Alexandrovsky Park, a monument of 18th-19th century architecture, is located in the town of Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo), a 30-minute drive from the Vitebsky Railway Station in St. Petersburg. The park area is situated right behind the main entrance to the Catherine Palace and spans approximately 200 hectares.
Previously, this area was home to the so-called Sarskaya Mysa, an estate of a Swedish magnate with a house and outbuildings. During the time of Boris Godunov, this place was called Saritsa. Over time, the name transformed into Tsarskoye Selo.
From 1792 to 1796, the Alexander Palace was built here, which later became the residence of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. It was from here, at the beginning of the 20th century, that the imperial family was sent to Yekaterinburg, where they were later executed.
Since 1918, the park has been open as a museum. During World War II, many objects in the park were looted or destroyed. The palace was used as barracks, and its basement was converted into a prison for Soviet prisoners of war. But by 1946, the park was reopened to visitors.
How to Get There
The museum is located 23 kilometers from the Vitebsky Railway Station, in the town of Pushkin. You can get there by private transport, bus, or minibus (from the metro stations "Moskovskaya," "Zvyozdnaya," "Kupchino" to the "Park" stop) or by train.
We chose the most convenient option — the train from the Vitebsky Railway Station. The fare is 47 rubles one way (summer 2018). Travel time is about 30 minutes.
From the station in Pushkin to the park itself, you can take a bus or walk. In our opinion, a walk is more interesting: Pushkin is a very beautiful, well-maintained town. Travel time is 20-30 minutes depending on your pace.
Entrance to the park is free (summer 2018).
You can find detailed information on the official website.
What to See
The park is divided into two parts — the New Garden and the Landscape Garden. The New Garden consists of four squares with sides of about 200 meters, surrounded by the Krestovy Canal. Here you will find:
- Mushroom Glade. This part of the park got its name from a pavilion with a mushroom-shaped roof. The structure has since been dismantled.
- Chinese Theatre. Built in 1779 during the wave of fascination with the East. Destroyed after shelling in September 1941.
- Parnassus Hill.
- Ozerki Pond.
- Chinese Village. Appeared here in the 1780s.
The Landscape Garden of Alexandrovsky Park is located on the site of a former zoo, which became unnecessary after imperial hunting was moved to Gatchina. In this part of the park are:
- White Tower. A pavilion in medieval style, now used as a children's museum center. Restored after the war in 2012.
- Arsenal. Used for storing weapon collections. Previously, this was the site of the hunting pavilion "Monbijou."
- Children's House. Built in 1830 for the children of Nicholas I.
- Pensioners' Stable and Horse Cemetery.
If you have time after exploring the attractions, you can visit Catherine or Pavlovsky Park, which are quite nearby.
In summary:
- The park area is very large, so allocate plenty of time for a walk;
- There is a lot of greenery and not many visitors, making it suitable for a leisurely walk with children;
- Just in case, bring repellents with you.
