Russian cities, even the most "touristy" ones, are full of hidden gems and places that no everyone is aware about... Shuvalovsky park in St. Petersurg is definetely one of them. Besides, it is one of the few parks in the city which are open to the public during the pandemic. It's much less known among tourists than, for example, the famous Summer Garden or the Field of Mars. Unsurprisingly, many consider this park badly maintained, half derelict and located too far from the center...

Well, reaching the park is quite a challenge indeed, but it's definitely worth it. It's the perfect place to get away from crowds and bustle of the big city, and to enjoy the nature and calm... If you like walking through the old ruins and feeling the atmosphere of mystery, than this park might have been made for you!

What you certainly must see in the park:

• The ponds (there are 12 ponds in total; you can challenge yourself and try to find them all without looking the map!)
• Messmacher's Dacha (it is believed that this old house is haunted...)
• Gothic Church of St. Peter and Paul
• "Old Parnas" and "New Parnas" hills
• Dacha of Illarion Vorontsov-Dashkov
• Stone Bridge
• Ruines of "Cold Banya" and "Tuff Arch"

As a bonus, here are some interesting facts about the Shuvalovsky Park:

✔ It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

✔ The park was one of the centers of Freemasonry in Saint Petersburg in the second half of the 18th century (along with Yelagin Island).

✔ The park's ponds have rather weird names – such as "Napoleon's Shirt" and "Napoleon's Hat" – due to their unusual shapes (you can see the map on one of the pictures). 

✔ The park is a favorite place among locals for cycling, jogging and even horse rididng, as well as picnics and barbecu (although making a fire here is officially prohibited).

Please, don't hesitate to visit our website – choose a tour to Russia that is best suited for you!