Babolovsky Park is the largest park in the city of Pushkin, covering an area of 28.8 hectares. It is located to the west of Catherine Park and Alexander Park. Within Babolovsky Park, there are no monuments or cafes—only forest, meadows, walking paths, as well as the first water supply system in Tsarskoye Selo and the ruins of the former Babolovsky Palace.

The park and palace were named after the now non-existent village of Babolova. The first works in this area began between 1749 and 1772, when the Wittolovsky water conduit was laid through the forest near the village. However, it soon became clear that its capacity was insufficient. Therefore, in 1772, construction began on a new Taitsky water conduit, a complex system of aqueducts, tunnels, and canals originating from the Taitsky springs. At the same time, the Babolovsky pond was dug and the Babolovsky dam-bridge was built on the Kuzminka River. In 1775, through the open Baursky canal, named after its creator, military engineer Baur, the Taitsky water, awaited for several decades, finally reached Tsarskoye Selo. These engineering structures supplied drinking water to Tsarskoye Selo. According to contemporaries, Empress Catherine II considered the water delivered to the palace via the approximately 16 km long Taitsky water conduit (which was very long for that time) to be healing; currently, it is no longer operational. Along the water conduit route ran a tree-lined promenade. It is known that Catherine II inspected all the engineering structures of the water conduit in 1774 and traveled along it to Taitsy. The Baursky canal crossed the Babolovsky clearing in a pipe under a bridge, then turned at a right angle to the northeast. At the turning point, the canal, enclosed in an underground pipe, crossed a small hill. On the slope, a grotto made of boulders was arranged, containing a marble plaque with the commemorative inscription: “In the happy reign of Catherine II, fresh water, which it previously lacked, was brought to Tsarskoye Selo. By the care of Lieutenant General von Baur. 1774” and a marble statue of a hermit (or monk). Contemporaries simply called the grotto “The Monk,” and the Baursky canal of the Taitsky water conduit was known as “Monk’s Ditch.” Today, only ruins of the grotto remain; the statue has disappeared without a trace, and the Taitsky water conduit itself is destroyed and no longer feeds the park’s water bodies. The canal ended in a round granite basin in front of the square by the Orlov (Gatchina) gates, from where water was delivered through an underground pipe to the ponds of Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk parks, as well as used for city water supply. The basin’s bowl, now filled with debris, can still be seen in the square before the Orlov gates.

In addition, the bastion of Zverinets extended into the future park territory. Around this time, the Babolovsky clearing appeared. By 1775, the Babolovsky pond was dug and the Kuzminka River was dammed with a bridge-dam.

Catherine II took a great liking to the Babolovskaya estate and gifted it to her favorite, Prince G. Potemkin. In 1780, by the Empress’s order, a wooden mansion was built here, becoming the first residential building on the future Babolovsky Park territory. After some time, the wooden house was replaced by the stone Babolovsky Palace with baths and an English park. Jacques Delille, one of the theorists of landscape gardens, justified the location for the baths as follows: “Under the shade of willows, where healing water springs, a secluded bath should be.” The park’s layout was undertaken by architect Neelov and gardener John Bush. They created a dense network of landscape paths, and a winding road was arranged around the perimeter. The garden’s boundary was defined by a rampart and a ditch. Another pond, called the Silver Pond, was dug, supplied with water from the Taitsky water conduit.

Initially, the residence of Prince Potemkin and Catherine in Babolovo was a palace with a small landscape park: this island of civilization was surrounded by dense forest. In 1820, a road was laid to the palace, significantly accelerating the development of the area. By 1860, the forest had been thinned, swampy lands drained, and deciduous trees and shrubs planted on prepared soil. A circular road was laid around the park’s boundaries, and clearings were cut inside. All this was done for the convenience of walking and horseback riding. Huge sums were spent on park improvement. As a result, a landmark park with beautiful groves and meadows emerged. After the landscaping works, Babolovsky Park became one of the most well-maintained parks in the empire. Many Russian tsars, including Alexander I and Nicholas II, rested here with their families.

The park is home to deciduous tree species such as linden, oak, maple, ash, birch, alder, and aspen. In some places, larch, pine, and fir can be found. Shrubs of rowan, bird cherry, fireweed, and corydalis grow here. Within the park, one can encounter tits, squirrels, and hedgehogs. Many residents of the Pushkin district find a large number of mushrooms in the park during August and September.

Almost no historical buildings or structures remain in the park. Among those preserved are the Starokrasnoselskie gates by architect Menelas, relocated from the White Guards to the park’s western boundary. The boundaries of Babolovsky Park were fully established only in 1846, when architect Menelas installed iron gates in Gothic style at the western end of the garden. The gates are situated between two Gothic towers, which house security posts. In 2008, the gates were completely restored.

During the war, the park suffered serious damage: many trees died from explosions, craters remained, and the palace was heavily damaged. In the post-war period, the park was neglected, resulting in the return of swamps and overgrowth of orderly tree groups with self-seeding. Even in this state, the park did not lose its appeal and remains a favorite place for walks for many. In 2012, part of Babolovsky Park was proposed for the creation of a golf club. The investor promised to reconstruct the Babolovsky Palace and the Taitsky water conduit. However, the project did not materialize. Today, Babolovsky Park is quite neglected, but this does not detract from its picturesque nature. On the contrary, visitors will feel the unique atmosphere of the past and sense the passage of time.

Sources:

https://pushkin.ru/encycl/parks/babolovskiy-park.html

https://mos-holidays.ru/spb/parki/babolovskij-park-v-pushkine/

https://a_park.dudaone.com/Babolovskiy_park_v_Pushkine