Patriarch’s ponds: a cozy romantic spot in the center of Moscow

Wait a minute: why it is called “Ponds” if there is only one? Interestingly, the old name “Partriach’s Ponds” has remained in the plural since the 17th century. This is despite the fact that today, there is only one pond left The reason is that after the fire of 1812, two small ponds of the former Patriarch’s Goat Quarter were destroyed, leaving only one, Bolshoy Patriarshy Pond.

In Soviet times, the city authorities tried to give it another name – Pioneer’s Ponds – but this failed. People continued to use the name that they were used to.

Currently, the Patriarch’s Ponds are a quiet green hideaway in the very centre of the noisy capital. The total area of the small park is slightly over two hectares. The pond itself takes up less than half of the area, while the rest of the space is occupied by the garden square and numerous walkways.


When ice skating became a popular pastime in Moscow, many of Moscow ponds were transformed into ice rinks during the winter. The Ice Rink at the Patriarshiy Pond was especially popular among young students since the 1870’s. Leo Tolstoy himself used to bring his daughters here to skate. There were other forms of entertainment available here besides skating, including boating in the summer months, and live concerts and performances  on a stage built for this purpose.

In 1983-85, a slightly larger stone pavilion was built to replace the demolished wooden pavilion put here in 1938 to serve as a dressing room for the ice rink. The new pavilion’s architectural design was very similar to the old one’s. But from my point of view the pond is the most picturesque in summer and autumn, when it is surrounded by green trees. So let’s just walk around a bit and enjoy the views together 😊 Two most remarkable buildings around

Some houses in the nearby side streets are of particular interest; for example, the Tarasov’s house. It is a famous monument of 20th century neoclassical architecture that mirrors the shapes of Palazzo Thiene in Vicenza by Andrea Palladio. There is also the so-called “House with Lions” Its other name is “The General’s House” as it was built for the heroes of the 1812 Patriotic War. Both buildings are remarkable; they are magnificent and abound in elements of classical architecture.

Why the place is famous for «Margarita»? (a spoiler: it is neither about pizza nor a cocktail 😊) The Patriarshy Pond is mentioned in many literary works in Russian, but it was certainly immortalized by Mikhail Bulgakov, whose novel The Master and Margarita begins with the words: ‘At the sunset hour of one warm spring day two men were to be seen at Patriarch’s Ponds...’

Btw it is not far from here (at 10, Bolshaya Sadovaya street) where Woland’s party stayed and which was set on fire by the cat Behemoth who overthrew the primus heater. The apartment is now a museum dedicated to Bulgakov, while it used to be a kommunalkaa communal apartment shared by several families during the Soviet era, where Mikhail Bulgakov himself lived with his wife for some time. A woman who became the prototype of Annushka (the one who spilled some sunflower-seed oil on the tram tracks) lived in one of the rooms in the apartment. In the same house in Bolshaya Sadovaya street, fans of Bulgakov’s work established Bulgakov’s House Museum Theatre. Btw, many people coming to Patriarch’s Ponds look for the tram tracks where poor Berlioz, a character from Bulgakov’s novel, was killed. Alas, this search is in vain: they do not exist! The author drew inspiration from the cityscape around him, but did not copy every element. You will not see any monuments to characters in the novel here, either. A sculptural ensemble dedicated to “The Master and Margarita” was intended to be installed here. However, local residents were against the idea and the authorities have since abandoned it.

Taft local residents Btw, that was not the only one decision made by the authorities because of the local residents: in fact Patriarch’s ponds is the only one place on Moscow where since this year it is prohibited to drive on a motorcycle from 22 pm till 7 am. That exclusive restrictions on the movement of motorcyclists were introduced after numerous complaints from residents about noise.

Food, food, food Even if you are in a beautiful historic area or a tidy park, walking around the huge city takes up a lot of energy. For you to have a rest in the best way is to eat here nearby, so lets dive deep into the best bars and restraint’s here.