Who does not know about the city of Vyborg, which is located in the Leningrad region? There are many interesting sights. Among them, a special place is occupied by the museum-reserve of national importance "Monrepos". This park was laid back in the XVIII century. The history of its development is very entertaining. For all tourists who come here, the doors of the museum are open from 10.00 to 21.00 hours.
Glorious city of Vyborg
What is famous for this subject of our boundless Motherland? Far from its only attraction is Monrepos Park. How to get here? Very simple: from St. Petersburg along the Scandinavia highway to Vyborg. The distance is approximately 130 km. From this we can conclude that the city is very close to the northern capital.
Vyborg is only 27 km from the border with Finland. This settlement arose in the Middle Ages. It was founded by the Swedes. Vyborg is the only historical settlement in the Leningrad region. There are many archaeological, architectural and sculptural monuments. Among them are Vyborg Castle, Vyborg Fortress, Annensky fortifications, parks of culture and recreation, The House on the Rock, Church of Hyacinth and much more. You can talk endlessly about all the interesting places that are worth visiting in this city. Each of them is worth the narrative in a separate article. The history of Monrepos Park will be told here.
How to get there
To visit Vyborg and not to visit the Monrepos Museum-Reserve? This park is the pearl of the city. It is located on the shore of the Vyborg Bay in the northern part of Vyborg. It is most convenient to get here by public transport. If traveling from St. Petersburg, you can choose one of three travel options:
• from the Finland Station by train to Vyborg station;
• from the metro station "Devyatkino" or "Parnas" by regular bus to the reserve;
• from the railway station and bus station by buses No. 6 and No. 1.
general information
What is Monrepos Park? Opening hours are indicated above. There are always a lot of people here, especially on weekends. The peak season is from May to October. Despite the fact that this natural museum is located within the city, the usual fuss is not here. On the contrary, everything in the park seems to be saturated with calm and greatness of time. Its name itself speaks of this (translated from French Monrepos means "the place of my solitude").
This park is a unique example of the unity of the creations of human hands and mother nature. Its area is just over 160 hectares. The historical core of the reserve is the manor and park ensemble of the late 18th – early 19th centuries. These are architectural wooden buildings, and sculptural compositions, and garden green spaces, which are more than 200 years old. The almost pristine Karelian forest adjoins the historical part of the reserve . There is a unique nature untouched by human hand: huge bizarre boulders covered with lichens, rocks, century-old trees. The fence around this natural museum is symbolic. Paid entrance. Funds from the sale of tickets are used to maintain order and cleanliness in the park.
Park history
On the ground, where the museum is now located, there once was a Karelian settlement. It was called "Old Vyborg." This territory was once leased to Swedish burghers. And in 1710, Peter the Great took the Vyborg fortress by storm. After several decades, the land was given to its commandant Peter Stupishin for use. It was he who began to ennoble the local territory, having carried out land reclamation, erected an orchard, a greenhouse, planted outlandish deciduous trees and built a manor house. The owner named the park in honor of his beloved wife - Charlottendol. After his death, the estate was taken over by the brother of Grand Duchess Maria Fedorovna, Prince of Württemberg. He gave the name to the reserve.
The heyday of Monrepos
What happened then? In 1788, the estate was acquired by the President of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences Ludwig Heinrich Nikolai. After resigning, he devoted himself entirely to ennoblement of the reserve. During the years of his residence here Monrepos Park reached its peak.
The sights that have survived come from that time. This is a manor house designed by Joseph Martinelli, a library wing, a statue of Väinämäinen with Scandinavian gusli, Chinese bridges, the Hermit’s hut, Nikolai’s ancestral crypt with a mask of Medusa Gorgon on the Isle of the Dead, and much more. The fame of this romantic estate was so great that in 1863 it was visited by Emperor Alexander II. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, participants in the youth Christian movement gathered here at the invitation of the last man of the Nikolai clan, Baron Paul Georg. After his death, the estate passed to his sisters.
Park during and after the war
The amazing history of the reserve does not end there. Ahead of a lot of testing awaited Monrepos Park. Photos of many of its attractions are presented here. Some of them, unfortunately, have not survived to the present day. Among them - the temple of Neptune, the Turkish tent, Marienturm.
The Soviet-Finnish war, which ended in 1940, led to the fact that the city of Vyborg and the entire Karelian Isthmus passed into the possession of the USSR. The Soviet authorities showed great interest in the historical monument. Most of the valuable exhibits, the Nikolai family archive, were taken out of here. Many of the items were in the State Hermitage, where they are still stored. A recreation area for one of the rifle divisions was organized on the territory of the park.
Later, when an art commission visited the reserve, it turned out that the military arbitrarily cut down rare trees, the pavilions partially collapsed, and some sculptures were simply destroyed. In 1941, the war resumed. The Finns, who had occupied the local territory by this time, adapted the estate to a military hospital. In 1944, Vyborg and Monrepo again came under the leadership of the Soviet authorities.
Further, the territory and buildings on it changed owners and their purpose. There was a kindergarten, a culture and recreation park, a military recreation center, and other places at different years. Positive changes began only after 1988. Then, restoration work began on the territory of the park, a museum opened.
Chinese bridges
Thanks to the restoration work carried out here, we can enjoy the sights of the reserve. And there are many of them. Monrepos Park in Vyborg today attracts tourists from all over the world. People come here to see bizarre Chinese bridges.
The year of their creation is the 1798th. These were multi-colored arched bridges in the Chinese style, connecting the islands between artificial ponds. During the war they were lost. Bridges were restored in 1998-2002.
There was once, but the so-called Chinese umbrella did not reach our days. This structure was a pavilion with an umbrella on top of a cliff. It was possible to climb to the landing by stairs.
Sculpture Väinämäinen
The monument was created in 1831. He depicts a hero of northern legends and traditions, sitting with a harp and knowing people about the days of the country's former glory. To this day, the monument has not been preserved. We can only see the reconstruction of the sculpture. Initially, it was made of gypsum. This statue was soon smashed by vandals. Paul Nikolai ordered a copy of it to the famous sculptor of Finland. The new sculpture was made of zinc and also installed in Monrepos. Unfortunately, she did not decorate the park for long. During the Second World War, the monument was lost. The statue was recreated and opened for viewing in 2007.
Dead island
A lot of tests fell on the next monument. We are talking about an architectural ensemble on the so-called island of the dead. Its other name is Ludwigstein Island. The composition today includes a chapel, the Medusa grotto, a gate, a necropolis, a marina and stone stairs.
And what was here before, in the days of the possession of the Nikolai family? In 1796, the owner, in memory of the deceased friend F. Lafermiere, decided to set up an urn here, which was later transferred to the island. Soon, a dam, a stone staircase, the Medusa grotto and a terrace at the foot of the cliff also appeared here.
Somewhat later, Nikolai had the idea of creating a Gothic castle on the island . After the construction of this building here, the place becomes a family necropolis. The remains of Johann Nikolai and Ludwig Heinrich, and then the urn of F. Lafermier were transferred and buried here. For four generations of the genus, the island has become the last refuge. In the postwar period, the family cemetery was desecrated, and tombstones and part of the buildings were completely destroyed. Despite this, this area attracts many tourists visiting Monrepos Park. The island of the dead impresses with the atmosphere of mysticism of ancient legends.
Source "Narcissus"
This source is located in the northwest of the reserve. Locals believe in the miraculous power of its water. Here goes the legend that this water heals eye diseases. In the local dialect, the name of the source sounded like "Silma" (from the word "eye"). Then L.G. Nikolai renamed it, calling it the name of the nymph Silmia, who, according to legend, healed the shepherd Lars, who had gone blind from love.
Why is today a natural monument called "Narcissus"? In the pre-war era, a sculpture of the hero of ancient Greek myths Narcissus stood in the niche of the pavilion. The statue was later lost. During the restoration work, the lion mask and the grill were restored here. Water from the source is weakly mineralized, radon healing. Many tourists come to Vyborg to visit this source. Sights, Monrepos park, architectural and cultural monuments - all here attract them.
Manor house
The monument was built in 1804 under Peter Stupishin, has federal significance. It once looked like this: the walls are painted in the style of grisaille technique, the ceiling is with rich stucco molding, decorated with a painted ceiling, in the corners are figured stoves. Here was a magnificent Big Hall, two living rooms, a dining room, living rooms. The redevelopment carried out here in Soviet times, and the fire in 1989 destroyed part of the premises and objects. After 2000, restoration work was carried out in the manor house. Thanks to this, today we can see this monument in the Monrepos nature reserve.
The park attracts tourists with its other attractions.
Hermitage
The author of this building is unknown. Initially, the pavilion was built of logs. A turret with a bell was installed on the roof. The walls were covered with birch bark. In the hut there was a small table and a bed covered with reeds. In 1876, the building burned down. In its place today stands a new hexagonal pavilion without doors.
Tourists reviews
You can get a true picture of this cultural monument by reading the comments of people who visited it. The first thing that tourists pay attention to is the amazingly beautiful scenery.
It is known that many artists like to come here in order to paint their paintings. The park is especially good in summer and early autumn. But some people like visiting the reserve in winter. After all, as you know, you can get to the island of the dead only by water. Officially, his visit is prohibited. However, many tourists in winter go to the island on ice. And some in the summer manage to wade the water area. The cost of the ticket, according to travelers, is low and amounts to only 60 rubles for 2014. According to preliminary applications, the reserve administration organizes excursions and thematic events.
We found out that the main attraction that is worth visiting the city of Vyborg is Monrepos Park. How to get here, we already know. No wonder this place is called the "oasis of silence." Tourists who have been here advise everyone not to pass by and be sure to visit this open-air museum.