Nearest Dubki Park, Protected park in Sestroretsk, Russia.
Dubki Park is a 60.5-hectare park in Sestroretsk on a cape reaching into the Gulf of Finland, near the mouth of the Sestra River. It holds a Dutch-style garden with canals and basins, earthen defence ramparts, and oak plantings begun in 1717. At the entrance, freestanding white block letters with reddish-purple planted faces spell the park's name.
Peter the Great had the site laid out in 1717, personally planting oaks that were intended to supply timber for the Russian navy. When shipbuilding no longer required the wood, the trees were left in place and the grounds were kept as a park.
The name of the park comes from the Russian word for oaks, a direct reference to the trees that Peter the Great planted here. Visitors today can walk among those same trees, which still stand in their original rows along the shore.
The park is in the coastal part of Sestroretsk and can be reached from Saint Petersburg by commuter train, with the grounds a short walk from the station. The paths are flat and easy to follow, making a visit possible at any time of year.
Some of the oaks in the park date back to the original planting in the early 18th century, making them among the oldest living trees in the Saint Petersburg region. They have survived without special protection despite the harsh northwestern climate.
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