Gorky Park (Taganrog)

Gorky Park
The central entrance to the park in September 2006 during the park's bicentenary celebrations
Type	public park
Location	downtown Taganrog
Coordinates	47°13′12″N 38°55′32″E / 47.22000°N 38.92556°ECoordinates: 47°13′12″N 38°55′32″E / 47.22000°N 38.92556°E
Created	June 30, 1806
Operated by	Taganrog Local Government
Open	All year, children recreation facilities close for the winter period

The Gorky Park is a municipal park of culture and recreation in the city of Taganrog, Russia.

History

On June 30, 1806, the first trees were planted for the Taganrog’s "Chemist’s garden" and "botanical garden" by the order of Taganrog’s governor baron Balthasar von Campenhausen. In 1825, Russian Emperor Alexander I and the Empress Consort Elizabeth Alexeievna (Louise of Baden) often went for a walk in the garden during their stay in the city. Anton Chekhov who frequently visited the garden in his youth years and during his visits to Taganrog wrote in one of his letters to his sister Maria Chekhova: Was in the garden. The music played. The garden is magnificent. In 1895 the project of the new garden’s planning according to new European standards was approved. In 1903, Monument to Peter the Great was placed on Petrovskaya Street in front of the main entrance to the park. In the early 20th century, a rotunda with a concert hall facing the Petrovskaya Street was built.

In 1924, the Peter the Great monument was dismantled and removed.^[1] In 1932, the municipal garden became the Park of Culture and Recreation and in 1934 it was named Gorky Park after Maxim Gorky. In 1941-1943, during the Occupation of Taganrog, the City Park was partially destroyed and was used by the occupation forces of Nazi Germany as a cemetery (Der Deutsche Heldenfriedhof). In 1963, the Taganrog’s Gorky Park was awarded the title of “The Best Park of Culture and Recreation of the Soviet Union”. In 2006, the Gorky Park celebrated its bicentenary anniversary.^[2] In 2008 a sculptural composition "The Egyptian Pyramid" dedicated to Anton Chekhov's Kashtanka short story was unveiled at the entrance to Gorky Park from Maliy Sadoviy Pereulok.

Old and modern views of the Gorky Park

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  The Gymnasium Alley (leading from Chekhov Gymnasium) of the Taganrog City Park. View from a 19th-century postcard.

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  Gorky Park on a 1936 photograph

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  The eternal flame at the central alley of the Gorky Park, photo taken in 2007.

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  Sculptural composition "Egyptian Pyramid".

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  The plaque on the place in the Gorky Park, where was held the meeting of Taganrog citizens after the liberation of Taganrog on Aug.31, 1943.

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  The monument in the Gorky Park in honor of 3 Soviet fighter pilots who died on the Taganrog liberation day in August 1943.

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  Monument to Soviet Russian writer Maxim Gorky.

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  The fountain in the Gorky Park

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  New sundial (2001) in front of the central gates

External links and references

• Taganrog Encyclopedia (Энциклопедия Таганрога), 2nd edition, Taganrog, 2003
• История города Таганрога, П.П.Филевский, Москва, 1898

1. Чеховские места в Таганроге. Путеводитель. Таганрог, 2004
2. Taganrog City Park celebrates its 2nd century (photos)