On the eve of the 350th anniversary of the birthday of Peter the Great, we continue the column #PETROVSKIE_STORIES

In 1704, Peter I decided to build his summer residence in the new city. The place was chosen at the confluence of the Nameless Erik (now the Fontanka River) with the Neva. Previously, there was the estate of a Swedish feudal lord, and a small part of the coast was inhabited. The king ordered a large garden to be laid out for himself, similar to the famous Western European parks of that time, and he himself outlined its initial plan. Russian and foreign architects, gardeners and other specialists began to work on the implementation of the plan.

The new palace and park ensemble was named “The Tsar’s Summer Palace”. Peter I himself called it the “garden”, and later it became known as the Summer Garden.

Within a few years of its existence, the Summer Garden became the center of political, official life, court ceremonies and celebrations.

In the Petrine era, the garden occupied approximately the same area as it does today. From the bank of the Neva to the middle of the site, a formal regular park was arranged, and further, to the Moika River, a “garden” with fruit trees, ridges of vegetables, greenhouses. A “carp pond” (which still exists today) was dug here for fish breeding, a “barn for storing materials”, greenhouses were built in which southern plants were stored in winter, exposed in tubs to alleys and garden areas in summer.

Don’t miss the continuation of the story about the Summer Garden #Peter_stories