The History of the Field of Mars

St. Petersburg Sahara, Empty Meadow, Funny Field... Do you know those names? Long enough they called a small patch of land in the center of St. Petersburg. Well known to all of us under the name of the Field of Mars. Its history still arouses the interest of tourists, travelers, ordinary people. At a time when the external architecture of St. Petersburg acquired recognizable features, a small piece of land remained unclaimed between the Neva and the building where the Russian Museum is now located. It has long and in vain tried to come up with a worthy use. There were entertainment rides, pastures for animals, gardens and much more.

In the beginning, this place was inconspicuous and empty. Goat swamp, that's what the locals called it. It had a bad reputation and was equated to the non-residential outskirts of the city, where, as a rule, low-income strata of the population lived, illegal trade was carried out from under the floor, dubious entertainment was organized that attracted various criminal elements. Soon they were taken over by local authorities. It was drained and attached to the Summer Garden. It was a large and unsettled wasteland and therefore from the Goat bog, the locals renamed it. It became known as the Empty Meadow. Peter used it for personal entertainment. Regular formation of troops, funny folk festivals with fireworks (amusing lights). All these events bring the future of the Field of Mars a new name, namely Funny. Soon, in one thousand seven hundred and eleven, Tsar Peter established a unique Beast Court nearby. And in one thousand seven hundred and twenty-first year, on the territory of Potushny, the Arc de Triomphe was built, marking the signing of the peace treaty between Russia and Sweden in Nystadt.

Soon it was time for palaces. First, Catherine the First built the Summer House, then the younger daughter of Peter I and Catherine I, Elizabeth, built the Summer Palace here. And the amusing field gets a new name, Tsaritsyn, and then it changes to Tsaritsyn meadow. There are green spaces, elements of landscape design, which attracts citizens here for walks in the fresh air (some of them called it the Promenade) and mass entertainment. And after 1752, as a result of the highest decree, the imperial cows began to herd in the meadow. Under Catherine II, fun holidays began to be held even more actively. What was there? Carousels, ice slides, fireworks, illumination. However, all these festivities were not without victims. Someone was pressed by the crowd, someone got drunk to unconsciousness, fell asleep in the snow and froze.

With the departure of women from power, the meadows of Tsaritsyn also left. Military parades and parades were held there. At the same time, it acquires its final name, the Field of Mars. The constant drilling and marching so affected this place that there was no trace of the green spaces of Catherine’s time. The townspeople jokingly call this field the Sahara. It really became like her, dry and dusty and not a single blade of grass. However, in 1869, newspapers wrote a note that the field again serves as a fun pastime. Carousels, swings, theater productions, places for walks, beer in barrels and even sausages.

Life was getting better. Mischief and fun seemed to find their home on this patch of land for a long time. One fun followed another, then another and it seemed the end of the edge is not visible. Emperor Nicholas II decided to hold parades there, but it was possible to attend them after buying a ticket at a fairly high price. Therefore, there was an exceptionally rich audience who wanted to see the world and show themselves. A telescope was installed on the field to observe celestial bodies. And in the early 20th century, some rich man offered everyone to take a walk on deer. Children of the nobility met there for communication and pastime. A real Somali village with blacks, roller coasters, fights in the ring. The choice was great.

Unfortunately, the time of carefree and fun life in this place is over. The February Revolution changed a lot, including the entertainment program of these places. In the blockade, there were gardens that saved the lives of many Leningraders. This place is a source of legends, mystical stories, phantasmagoria. But here, as in the old days, people like to walk. Walking around and hoping that carefree times will return.