of the Stolbov Treaty in 1617 the Finno-Ugric place names in Russian and Swedish. During the construction of the new city laid down by Peter the Great on the Neva banks, new toponyms appeared - the names of streets and squares. The beginning was laid by Elizabeth Petrovna. Then the principles were used: Slobodskaya, by city and country, by a significant object. The latter was used most often until the beginning of the 20th century.
Since prevailing in the middle of the 19th century. The Alexandrinsky Theater was considered to be the architectural and planning ensemble of the current Ostrovsky Square, then the original name of the square sounded like Alexandrinsky. However, after decorating the square around the installed monument on the square, the people, apparently, singled out another dominant for themselves - the monument to Catherine II. So the people got the name "Katkin kindergarten".
Place history
The territory, which now occupies Ostrovsky Square and Katkin Garden in St. Petersburg, used to be the property of favorite Elizabeth Petrovna Alexei Grigoryevich Razumovsky. Here was the garden of the Anichkov Palace manor, a pond on the lands of which stretched along the entire length of the Nevsky Prospect section right up to Sadovaya Street. Greenhouses and a nursery were located along the border with Sadovaya, and garden pavilions were located on the territory of the present Catherine Square.
Under Alexander I, the garden was abolished, and in its place they began to shape the square. Instead of the Kazassi theater, a stone theater was built. According to the plan of Tom de Tomon and Luigi Ruska, who were planning the territory, the area was to be fenced off from Nevsky Prospect with a fence with the main entrance in the form of a monumental gate. After Alexander I gifted Anichkov the palace to Nicholas I, Modui continued to work on the planning. But his project did not suit Nikolai Pavlovich.
Continued work on the project K.I. Rossi. Only part of the fence from the Anichkov Palace was realized. On the same side, Russian garden pavilions were erected - the first monuments of the Patriotic War of 1812.
Harmony of the architectural ensemble
The ensemble of Ostrovsky Square with the "Katkin Garden" in St. Petersburg is included as an important component in the most important architectural and planning ensemble of the city - Nevsky Prospekt, to which it is open. Immediately attracts attention to the architectural and thematic dominant - Drama Theater. Pushkin, before the revolution of 1917, better known as Alexandrinka. It was built according to the project of the Italian architect Karl Ivanovich Rossi in the same way as the two buildings of the Russian National Library located on the right side of the perimeter of the square. The third, main, with a rounded corner and a second facade overlooking Sadovaya Street, created Sokolov. Two tenement houses continue the perimeter line, one of which, erected in the neo-Russian style, is the famous Basin house of authorship by N. N. Nikonov.
On the flip side, it focuses on yet another amazing ensemble - Architect Rossi Street, and is closed on both sides by the front facades of the theater museum and library, which are part of the building of the A. Y. Vaganova Academy of Ballet Art, and the former building of the Directorate of Imperial Theaters of Rossi.
Main dominant
In 1873, a monument to Catherine II was erected in the center of Ostrovsky Square and the Katkin Garden in St. Petersburg according to the design of Opekushin, Chizhov, Mikeshin and others. It is made in an unusual form - a children's pyramid, the top of which is a full-length sculptural image of the Enlightened Empress - Catherine the legislators in the image of Minerva. The famous portrait of D. Levitsky reminds such a decision.
The lower part of the monument is a pedestal in the form of a bell placed on the ground, on which are arranged in a circle groups of sculptural images of the associates of Catherine the Great, who glorified Russia and did a lot for her during the reign of the empress: M.V. Lomonosov, P. A. Rumyantsev, A. V. Suvorov, G.G. Potemkin, E.R. Vorontsova-Dashkova, I.I. Betskoy, etc.
Katkin kindergarten
The photo in St. Petersburg stands out against the backdrop of stone masterpieces of architecture. Named later "Katkin", the square around the monument appeared in the period from 1820 to 1832. The author of the idea was the creator of the architectural ensemble K. I. Rossi. The master in creating gardens, Yakov Fedorov, helped him, and the square was re-planned in the second half of the century by D. Grim and E. Regel. The purpose of the redevelopment is to adapt the territory for walks of residents of the capital city.
According to the idea of Alexander I, the design of the garden, it was decided to supplement 29 statues of prominent public, political, military and cultural figures. For a long time there was discussion of the list of applicants, but it was so dragged out that in the end it was not implemented at all.
Nowadays, around the monument is an ennobled area with walkways and benches for relaxation. The address of the Kat'kin Garden in St. Petersburg is Ostrovsky Square, a corner with Sadovaya Street and Nevsky Prospect.
City Life Center
Now Ostrovsky Square and Katkin Kindergarten in St. Petersburg is a place where life is in full swing. Every day many of the townspeople and guests of St. Petersburg come here to take a walk and enjoy the beauty of urban architecture, reminiscent of past eras and cultures of different peoples, able to acquaint their contemplators with the history of the capital of the Russian Empire.
The Nevsky Prospect site in front of the garden is a favorite place for urban artists. They not only present their works here and sell them, but also draw everyone. You can choose the master and the technique in which he draws to his liking.
On Saturdays and Sundays, ice cream festivals, smelt, etc. are regularly held here. Theater-goers are awaiting the start of performances. Researchers and scientists rush to the library.
Christmas at Catherine the Great
During the reign of the Enlightened Empress in St. Petersburg, Christmas days were widely celebrated. And since the city has developed since the time of Peter the Great as a multi-religious center, they celebrated here not only Orthodox, but also Catholic Christmas. There were also fairs dedicated to this holiday. The courtiers and Catherine herself took an active part in them.
In memory of this tradition, a city Christmas fair is held every winter at the feet of Catherine II in the Katka Garden in St. Petersburg . It is organized in the best European traditions. Within the framework of the fair, charity events are held. For example, "Christmas tree of desires." In St. Petersburg, in the "Katkin Garden" at the address: Nevsky Prospekt, Ostrovsky Square, a New Year tree is being established. On it, children from orphanages hang up pre-prepared envelopes with wishes, and then famous people: actors, writers, politicians, etc. print envelopes, read their contents out loud and fulfill their wishes. In addition, they draw portraits of vacationers, and the proceeds are transferred to orphanages.
The fair itself is located around the perimeter of Catherine Square and is dedicated every year to a new topic. Not only Russian, but also foreign partners take part in the fairs.
For those who don’t know how to get to the Kat'kin Garden in St. Petersburg, the information is as follows: the easiest way is to get to the Nevsky Prospekt or Gostiny Dvor metro stations.