The German Quarter: A Favourite Spot of Peter the Great

This location, known as the Nemetskaya Sloboda (Pic 1) or Kukuy Quarter, features in Alexey Tolstoy’s novel Peter the First.

Founded near the Yauza River, it became a settlement for foreigners from Europe who neither spoke nor understood Russian. Locals called them nemtsy (“mute”). Tsar Ivan the Fourth initially granted them this land in the 16th century, but it was in the 17th century that they settled there permanently, following restrictions imposed by Peter the Great’s father, Alexey Mikhailovich. The Tsar’s court, wary of growing foreign influence in Moscow, chose to isolate these newcomers rather than cooperate with them. Peter the Great broke with this tradition, as he spent much of his youth in the German Quarter and formed close relationships with its residents.

The quarter’s inhabitants were deeply involved in its construction. They followed building plans typical of their homelands, decorated houses according to German tradition, and planted tree-lined alleys. They also built their own churches, of which only the Peter and Paul Church (Pic 2) remains today.

The German Quarter flourished in the late 17th century. Its foreign business community thrived, Muscovites grew fascinated by its culture, and many townspeople frequented the area for shopping and leisure. However, the isolation of the quarter ended during Peter the Great’s reign, as foreigners began moving to other parts of Moscow and beyond.

This place played a significant role in the life of the young Tsar and, by extension, the entire country. Peter visited the Nemetskaya Sloboda frequently for many reasons. There, he could act as an ordinary man and converse freely. These experiences helped shape his vision for modernising Russia. To realise his ambitious plans, he needed to hire qualified professionals, implement modern technologies, and surround himself with like-minded people. Finding his powerful conservative opponents resistant, Peter discovered future allies among the inhabitants of the German Quarter and similar circles.

Since the 18th century, this area has been home to various social classes. The fire of 1812 devastated the quarter, burning all its wooden houses to ashes and necessitating a complete rebuild.

Over time, the German Quarter's original architectural character has changed dramatically. No tangible traces remain from before the 1812 fire that might indicate its unique past. The German Quarter of Peter the Great’s era is gone.

Only one name connects this part of Moscow to its historic past: Lefortovo. It is named after François Le Fort, a close friend and associate of Peter the Great (Pic 3) who made significant contributions to Russia. It is fitting, therefore, that the former Nemetskaya Sloboda bears his name today (Pic 4).

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🌏🇷🇺 Svirskoye Gorge. Sochi, Krasnodar Krai.

This place is famous for its clean air, rich flora, waterfalls, water bowls, panoramas of mountains and rocks. There is a route about 3.5 km long all over the territory. The bright natural attraction is located on the territory of the Sochi National Park, not far from the village of Lazarevskoye.

💦 Three waterfalls are considered the pearl of the gorge. The lowest one, Svirsky, from the height of 7 meters down the stone slope falls water into a small transparent lake surrounded by rocky banks and greenery. Another waterfall, bearing the romantic name "Adam and Eve", is located at the very end of the rift and consists of two cascades. The third waterfall is the Mother-in-law's Tears. It is quite wide and turbulent, its height is about 5 meters.

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