Tsaritsino, Protected nature reserve in Brateyevo District, Moscow, Russia
Tsaritsino is a nature reserve in southern Moscow with diverse habitats, water features, and historic structures throughout the grounds. The property contains ponds, canals with stone bridges, forests, and open areas that create varied landscape types.
Catherine the Great acquired the property in 1775 and developed it as an imperial residential area with ornamental and productive gardens. The gardens originally supplied the royal household with fresh fruits and vegetables.
The site reflects imperial garden design from the 18th century, and visitors can still see how the landscaping shaped the space for leisure and cultivation. The old pathways and planted areas show how this land was organized for both beauty and practical use.
The main access points are near Tsaritsino and Orekhovo metro stations, with walking paths leading to the reserve grounds from both locations. Entry is free and the area welcomes visitors from early morning through late evening daily.
The reserve harbors rare plant and animal species found in few other parts of Moscow, making it a refuge for local wildlife diversity. The restored waterworks from the imperial era form an interconnected system that reveals the original landscape vision.
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