Did you know Moskovsky District was established in 1919? It is a district of the federal city of St. Petersburg. As of 2010, 288,744 people called Moskovsky District home. That is up from 275,884 in 2002.
Moskovsky District is sometimes called the southern gateway of the city. Moskovsky Prospekt leads to Pulkovo International Airport. That airport is important to St. Petersburg and the entire region.
Let’s talk about Moskovsky Prospekt. It is the district’s main road. A few years ago, it underwent extensive renovations. Now it is more modern. It is also greener, more spacious, walkable, and liveable.
The name Moskovskaya Zastava dates back to the 18th century. There was a post at the intersection of Moscow Road and Ligovsky Canal. Until the end of the 19th century, Moskovskaya Zastava was sparsely populated. It consisted mainly of rural settlements. Major transformations began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Industrial enterprises arrived. Examples are the Simens-Schuckert Plant, and the Carriage-Building Plant. Also the Plant of the Skorokhod Association.
Moscow Road was important to the Russian royal family. It led to Tsarskoye Selo. This was the imperial countryside residence. The royal family wanted to travel in comfort and style. Each year the road became more modern, wide, and beautiful. It was then renamed Tsarskoselkaya Road. In the 1770s, marble mileposts were installed along the way. Many have survived.
The Moscow Gates were unveiled on October 16, 1838. They have been the most recognizable symbol of Moskovsky District ever since. Architect V.P. Stasov designed Moskovskie Vorota. They stand at the intersection of Moskovsky Prospekt and Ligovsky Prospekt. They commemorate Russian military victories in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-29. The chief material was cast iron. At the time, the Moscow Gates were the largest cast-iron structure in the world. The portico symbolized the greatness and glory of the Russian army. Sculpture compositions underlined the war victory theme. They depicted war trophies, signs, and weapons.
In 1845, the Novodevichy Convent of Holy Resurrection was built. Emperor Nicholas I ordered it. He decided to recreate the abolished Smolny Convent at a new location. By 1849, the Novodevichy Cemetery came to be. It was a popular burial site for the city’s elite.
After the Bolshevik Revolution, the street was renamed Mezhdunarodny Prospekt. In the 1930s, constructivism was popular. The saying was “what functions well also looks good”. The southern stretch of the prospekt has buildings in the Stalinist style. They were built in the 1930s and 1950s. The House of Soviets is a notable building. It was a military stronghold during the Siege in World War II. Another building is the “House with a spire”. It is located on 190 Moskovsky Prospekt. G. Simonov, B. Rubanenko, and V. Vasilkovsky designed it. It was built between 1940-41. The tower was put up in 1953.
In 1936, the Moscow Gate was dismantled. This was during Joseph Stalin’s concentration of power. The plan was to move it to Moscow Square Park. In 1941, the German army approached Leningrad. The cast-iron blocks of the gate were used in creating an anti-tank defensive structure. This helped to repel the Germans. Fortunately, the gate was restored from 1958 to 1960.
July 7, 1946, was a very important day. On this day, Moskovsky Victory Park was officially opened. It was named in honor of the Soviet victory in World War II. Victory Park was created after World War II ended. It was on the former site of a brick factory. During the war, the factory facilities were used to cremate victims of German blockade and bombardments.
Initially, the park covered only 1/7 of the present-day territory. During the next decade, the park grew. The original quarries, trenches, and foxholes were preserved. They were developed into channels and small ponds. In the 1950s, Soviet architects led construction projects. A summer stage, fountains, and pavilions came into existence. Sculptures and monuments were installed throughout the park. A major alley is called “Alley of Heroes”. It features busts of Soviet heroes.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, a chapel and plaque were erected. These were at the former site of the crematory facility. Nowadays, the park is a major recreation area. It is popular for residents of Moskovsky District and other neighborhoods.
Moskovskaya Square boasts a fountain complex. It has 11 fountains that blast water 12-14 meters high. It is accompanied by music and a light show. Some 70,000 flowers are planted every spring. They give visitors coming from Pulkovo Airport a welcome.