Botanical Garden

Along the park alleys are elms, yews, beech trees, and exotic plants. Medicinal herbs and spices grow in the beds, and rare fish splash in the ponds. On a sunny glade, amazing flowers grow in tubs. Visitors who find themselves in this part of the park feel as if they are in the hot south, not in gloomy and overcast Petersburg. In 1792-1793, on the site of the old manor of the first owners of Gatchina, a grand construction began. Friedrich Helmholtz planned to create Botanical Gardens here with numerous paths, exotic plants, ponds, a greenhouse, and a three-tiered flower hill.

The main construction work took place from 1795 to 1798. During this time, two plots of land were leveled, numerous alleys and paths were laid out, trees and shrubs were planted, beds were arranged, and old apple orchards were improved. An octagonal pond was created in the upper garden, and a round one was dug on the lower terrace. The alleys and paths were designed to be straight. They intersected strictly at right angles, forming rectangular bosquet areas. Small squares were arranged at the intersections of the paths. To connect the upper and lower terraces, three stone staircases were built. One was placed in the middle: on its axis are the central alley and both ponds. The other two were built symmetrically on either side. To grow warmth-loving plants, a one-story stone greenhouse was built on the upper terrace of the garden.

The main decoration of the Botanical Gardens was undoubtedly the Flower Hill. It was created in the shape of a hill with a flattened top. The three tiers of the hill were decorated with protrusions faced with stone slabs. In warm weather, tubs with exotic plants grown in the greenhouse were placed on these protrusions. Stone staircases led to each tier. Unfortunately, yews and elms are warmth-loving trees: they are poorly adapted to life in our climate, so in the 19th century, the dead plants were replaced with oaks and lindens familiar to the middle zone. The young trees grew over the years and gave this part of the park a special charm.

Currently, the Botanical Gardens are in quite a neglected state. The greenhouse was dismantled long ago, and city houses have grown in its place. The Flower Hill has become overgrown with grass and partially destroyed; nowadays, only its outlines can be discerned. The stone staircases have been preserved. Despite the neglect, this part of the Palace Park with its straight shady alleys serves as a wonderful place for relaxation.

Sources:

https://peterburg.center/maps/gatchina-botanicheskiy-sad.html

https://gatchinapalace.ru/park/attractions/botanical_gardens.php