Zaryadye Park in Moscow has become in recent years one of the most visited attractions by tourists, its proximity to the Red Square and the content of the park itself makes it unique for all tourists who plan to travel to Russia.
About Zaryadye Park in Moscow
“Zaryadye” is a unique park in Moscow with a cultural and entertainment infrastructure, located in the historical district with the same name, near the Kremlin walls and St. Basil’s Cathedral. The park was built from scratch on the site of the Hotel Rossiya demolished in 2006.
The peculiarity of the new park is that, although it is not very large, 4 climatic zones characteristic of Russia were recreated on its territory:
- Mixed forest
- Northern landscape
- Steppe
- Water meadows
The Park is built in such a way that the visitor can move freely between the different areas without encountering fences or any type of limitation, so that visitors can walk on the grass and relax on the slopes and clearings without encountering obstacles in their path.
The park project was realized in such a way that it combined innovative solutions to fit in with the historical environment: the new buildings (Philharmonic Hall, media center and others) fit perfectly into the landscape, and on the Varvarka street side, the historic buildings such as:
- The Church of Barbara the Great Martyr
- Old English Court
- The chambers of the Romanov boyars, etc.).
Therefore, the contrast of the historical environment and modern architecture has also become one of the highlights of Zaryadye.
The area of the park is just over 10 hectares.
Components of Zaryadye Park in Moscow
Zaryadye Natural Areas
The new park has become a real corner of wildlife in the heart of the “brick jungle”, but its landscaping is not just a decoration, but one of the main features of Zaryadye.
- The mixed forest: It is represented by broadleaf trees and spruce forests.
- Northern landscape : By plants from the northern regions (juniper, reindeer moss, dwarf shrubs).
- The steppe: Imitates a space without trees covered with herbaceous vegetation (aromatic herbs and cereals).
- Water meadows: there are 2 decorative ponds about 1 meter deep. The plants within the zones are planted interspersed and without cycles, as in nature.
Thus, in the park you can see different types of forests and meadows, as well as almost a real tundra!
Each part has its own microclimate, which is maintained artificially: with the help of natural lighting simulation systems, temperature regulation, and even wind control.
The climatic zones of the park descend in terraces from Varvarka to the Moskvoretskaya embankment.
Among other things, the Ice Cave is planned in Zaryadye: a pavilion stylized as an arctic cave with an interactive exhibition that talks about the development of the Far North. In this pavilion the temperature under zero will be maintained throughout the year.
“Floating Bridge” of Zaryadye Park in Moscow
One of the most notable structures in Zaryadye Park is the suspension bridge – an unusual viewing platform that was built on the Moskvoretskaya embankment.
An elegant aerial structure in the shape of the letter “V” passes over the causeway and walkway of the embankment, making a U-turn over the water of the Moskva River with no visible supports, which gives the impression that it is floating, hence its name.
The height of the bridge over the water reaches 13 meters and offers excellent views of the Moscow Kremlin, the terraces of the Moscow River and Zaryadye Park itself.
Despite the apparent fragility of the structure, in reality the bridge can support a load of more than 240 tons or the equivalent of almost 4 thousand person at the same time.
“Crystal shell” and amphitheaters
The park’s modern architectural ensemble includes a number of unusual buildings and structures that fit into its landscape.
The most significant element is the futuristic Philharmonic building under a glass dome, to one side of which is an amphitheater in the form of a stepped structure descending from a hill.
The amphitheater is covered with a glass crust in the shape of a tortoise shell, the largest glass canopy in the world, which protects visitors from rain and allows to maintain a warm temperature even in winter. Coastal plants that need heat are planted under the “glass crust”.
There are 2 amphitheaters in Zaryadye: the Big one for 2,500 people and the Small one for 400, where film screenings, concerts and conferences are held.
Historical Ensemble “Zaryadye”
In addition to modern architectural elements, the historical buildings of the old Zaryadye have been preserved within the general ensemble of the park.
It is worth mentioning that Zaryadye is one of the oldest historical districts in Moscow; where people settled as early as the 13th century.
The main streets of the district were Varvarka and Velikaya, between which a network of alleys developed, gradually built with stone houses and shops.
Unfortunately, in the Soviet epoch, the area was almost completely demolished, and the Rossiya Hotel was built on the site of the historical buildings.
Zaryadye park historical area in Moscow
Of the historical constructions that were preserved in the park and that can be visited there are:
- The Church of the Great Barbara Martyr in Varvarka
- The Old English Court
- Chambers of the Romanov boyars
- The Znamensky Monastery
- The Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in Pskovskaya Gorka
- Many other buildings
In addition, there is an underground archaeological pavilion on the territory, where you can see the foundations of the Great Street and the Kitaigorod Wall, as well as various historical artifacts found during the construction of the park.
The project was developed jointly with the Moscow Museum.
In addition, lovers of visual content can visit the “4D flying over Russia” attraction, the “Moscow Now” cultural and historical exhibition and other interactive sites.
The pedestrian spaces and alleys of the park are well landscaped and paved with hexagonal granite slabs, which alternate with lawns and plants, so that urban elements, paving and green spaces are visually combined.
In order for visitors to relax on the territory of Zaryadye, several hundred designer benches have been installed:
- Illuminated hexagonal seats
- Seats in the form of carved cobblestones
- Wide bench steps
- Other elements to relax after a long walk.
Zaryadye Park has become a truly important project, not only because of its proximity to the Kremlin, but also because it is the first park project of this magnitude, implemented from scratch in post-Soviet Moscow.
Park opening hours:
From 08:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Friday
From 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends
The entrance to the territory closes at 21:00
Visit Zaryadye Park in Moscow
Our guides in Moscow on our tours, always go to this beautiful park to enjoy the wonderful views that offers and take some good memories from there.
If you have plans to travel to Moscow, do not hesitate to contact us so that you can enjoy it with our guides.
