Many Petersburgers and guests of the city like to walk in the fresh air, see the sights of the city, admire its beauties. I'll tell you about one of the parks that you can visit in the northern part of the city.
Shuvalov Park is located in the village of Pargolovo. Although not as famous as the rest of the parks, it is no less delightful and has its own history. Earlier these lands were owned by Count Shuvalov, now they are an object of cultural heritage. The park covers about 140 hectares and has an unusual landscape.
On the territory of the park you can see the estate of Count I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkova, built by the architect S. S. Krichinsky in the 18th century. Now there is a closed research institute. The institute has a museum that is open only on weekdays and by appointment.
In the Shuvalov Park, in addition to natural ones, there are two man-made ponds. By order of Count Shuvalov, they were dug by serfs. The ponds have an unusual shape, which gave rise to their names - "Napoleon's shirt" and "Napoleon's cap".
The surplus soil left after the construction of the ponds was used for the construction of the bulk mountain Parnassus. The height of the hill is over 60 meters.
Lost among centuries-old spruce trees, on the territory of the park there is a yellow Mesmakher dacha, built of wood in the pseudo-Gothic style. Today it is abandoned and is gradually being destroyed.
On a separate hill, next to the entrance to the park, the Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was built. A church was erected by order of the widow of Count Shuvalov in honor of her second husband, Adolphe Polier, who died of consumption. The temple was built in a pseudo-Gothic style, there is a crypt nearby, in which A. Polier was buried.
During the war with Finland, in 1939-40, the headquarters of the Karelian Front was located on the territory of the park. Therefore, on the hills and slopes of the park, you can find the remains of various fortifications and shelters.
As well as the ruins of the Cold Bath and the Tuff Arch.
A stone bench has been preserved at the edge of the park.
The equestrian yard is also perfectly preserved in the Shuvalov park.
The park is open all year round and is always open to the public.
Address: St. Petersburg, pos. Pargolovo (north of the Starozhilovka river), Parkovaya street, 30. Begins just behind Suzdalsky avenue. You can get there by car or by public transport (the nearest metro station is "Ozerki", then by bus or minibus towards Pargolovo).
