The park Alexandria

To the east of the main park at Peterhof lies a 284 acres expanse of landscaped parkland named Alexandria. Zverinye, Nikolskiye, Morskiye gates cut through the stone wall detaching these two parks. In the south Alexandria stretches along St.- Petersburg — Oranienbaum (Lomonosov) highway, in the north — Gulf of Finland shore. Seaside landscape park Alexandria had terraced on two levels: lower (seaside) and upper one boasting architectural assembly of Cottage, Farm palace, Capella.

Picturesque scenery embodies heights and glades, gentle slopes and deep ravine, wide shady alleys and narrow serpentine paths. The sea visible from many perspectives is the park's originality.

The most distinguishing feature of Alexandria park is a vast number of greenery: oaks, linden, birches, maples, poplars, ash-trees, many rare and exotic wood species and shrubs alternating with open green glades. Over number of years Alexandria's landscape had been supplemented with decorative gothic elements: sculptures, arbours, guardhouses. There were «gothic beds» with high backs in the vicinity of Cottage; today you will find openwork green metal arbour there.

Ruin Bridge across deep ravine makes the whole place looking more romantic. The name of the bridge originates from Menshikov Palace ruins visible when the bridge had been erected. After the WW II only eastern abutment and two pedestals with giant Pudost stone vases remained.

Alexandria is one of the XIX century landscape parks masterpieces incarnating skilful lay out of greenery, compositions and taking advantage of relief.

The h istory of park was inextricably intertwined with the Imperial Family life. In 1733 Anna Ioanovna became the owner of this land plot and established the hunting facility («Jardgarten») inhabited with deers, buffalos, wild boars, hares and even tigers. In 1825 the land had a new owner Nicholas I: having enthroned the Emperor presents the estate to his royal spouse Maria Feodorovna titled «Her Majesty's Own Dacha Alexandria» afterwards. New palace of Nicholas II, Lower Dacha, was in the north-east corner of the park and became the scene of political events of huge importance: Tsarist Russia signed the war manifesto. The summer of 1895 became the first summer of their family. On July 30, 1904 their only sun Alexei was born in this estate.