Park "Sylvia" in Gatchina

The Park "Sylvia" in Gatchina is an isolated part of the Palace Park and is located in the North-West direction from the Grand Palace. At the moment, "Sylvia" – visited the Park, which is part of the Museum-reserve in the city of Gatchina.

History

The Park with the romantic name "Silvia" was founded by order of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich and was created over eight years (from 1792 to 1800). The Grand Duke was inspired by a trip to Europe, where he along with his wife visited parks in Chantilly. The desire to recreate something resembling French parks, inspired Paul to break such a Park in Gatchina. For this purpose, was chosen the estate of count Grigory Orlov, who was a great lover of hunting and contained in his estate a Park for pheasants.

This place was a forest with groves, meadows and building for keeping of pheasants, situated on the banks of the river Kolpanka. And although the construction of gardens, parks and architectural structures of “sample” it was at that time quite common, the Park "Sylvia" (being largely borrowed) was created with the natural local features and traditions of the country. Worked on the creation of Sylvia, a talented gardener and Park designer James Heket and the architect Vincenzo Brenna.

Park Layout

In Addition to the borrowed French names, the Park "Sylvia" inherited and strict geometric scheme with radial treflucan. Such a composition quite enjoyed great popularity in the gardening Europe XVII-XVIII centuries.

Recommended

Cross-domed Church. Features of origin

In this article we'll talk about where has its roots the Orthodox architecture of churches, what it stands for and on what principles, and also about how different types of temples is given.it is no secret that Christianity in Russia - not the native...

Baths of Cherepovets: a review

From year to year a visit to the baths and saunas has become increasingly popular as ideas for fun and useful pastime on the weekends. This is not surprising because in Russia a couple walked not only noblemen, but also the common people. Today the a...

The Moscow planetarium on Barrikadnaya

The Planetarium at Barrikadnaya in Moscow is one of the world's largest and oldest in Russia. This structure is included in the list of attractions of the capital. It should be said that to visit the planetarium on Barrikadnaya interesting not only f...

Three main avenues radiating from the main gate Zilwicki. The left lane leads to the Black gate, middle – to the complex of the former dairy farm located on the banks Kalanki right – inside the Park, to the Aviary. The main lanes intersect with three almost parallel walking paths. Near to Silviscan gate leads to the Palace Park and Severinski shot far – to the cascade gateway and ruin the bridge. Around the perimeter of the Park area covered by the ring road, which connects the whole composition of the alleys.

Architecture

The Park "Sylvia" along with a perimeter fence has a total area of 17.5 ha.

From the adjacent Palace Park it is separated by a stone wall with a gate, depicting the mask of the forest spirit, Sylvan.

Silbiyskie gate – one of the main attractions of the Park – the result of the work of the architect Brenna. Meandering river Kolpanka parts "Sylvia" and Park "the Menagerie". On the banks of this river are the buildings of the farm and poultry houses, which complement the landscape beautifully reflected in the water. In the middle of XIX century on a dairy farm, there were about 30 cows in the house kept pheasants and waterfowl ducks, and in the pavilions hosted.

The idea of creating the Park farm was also borrowed from the French ensemble, where he met the so-called “milk for pleasure”. not Far from these buildings, there is a dam with waterfall, stone bridge and the pool, “Naumachia”. From the Krasnoarmeyskiy Prospekt Sylvia surrounded by the brick fence with Black gates. This fence was built in the late XIX century.

The"Old Sylvia"

The name "Sylvia" comes from the Latin “Silva”, which means "forest". This name was very popular among the makers of European parks. Not surprisingly, near St. Petersburg, in addition to the Park "Sylvia" in Gatchina, there is another place with the same name. We are talking about areas of Pavlovsky Park "Old" and "New Silvia". The name of the territory received as of its inception.

"the Old Sylvia" in Pavlovsk Park similar to the Park in Gatchina that also has a radial composition. However, unlike Gatchina "Sylvia", from here round the Central area diverge not three, but twelve avenues. Because of them, "the Old Sylvia" the Park is often called the “Twelve tracks”. On the creation of places also worked for the architect Brenna. The main feature of this area of the Pavlovsk Park are bronze statues, located between the avenues. The Central figure in the composition was the Apollo Belvedere, there you can also see the statues of mercury, Venus and Flora. They were all cast in Saint Petersburg by sculptor Fyodor Gordeev.

"Sylvia"

This plot is situated near the "Old Sylvia", it was created by Vincenzo Brenna, also when doing the works to expand the Park. In the "New Silvia" there is no strict geometric lines, the Park is a forest with winding paths and more like a corner of the forest. Perhaps the most notable objects include the statue of Apollo-the met here and the mausoleum of the Wife of the Benefactor, which was built by order of Empress Maria Fyodorovna in memory of her husband Paul I. Inside the mausoleum is located about tombstone, it was executed by I. P. Martos. Also notable column, under the gloomy title "end of the world" the work of Charles Cameron. The column situated on a high artificial mound and is located in the "New Silvia" from 1801

Gatchina "Sylvia" todaytime

Unfortunately, lately not exercised proper care of the Park "Sylvia". The area more reminiscent of a neglected area.

The Former strict geometry affected by numerous self-seeding, bushes grew, numerous ponds, which in former times was the system of reservoirs, swamped, most of the buildings partially or completely destroyed. And if the farm recently under reconstruction, the house is in poor condition. Once graced the Park for two marble statues. From archives it is known about one of them is a statue of a woman draped with a closed face. In a rare photo of the Park "Sylvia" of the past centuries, you can find images of these statues and see the former beauty of those places.

Unfortunately, at the moment only Silbiyskie gate (the symbol of the Park) welcome guests in its original form, and three alleys leading from them, are reminiscent of the creators of this place. Another contemporary attraction of the Park "Sylvia" can be considered a monument to the heroes of Komsomol, erected in 1968 in memory of Gatchina heroes of the great Patriotic war and located near the main gate.

How to get to Sylvia Park?

This wonderful place is located at the address: Leningrad region, Gatchina, Krasnoarmeyskiy Prospekt, Museum-reserve "Gatchina". Every year many tourists are walking here, breathing clean air, enjoying the beauty of green spaces and surviving architectural compositions.

So, pArk "Sylvia", the description of which is recorded in Kushelevka album in 1794, and to this day remains a great place of unity with nature, preserving its beauty and grandeur waiting for revival. A visit to this Park will allow you to plunge into the atmosphere of bygone times and feel the spirit of the time.

Being a great object of landscape art The eighteenth century, The territory of the Park "Sylvia" is recognized as the cultural heritage of Russia.