Lefortovo Park in Moscow

Although General Lefort (1656-1699) was not of Dutch but of Swiss descent, the Lefortovo district in Moscow, which bears his name, may still be considered as Russian-Dutch shared heritage site thanks to the Dutch physician Nicolaas Bidloo (1673-1735), who to a large extent shaped Lefortovo as an architect and garden expert. Moreover, directly opposite Lefortovo was the German Quarter, where a great number of Dutchmen lived, including the engineer Frans Timmerman, who transferred a lot of mathematical and military knowledge to the young Czar Peter. Nowadays, clay tobacco pipes, Delftware tiles and other famous Dutch export products from those times are regularly found by archaeologists in the ground of the German Quarter.

In the years 1706-1707 by order of Peter a military hospital was built in Lefortovo, where the first surgical school in Russia was opened. The hospital was headed by the Dutchman Nicolaas Bidloo, the personal physician to the czar. In the immediate vicinity of the hospital Bidloo laid out his private garden, which became widely known and where the czar was a frequent visitor.

In 1722 Peter the Great acquired the Golovinsky palace in Lefortovo. At the request of Peter, Nicholas Bidloo worked from 1722 on the expansion of the Golovinsky palace garden (nowadays called Lefortovo Park) towards the river, laying out ponds, fountains and pavilions. Two dams were constructed in the garden to provide enough water pressure for fountains. Cascades and two grottos were built, sculptures were placed and five ponds were dug, interconnected by canals.

In 1730 Bartolomeo Rastrelli modernized the garden design with new extentions for Peter's niece, Empress Anna. The emperial residence was renamed 'Annenhof'. After 1740, the large park was further adjusted for Peter's daughter, Elisabeth. In 1773-1797, the stone palace of Catherine the Great was built, currently the home of the Russian Federation Armed Forces Combined Arms Academy.

In the framework of the bilateral co-operation in shared cultural
heritage, the Moscow authorities requested the Dutch Embassy in Moscow
to assist in the revitalization of the park. Dutch expertise is now
offered in the following areas:
- Research and analysis of historical data and maps (including
additional research into N. Bidloo's life and work);
- Development of a motivated vision for new use of the area (park
and surrounding area);
- Assistance in the process of development and design.

The first step was a conference in Moscow on 29 and 30 September 2011 in the framework of the Denkmal fair. The conference was broader than only defining a methodology for the revitalization of the park Lefortovo. The conference provided an opportunity for an in-depth expert exchange of views and knowledge with regard to heritage policy. Consultations by Dutch heritage experts will be continued.

Under the project, the existing book on the history of Lefortovo Park will be translated into English and published in two languages. The book also describes the results of recent archaeological research in the park, when e.g. wooden piles were revealed, used by Bidloo to strengthen the riverbanks.

OBJECTIVES
Dutch contribution to the shaping of policy with regard to the restoration approach and new use of the Lefortovo Park; awareness raising on the activities of Nicolaas Bidloo.

RESULTS
Joint conference in 2011; publication in 2012; consultations by Dutch experts.