Alexander Gardens

From Moscowiki

Alexander Gardens is a beautiful park near Kremlin.

The Gardens have three parts: Upper, Middle and Lower, but the latter is now closed for the visitors. In 1913 in the Upper Gardens there was erected an obelisk marking 300 years of the Romanov dynasty, transformed in 1918 to the Obelisk to the Fighters for Liberation. On the central square of the gardens you can see the "Ruines" grotto, a peculiar memorial of the revival of Moscow after the devastation in 1812.

Right near the entrance to the Gardens there is the main memorial to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War – The Grave of the Unknown Soldier with the Eternal Flame. The memorial guarded with the guard of honor; it is changed every hour. On the 9th of May the leaders of the country solemnly impose wreaths on the Grave, beginning the celebration of the Victory day.

[edit] History of Alexander Gardens

Before the XIX century the north-western wall of the Kremlin was protected by the Neglinka river. But as it was gradually transforming to an overground sewer, it was decided to enclose it into the underground pipe. During his visit to Moscow in 1820 Emperor Alexander enjoined to set up the gardens on the place of the former Neglinka in honor of the great victory over the Napoleon army.

Picturesque gardens with shady trees and broad lanes were designed and set up in 1821 by O. Bove, one of the chief architects of Moscow, who reconstructed the city after the Great Fire of 1812. First called the Kremlin Gardens, they changed the name in 1856 after the crowning of Alexander II.