Tsaritsyno Estate Museum: what to see and how to get there?

“Eighteenth century. Second half.
Bazhenov, the architect sees the plan:
Catherine's palace stands
Like an ancient castle among the rocks..."

Brief history of Tsaritsyno

The first mentions of this place date back to the 11th–12th centuries, when these lands were inhabited by the ancient Slavic tribes of the Vyatichi. To this day, in the depths of Tsaritsyn Park there are mounds of these tribes, some of which have never been touched by the hand of archaeologists. So many burials, sacrifices and ritual bonfires were made here that it was from these times that the first legends and tales began to arise among the people, of which quite a lot have already accumulated over time.

After some time, this place was empty; there were estates here, the owners of which changed each other very much. These lands passed from father to son, they were given and sold, and were developed into summer cottages.

In 1775, this place, famous for its healing mud and extraordinary views, was visited by Catherine II while passing through. She had her own residence in Kolomenskoye, but not only did it not impress the queen, but it literally drove her into despair, because, in Catherine’s opinion, it did not at all meet the royal requirements. Seeing the future of Tsaritsyno, Catherine realized that she had found exactly what she was looking for. Here's what she writes about her first impressions:

“Her Imperial Majesty got tired of wandering through the meadows and valleys of the village of Kolomenskoye, and so, one fine day, Her Majesty deigned to go onto the high road that leads from Moscow to Kashira. The road led to a huge pond, next to which there was an even larger and more picturesque pond, and this pond did not belong to Her Majesty, but to her neighbor, Prince Cantemir. So, going from one pond to another, either on foot or on horseback, they begin to envy someone else’s estate, the owner of which, an old man over 70 years old, is completely indifferent to the waters, and to the forests, and to all the picturesque views that delight visitors ... "

Without hesitation, Catherine bought the land for 25 thousand rubles, despite the fact that Kantemir asked only 20 for them. And literally a month later, construction of the royal estate began under the leadership of one of the best architects of his time, Vasily Bazhenov.

The construction of the palace and park ensemble in Tsaritsino lasted for 10 long years. Tsaritsino was the architect’s bright dream, his great brainchild, on which he had high hopes. Completely absorbed in his creation, Bazhenov even sold his house and invested part of his funds in construction. He wanted to create a palace and park ensemble as something unified, a separate world filled with harmony in all respects! No historian can say for sure why the architect’s life’s work turned into his greatest tragedy. Why didn't the dream come true? Why did the Empress, literally at the end of construction, turn out to be so cruel to Bazhenov’s work, why his creation was subjected to such strong criticism, despite the fact that Catherine knew about every new step in the construction of her residence, why many buildings were destroyed and why Matvey Kazakov turned out to be the new architect - a student of Bazhenov himself...

Neither for Ekaterina nor for Bazhenov Tsaritsino could become what they dreamed of. The Empress died before construction could be completed, and Vasily Bazhenov was never allowed to see his creation.

What is a modern estate?

For more than two centuries, the buildings of Tsaritsyno remained dilapidated. Gradually falling into even greater decline, these places retained some imprint of romanticism. They were shrouded in legends and secrets, and the destroyed buildings and unkempt park attracted the attention of extreme sports enthusiasts and antique lovers. In 1984, the authorities became interested in this place and decided to turn the historical ruins into another “remake”. Roughly speaking, the start of construction in 1775 was completed only in 2007, so this place is also called the most famous long-term construction in Russia.

Now a large palace, a bread house, an opera house, a small palace, cavalry corps, a temple of the icon of the Mother of God, several greenhouses and bridges have been restored and re-erected, a light and music fountain has been built, ponds, alleys, paths and, of course, a park have been landscaped. Every corner has breathed new life here! This place is definitely worth visiting and seeing with your own eyes to get as close to history as possible.

How to get to Tsaritsino?

Museum address: 115569, Moscow, st. Dolskaya, 1

by public transport: to the Tsaritsyno or Orekhovo metro stations. Further on, getting to Tsaritsyno from the metro will not be a problem. Everything there is extremely simple, in extreme cases, people will tell you.
by car:
From Novotsaritsynskoe highway, Shipilovsky proezd, Lipetskaya street, Shipilovskaya street.

There are a large number of parking lots near the palace and park ensemble, but you will not see any cars directly on the territory of the park itself.

Tsaritsyno opening hours and ticket prices.

If we talk about the park's opening hours, it is open daily from 6:00 to 00:00. But the Grand Palace, the Bread House and the Opera House operate according to a specific schedule:

Monday - day off
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: from 11:00 to 18:00 (ticket office - until 17:30)
Saturday: from 11:00 to 20:00 (ticket office - until 19:30)
Sunday and holidays: from 11:00 to 19:00 (ticket office - until 18:30)

The greenhouse complex operates on the same schedule as the previous attractions, only here the day off also falls on Tuesday.

Ticket prices vary and are likely to change from time to time, so it is best to check the official website for such information. But it is best, of course, to purchase a comprehensive ticket, the price of which is about 650 rubles. This includes visiting all expositions and exhibitions of the Grand Palace, the Bread House, the Opera House and the Orangery complex (three greenhouses).

Events in Tsaritsyno

Nowadays, many excursions are organized on the territory of Tsaritsino (including for people with disabilities), and concerts of symphonic and organ music and various temporary exhibitions are also often held here. On the official website you can find out about upcoming exhibitions, excursions to Tsaritsyno, as well as their cost.

Tsaritsyno Museum - official website: http://www.tsaritsyno-museum.ru/index.php

On the website you can find out about plans for various events, rules for spending time on the territory of the entire complex, the cost of tickets (for children, discounted tickets, etc.), detailed maps and parking diagrams, the location of toilets and even free Internet access. Here you can order tickets for concerts after checking how many tickets are left in stock. In general, the site is very convenient and very aesthetically designed. You can easily find any information you need about Tsaritsyno.

Weddings in Tsaritsino

Couples can register their marriage in Tsaritsino. A wedding or children's party can be celebrated right in the palace or park, making this event even more unforgettable. You can also order various kinds of photo sessions, incl. in historical costumes.

Cost of a wedding ceremony at the Tsaritsyno Grand Palace:

in the Catherine Hall - 100,000 rubles (up to 80 guests);
in the Blue Living Room - 40,000 rubles (up to 40 guests);
in the Musical Living Room - 25,000 rubles (up to 20 guests).

Light and music fountain in Tsaritsyno

Speaking about Tsaritsyno Park and the Tsaritsyno complex itself, one cannot fail to mention the light and music fountain, which appeared here relatively recently. Although many historians spoke out against such a structure, since, to put it mildly, it was not in the spirit of Catherine’s time (she was indifferent to fountains), this place undoubtedly attracts modern visitors. When is the fountain turned on in Tsaritsino? The fountain and musical accompaniment are open daily from May to October from 9.00 to 23.00, and the illumination from 21.00 to 23.00. At this time, you can enjoy classical music and streams of water beating to the beat. The spectacle is incredible!

You can come to Tsaritsino not only to listen to the next excursion, but simply to relax with the whole family in a beautiful park, where Catherine was never able to take a carefree walk in her time. But nothing stops us from doing this!