Statues and bas-reliefs in a cloud of water splashes. The main summer decoration of any city is fountains. Sculpture in flowing waters is already an aesthetic spectacle, and in combination with blue skies, summer heat and greenery, it is a real feast among glass and concrete. Stories of unusual Russian fountains.

Russian fountains. Peregof fountains

The most magnificent fountains in Russia are collected in Peterhof. Peter’s creation – the city of water jets is unique. It was created over two centuries. No pumps – water comes naturally from the Ropsha heights through channels 96 kilometers long, a system of ponds and sluices. Four cascades and 173 fountains, the highest of which – “Samson tearing the mouth of a lion” – hits the sky with a water jet to a height of 20 meters. It is believed that the figure of Samson appeared in honor of the victory of the Russian troops over the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava.

Fountain “Friendship of Peoples” – originally “Golden Sheaf”.

The pearl of VDNKh. There are more than 250 fountains in Moscow, but the golden girls dressed in the outfits of the republics of the former USSR, united by a common water pool, are perhaps the most touching. The prototype of the sculptural group was the “Guryev Service” of the early 19th century with gilded porcelain sculptures. Each of the republics has its own plant or fruit. Rye, sunflower, cotton, grapes, corn, flax – in the spirit of an agricultural exhibition.

“Fountain of Tears” – Bakhchisarai.

The “Selsebil” sung by Pushkin is a creation of the famous Iranian master Omer in memory of the beautiful Dilyara, who died early. It is not water that fills the marble bowls, but the “tears” of the formidable Krym-Giray Khan, who mourned his young wife. The modest source of the Khan’s palace, or rather, the history associated with its appearance, inspired many writers – Zhukovsky, Vyazemsky, Griboyedov. There are always fresh flowers in the upper bowl of the fountain.

Muravyevsky fountain – with a spa history.

The most powerful mineral spring in Europe. In the middle of the 19th century, a well was drilled for a new source in Staraya Russa near Novgorod and came across a natural fountain. The water turned out to be too salty and was not suitable for treatment, but the fountain became an ornament and a symbol of the city. Vacationers take away mugs and souvenirs with his image. In 2002, the Muravyevsky fountain appeared on a 10-ruble coin from the “Ancient Cities of Russia” series.

“Art”, or “Friendship of Peoples”.

The fountain on the central embankment of Volgograd is more than half a century old. The sculptural composition of three dancing girls in folk costumes has a world-famous prototype – the Beryozka choreographic ensemble. The fountain by the sculptor Sergei Alyoshin was installed in 1957, and at the end of the 20th century, the girls who were frozen in the dance were added lighting, and the water picture was accompanied by music.

“Girl with a Jug” or “Milkmaid”

Fountain based on La Fontaine’s fable. The only sculpture specially created for the Catherine Park. The work of the famous sculptor Pavel Sokolov was cast in the workshop of the Imperial Academy of Arts. During the war, when the Germans approached the city of Pushkin, the bronze statue was buried in the ground, and the fountain was not damaged. Now the original of “Milkmaid” is on display at the Russian Museum, and a copy “grieves” over the broken jug.

Fountain “Thumbelina”

Fountain “Thumbelina” – a fairy tale at the children’s theater. This is part of the architectural ensemble of the Voronezh Puppet Theater. A bronze girl surrounded by fish, shells and algae runs merrily under the streams of water.

After the opening of the fountain in the 1980s, it did not work for long, and the sculpture lay for 20 years in the pantry of the Puppet Theater. In 2007, the fountain was renovated and the fabulous appearance of the theater square was restored.

The Abduction of Europa fountain

Europe that looks at the Yenisei. The Abduction of Europe fountain is located on the Predmostnaya Square of Krasnoyarsk. The mythical story about the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician king, who was kidnapped by Zeus, turning into a bull, inspired the creation of a bronze composition by sculptors Alexander Tkachuk and Vitaly Osmushkin. The fountain was installed in 2004 – since then the central square of Krasnoyarsk has become one of the city’s favorite places for walking.

Fountains dedicated to Ivan Aivazovsky

The fountain as a declaration of love for your city. In Feodosia, there are two fountains at once dedicated to Ivan Aivazovsky. The fountain in the form of an eastern pavilion literally saved the townspeople in the dry summer of 1887, when water was delivered in barrels from Sevastopol. The Marinist presented his hometown with the Subash spring, which was located on his estate near the Old Crimea. The fountain of Constantinople became the prototype for the Feodosia fountain. A mug with the inscription “For the health of Aivazovsky and his family” was hanging at the source.

Fountain “Girl-mycelium”

“Girl-mycelium” is an unsinkable fountain of Klin near Moscow. The sculpture was cast at the Kasli factory for the old estate of Zolino. Its author, Fyodor Kamensky, emigrated to the United States even before the revolution, and this is one of the few of his surviving works. In 1917, the “bourgeois” sculpture was thrown into the pond. And since 1935 it was named “Alenushka” and was installed on the square. After an attempt was made to scrap the sculpture, a copy of it had to be put. The original was transferred to the Museum of Local Lore. Russian fountains