Big Circles, Pavlovsk park

Big Circles is a landscape arrangement within Pavlovsk Park featuring symmetrical pathways and geometric patterns. The layout creates distinct visual zones across the 600-hectare grounds and connects different sections including the Palace area and Slavyanka River valley.

Architect Vincenzo Brenna designed this area in 1792 as part of expanding Pavlovsk from a country estate into an imperial residence. The project marked a turning point in transforming the entire grounds into a showcase of European landscape design.

The site reflects Italian garden principles that shaped imperial Russian landscaping traditions. Visitors can observe these classical influences in how the space is organized to guide movement and focus attention through careful visual arrangement.

You can reach the site through multiple connecting pathways that branch throughout the park. Wear comfortable shoes, as the layout encourages wandering through different sections to appreciate the geometric patterns from various viewpoints.

The circular layout contains bronze statues and ornamental pieces positioned to create specific visual alignments when viewed from different angles. Visitors often discover these carefully planned sight lines change the whole impression of the space as they move through it.