Opening Date and History

In Moscow, there exists a unique estate greenhouse complex with a history spanning 250 years. The first greenhouses here were built in the early 1740s. Over time, exotic fruits and decorative plants became a symbol of Tsaritsyno. In 2007 and 2008, the greenhouse buildings were restored according to old blueprints. Today, relying on preserved descriptions, the park-museum staff is once again growing exotic plants, just as it was done 250 years ago.

In the mid-18th century, this site was home to the estate of Black Mud, owned by the sons of Moldavian prince Dmitry Cantemir. In the estate's park, the trees were neatly trimmed, and a square island was created on the pond for secluded walks. The estate had three gardens and a wooden greenhouse where roses, grapes, figs, oranges, pears, and aloe were cultivated. Specially hired gardeners took care of the plants.

In 1775, Catherine II acquired Black Mud. Along with the start of construction of a new residence, the empress ordered two court gardeners from Moscow to be sent to the estate to improve gardening work. In 1778, architect Bazhenov proposed to Catherine to build another temporary greenhouse, as the trees were multiplying and there was not enough space for them. A pond was also arranged for watering the plants. By the mid-1780s, the number of greenhouse trees reached ten thousand, and a complex of three large stone greenhouses emerged. They were managed by experienced German horticulturist Johann Rak. Under his guidance, the greenhouses thrived: gardeners received 20% of the revenue from the sold harvest. Rak also used the Tsaritsyno greenhouses as a training base for novice gardeners, offering landowners to train their peasants through advertisements in the newspaper 'Moscow Vedomosti.'

After Catherine's death, the construction of the estate was halted, but the gardens and greenhouses continued to develop. The reorganization of the estate's economy was overseen by the head of the Kremlin Construction Expedition, Pyotr Valuyev, who transformed Tsaritsyno into a fruit and berry farm. By the early 1840s, the average annual income from the sale of fruits and berries amounted to 5,000 rubles, significantly exceeding the cost of renting an apartment in St. Petersburg.

Under Valuyev's leadership, the old greenhouse buildings were repaired, and new ones were built. By then, Tsaritsyno had eight stone greenhouses and became one of the largest suppliers of fruits and berries to Moscow. The right to harvest was granted on a rental basis, and the money from the rent was used for the repair of the greenhouses.

However, by 1858, the expenses for maintaining gardeners and caring for the greenhouses began to exceed the income from sales. As a result, it was decided to lease the entire complex to merchant Davidov, who rented the greenhouses until 1883 and had the right to reconstruct and dismantle them.

By the end of the 19th century, the most dilapidated greenhouses were sold for demolition, and the land beneath them was built up with summer cottages. The Grape Greenhouse remained the longest, where communal apartments were located during the Soviet era. By the 1990s, it had turned into ruins.

Reconstruction and Restoration

In 2008, the Tsaritsyno greenhouse complex was restored based on preserved descriptions and blueprints. In 2011, exhibitions of plants in three greenhouses opened to the public. Today, exotic fruits ripen, flowers bloom, and herbs grow year-round, just as they did over two hundred years ago. Educational ecological workshops and excursions are held for children and adults in the Greenhouse Complex.