One of the main attractions of Kolomenskoye Park in the South of Moscow is that while it has more manicured sections, there’s a fair amount of wilderness you can wander around in too.
We went in late May last year, which is just when the greenery has finally recovered from winter and before it all gets shrivelled by the hot summer sun, and you can spend many happy hours strolling through sunlit glades along largely unfrequented paths if you pick your weather right.
Plus, bits of it overlook the Moscow River, and so you can sit, eat your sandwiches and hunt for ants with a pretty good view.
The hilliness you might be able to detect is also a plus. We might have been able to go for a really excellent scramble up and down some epically steep paths if Mama hadn’t been wearing the wrong shoes. She declined to try attempt it without really grippy trainers and someone else there to help catch us when we took a header off the slope.
Apparently it’s even got a rift in the time and space continuum down there too, the Golosov Ravine, which might explain why they’ve tried to make it so hard to get to. Legend has it that people go into the gully and then don’t come out for years and years. Coooooooool. And one way to survive the immediate future with sanity relatively intact perhaps.
At either end of the park there is more organised fun. If you arrive at the Kolomenskoye metro station end, you will soon come across a particularly unique bit of ecclesiastical architecture, even more venerable than places like St Basil’s on Red Square.
The Church of the Ascension, otherwise known as the White Column possibly because it is constructed in such a way that it doesn’t need any supporting pillars to supplement its toweryness, was built in 1532 and commemorates the birth of Ivan the Eventually Terrible. Yes, I know there aren’t any onion domes or gaudy external painting. Orthodox Christianity does the history of church decoration backwards from a Protestant outlook, and this one is supposedly based on more traditional wooden structures, as well as having an Italian influence.
In fact, dotted around the territory are a whole bunch of other old buildings, because for many years now Kolomenskoye park has been a refuge for distressed, mainly wooden constructions, from all over Russia.
It is also a former royal estate, so some of the stone gateways and suchlike are survivors from their era.
But there are also the remnants of a traditional Russian village, which existed for real until quite recently in the 1980s, allegedly populated by descendants of the peasants who were attached to the Tsars’ estates. Live action bee keeping still takes place there!
Most impressive is the recreation of a magnificent royal palace erected by Alexei Mikhailovich, the father of Peter the Great, which represents the pinnacle of what you could do with wooden architectural design in the 17th Century. You can go inside and examine the fully worked up interiors too, which Mama definitely intends to do sometime in the not too distant future. It’s right next to the metro station at the other end of the park from the great white Church of the Ascension, Kashirskaya. Convenient!
And Kolomenskoye Park frequently holds some of the more interesting outdoor events in Moscow. Mama has her eye on the historical re-enactment festival Time and Epochs, which is scheduled for June. Admittedly this year, they are branching out all over the capital, but their biggest event will still be held in this park.
But when we visited on this particular occasion, what we mostly did is wander around the extensively replanted royal orchard area…
…and look at people photographing the apple blossoms.
Maybe there was some kind of event going on. But since Mama couldn’t find any information about it at the time, she prefers the theory that everybody with a camera just looked out of their window, saw the glorious sunshine, remembered that there hadn’t been any wind lately, and decided to make the most of it.
A number of people bought props and costumes. There were swings trailing white gauze dangling from the trees, people!
We made do with our beautiful selves, as Mama was inspired and got quite enthusiastic about us posing with dreamy expressions while sniffing the dandelions. Hours of fun.
So Kolomenskoye Park is a perfect location for a day in the outdoors in Moscow. If the weather is good, grab a picnic and head out. And don’t forget your camera.
Want to know what else to do in Moscow? Read Mama’s comprehensive guide here.
More information
The park’s website (in English).
The Time and Epochs webesite (in English).
More about the Golosov Ravine.
Address: 39 Andropova Avenue,Moscow
Getting there: The green metro line has two stops you can use for either end of Kolomenskoye Park, Kolomonskoye and Kashirskaya.
Oooh this looks amazing! Love that traditional wood work! It’s fascinating what they could manage back then! Sad that this form of architecture isn’t popular anymore! . #MondayEscapes
You can still see a lot of wooden houses out in the villages in Russia, and there’s some rebuilding of grander places like this going on. A lot of the new churches that are going up (partly to replace ones destroyed by the communists) are wooden too. It’s not quite a dying art yet!
I had no idea that Moscow had such green spaces nearby! Love that pink dress – I so want one of those!
Moscow has quite a lot of parks, and a number of them are at least as big as this. Even Gorky Park is pretty extensive!
And I’m with you on the pink dress…
There are on average 27 square meters (290 sq ft) of parks per person in Moscow
That blossom looks so beautiful and what a heap you had to lie in! I never think of Moscow as having parks, they look well worth a visit #MondayEscapes
Parks are really necessary here as everyone lives in apartments, so there really are quite a lot!
Wow there’s so much in the one place, and such a mixture too. I think I’d love to see the palace, it sounds like they’ve gone to a lot of effort to recreate it!
I’m looking forwars to having a nose round at some point – we just got distracted by the apple blossoms!
Pretty photos! Though I think I have missed why you should take your camera… to take photos of other people taking photos?
To take photos of the apple blossoms like everybody else! Or people posing with the apple blossoms! Be thankful I spared y’all the many many lots photos on my memory stick. It was quite fun though. I don’t get to smoulder soulfully often enough.
Oh, that magical spring season, the tiny sliver in between the deadly cold of winter and the deadly heat of summer! 🙂
Indeed. Although it snowed in Moscow today. *sigh*
Oh wow the former royal estate and park looks stunning! Thanks for linking to Monday Escapes
It really is. Can’t wait to actually go inside.
I’ve always loved Russian architecture! I’d love to see the old traditional village as well. Beautiful photos!
Wooden houses do have a certain something.
Very unique looking beautiful Russian architecture. I also love how green the trees and the grass look!
I’m glad you noticed the green. I genuinely can’t tell if it really is very green, or if it just looks that way because it’s been so white for so long!
Such beautiful places – def one to take the camera too#citytripping
For sure!
Love the architecture and tulips! I’ll be sure to bring my camera! 😀 #CityTripping
We’ve focused on the apple blossom, but it is certainly true that there are a lot of tulips in Kolomenskoye at this time of year.
really beautiful! #citytripping
Thanks!
(On behalf of Kolomenskoye…)
You’re giving me such an insight into Moscow and its surroundings – incredible. I hope Mama goes back with her trainers next time!
#mondayescpaes
Not unless the weather improves (it’s currently snowing).
Wow..really glad for your heads up. The park is so magnificent, it would be a shame to visit here and not be able to capture the beauty of the place as well as the memories. I will definitely not forget my camera
Definitely photogenic!
i often find myself in places full of people and no idea what is going on, will adapt the thought that everyone else is doing the same as me, getting out and about with their camera, just because they can
I am going to go back on a random date this spring (if the weather improves) just to see if it was a fluke or if that really is just what Muscovites do in spring.
I’m so used to your Moscow photographs that it’s a shock to see how green the countryside is in spring! Love the tulip photograph.#Mondayescapes
It does take some getting used to. Luckily it’s not only snowing again, but the snow is settling!
I’ve never seen this side to Moscow. Thank you so much for sharing. Great to see the green parts of the city and how wonderful to have such a beautiful space with so much history. Those cherry blossoms are something else too. Thanks for linking #citytripping
There are quite a few parks in Moscow actually. Stay tuned…
This park looks like an amazing place to visit. I would like to experience an historical reenactment there too.
They had jousting last month. Next month – 17th century warefare!
I can see why it’s a popular spot to visit with a camera. May is such a gorgeous time of year, I love it and it’s a great time for getting out and about. #MondayEscapes
“Toweryness”. What a brilliant word. I love your writing style and your unique perspective on life in Russia. Be careful near that gully! ;o) Greetings from green Luxembourg #MondayEscapes
Thank you very much! And ‘toweryness’ should be a word, totally.