“Here shall be a town!” That’s what Tsar Peter the Great proclaimed. He set foot on this marshland. This marshland would become St. Petersburg. More specifically, it would become home to Morskiye Dubki.
Today, we stand in Dubki Park. It is on the shores of the Gulf of Finland in Sestroretsk. This park is the northernmost oak forest in Russia. Peter the Great founded it.
In 1714, Peter returned to St. Petersburg. He had just won the Battle of Gangutsk. His flotilla stopped near the mouth of the Sisters River. Peter was drawn to the oak grove on the cape. Some oaks were already 200 to 300 years old.
In 1717, Peter ordered land brought here. He wanted thousands of young oak trees planted. His plan was to use them for ship construction later. Workers planted 2,000 trees. Peter himself planted 200. He then ordered a private suburban residence built. Also, a protective dam. He wanted gardens with fruit trees. He wanted artificial ponds dug.
However in 1727 a flood and storm damaged the park and palace. Peter II ruled then. He removed Dubki from the list of royal residences. Valuables were moved. The palace became a warehouse for the Sestroretsk Arms Plant. That building is now gone.
Later, from 1741 to 1743 defensive walls went up in the park. They were to protect against Swedish attacks. In 1788, they strengthened the fortifications. These fortifications were useful in 1855 during the Crimean War. An Anglo-French fleet approached Sestroretsk.
By 1904, entertainment appeared in Dubki Park. Festivities and theatrical performances took place here.
During the Great Patriotic War, the front line was near Sestroretsk. Pillboxes remain in memory of the war defenses. The park was restored from 1948 to 1950.
Now, Dubki Park is a monument. It showcases landscape architecture of the 18th century. UNESCO recognizes it as a cultural heritage site. It is a place for family rest. Also, a center of culture and sports life in Sestroretsk. It is quite a treasure.