Trees and bushes like those from paradize, squirrels, imposing pheasants and innocent pigeons. But where are the dust of the streets, prestigious buildings standing close to each other, traffic jams, all the things we should see in the centre of the city? What is this oasis in the dezert of people's business and hurry?
It is not a dream, it is Hermitage garden, and that means here is no everyday crush and traffic jams. You can find here 3 theatres, a stage, a fountain, a playground, squirrels, pheasants, pigeons, trees, flower-beds, summerhouses. Lovers of oriental culture can take a break in Chinese tearoom, those loving to dance may enjoy doing it in the dancing school, Фонтан в Саду Эрмитажfor businessmen there is "Sobranie" business club, and those who want to make a fancy-dress ball can address to costumiers of "Flying Crocodile" that is also on the territory of the garden.
In winter the garden turns into the most romantic skating rink in the city. There have been 7 jazz and 2 folk festivals. There are 401 trees in the garden - bird cherry trees, cherry-trees, chestnuts, maples, hazels, rowan-trees, pine-trees and other trees. It is always good to be here, and if you visit the place once, you'll want to visit it again.
The history of Hermitage garden begins in 1895, when Moscow artistic group, merchant Lipsky and mechanic engineer Moshnin changed merchant Olontsov's old manor into beautiful theatre and garden. It took only a year for a desolete wasteland to turn into a beautiful blossoming garden. The theatre was reconstructed, flowerbeds were made, trees were planted. The place soon became popular with city public - even those who blamed Shukin, the entrepreneur who was the owner of the garden, for absence of delicate taste, were attracted by his persistance and enthusiasm.That year was also significant because electric lights, water-supply and a swimming pool became available in the theatre.
Many famous figures were on the stage of Hermitage - F. Shalyapin, A. Sobinov, A. Nezhdanova, S. Rahmaninov, Sara Brenar, M. Ermolova, V.Komissarzhevskaya. L.Tolstoy and V.Lenin were in the garden. The first game "What? Where? When" was held in the theatre in 1957. In the same year Vysotski was performing on the stage of the theatre.
In the course of its 110-year history the garden was repeatedly renovated : many new buildings appeared on its territory. Multiformity of the new life reflects in the variety of events taking place on the territory of Hermitage garden. The tradition of leading annual fairs is alive again, and many festivals are being held on the territory of the garden - jazz, ethnic, latin-american music festivals, wine, beer, humour festivals. A chinese tearoom was opened in 1997.
In 2000 the garden was presented by 2 sculpture works - busts of Victor Hugo by Loran Markest was presented by Paris city administration, and a bust of Dante was presented by Italian government.
This place is very popular with loving couples, families with children, lonesome people seeking for their love. This place is good for both happy and sad people. In summer this place if a sea of flowers, and in winter it is the most beautiful skating rink in Moscow.
