The Historical Park of the Russian State Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev
In Moscow’s Northern Administrative Okrug, a unique monument has been preserved-the Historical Park of the Timiryazev Academy. This is not just the city’s “green lungs” spanning 232 hectares, but a true encyclopedia of garden and park art and agronomic science. The park is a living chronicle. Its history began in the 17th century. According to legend, Peter I visited here and planted oaks. In the mid-18th century, under Count Razumovsky, an estate park was laid out, which has survived to this day. In 1865, the Petrovskaya Agricultural and Forestry Academy-the first higher agricultural educational institution in Russia-opened on these lands. Since then, the park has transformed from an aristocratic estate into a scientific base. It received the name “Historical” in 1965. The park’s center is the rectorate building, the former Petrovsko-Razumovskoye estate. It was built in 1865 to the design of architect N.L. Benois. The building has two different facades. The outer “pink” one faces the city and looks strict. The inner “white” one overlooks the park and is executed in an ornate Baroque style. The windows here had convex glass: they provided better lighting for the auditoriums and prevented students from being distracted by passersby. The park’s green decor was created by the best specialists. The chief gardener Richard Schroeder played a special role. He established a dendrological garden with a collection of coniferous trees and created a nursery. The dendrosad still bears his name. Schroeder also laid out the famous Larch Alley. Today, trees from Europe, Asia, and North America grow in the park, making it an open-air botanical museum. On the central platform stands the sculptural group “The Seasons”-Flora, Demeter, Dionysus, and Selene. These 18th-century statues form an astronomical composition linked to the sun’s movement. They were found in storage and returned to their place in the 21st century. In 2016, a bust of Peter I by Zurab Tsereteli was installed here. Another notable object is the decorative vase “Sol Invictus” (“Unconquered Sun”) with figures of puppies, lambs, and children. It symbolizes a wish for the younger generation to preserve energy and thirst for knowledge. The park has a grotto remaining from two that were here in the 18th-19th centuries. Picnics were held in them. However, one grotto is linked to a tragic event of 1869-student Ivanov was killed here. This story formed the basis of Dostoevsky’s novel Demons. The park inspired many cultural figures. Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Isaac Levitan walked here. The military history is recalled by a memorial to Timiryazevites who fell in the Great Patriotic War. For a long time, the park was closed to the public. Now it is open to everyone on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 to 19:00. In 2021, a reconstruction was carried out here: lawns were updated, irrigation systems and information signs with QR codes were installed. Academy museum staff are creating an audio guide for visitors. The park is divided into zones. The upper terraces near the rectorate are a ceremonial, well-groomed garden. The lower terraces resemble a wild forest with dirt paths, where silence reigns. The Historical Park of the Timiryazev Academy is a place where nature, history, and science meet. It is a unique corner of Moscow that allows one to touch the past and enjoy peace.
Address: Moscow, Timiryazevskaya St., vl. 49
