Kuzminki

From Moscowiki

Kuzminki is a large forest park. It is one of the green woodlands in the eastern part of Moscow. In the 17th century these lands were owned by Simonov monastery. In 1702, Peter the Great presented them to his favourite Grigory Stroganov "for service and help with fleet and army". Stroganov's heirs - widow Maria (1678 - 1734) and sons Alexander (1698), Nikolay and Sergey (1705-1756) began to build an estate, called "Mill". The name "Mill" was given to this place because there used to be a village with a watermill, and the village itself was called "Mill". A legend says that a miller Kuzma lived in this village and the name "Kuzminki" is connected by the historians with that miller.

Muscovites call Kuzminki Estate “the Russian Versal”; this wonderful architectural ensemble was created by celebrated architects Matvey Kozakov, Vasily Bazhenov and the Gilyardi family. Church of the Vlakhernskaya Virgin is an outstanding architectural masterpiece. Famous Peter Klodt and Ivan Vitali decorated the estate with their sculptures. Woodland "Zvezda" ("Star"), formed of 12 radial glades is situated nowadays in the north-eastern part.

Kuzminki forest park was founded on the place of Golitsiny's manor in 1977, and the beautiful system of ponds and alleys exists today. A pine forest stands here for more than 300 years ago. It’s a pleasant place for spare time. There are reservation areas, Museum of the Russian Estate Culture “Kuzminki”, children's attractions and a cafe. One can ride a horses, ponies and landrovers.

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