Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve is a palace and park ensemble on Ulitsa Dolskaya in the Tsaritsyno District of south Moscow, Russia. The complex was begun in the 18th century for Catherine the Great in a distinctive pseudo-Gothic style, using red brick with white stone details, but was left unfinished. It was extensively reconstructed and opened to the public in 2007, and the Grand Palace now houses museum exhibitions, period interiors and temporary displays. Around the palace, a large landscaped park with ponds, tree-lined paths and smaller pavilions and bridges makes the site popular for long walks. The park is open from 06:00 to midnight daily and is free, while the Grand Palace museum costs about 700 RUB and is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 18:00 and at weekends from 10:00 to 19:00. It is closed on Mondays. A musical fountain with a light-and-music show runs in the warmer months, and evenings in summer are the most atmospheric time to visit. A typical visit takes two to three hours, longer if visitors explore the full park and the outlying buildings such as the Bread House and the Opera House. Weekends are busiest, particularly in summer, while weekday mornings offer a quiet park and open walking routes. Tsaritsyno metro station is a walk of about ten to fifteen minutes from the palace complex, and Orekhovo is also nearby. Photographers favour the red-and-white facades reflected in the ponds, especially in low evening light. Visitors should confirm current hours and ticket options on the official website.