The pine park with the beautiful name “Scarlet Sails” is located on the left bank of the Voronezh Reservoir. Not every Voronezh resident knows that this landscape area is included in the top 5 best city parks in Russia. Today, Scarlet Sails Park in Voronezh is one of the most popular places for tourists, where you can take unusual memorable photos and have a soulful rest in the lap of nature.
🌳 History of the Park
Scarlet Sails Park appeared in Voronezh in 1975. Sidewalks appeared among the tall pine trees that adorned the left bank of the reservoir, a giant “ferris wheel” spun, opening a panorama of the Voronezh Sea, the Chernavsky Bridge, and the city blocks of the Right Bank. Numerous attractions rattled: the Autodrome “Surprise,” Boats, Daisies—they drowned out the birds’ singing and scared away the squirrels.
The symbol of the park became the silhouette of Chernomor, occupying the highest point of the area, and Baba Yaga’s hut was hidden among the trees. Only a sign, white on the park gates, reminded of the marine romance of scarlet sails…
In the 90s, perestroika put an end to the noisy and energy-intensive entertainment of the Soviet era. Until 2009, the park gradually became wild and fell into disrepair; it was favored by people of No Fixed Abode (the acronym is known to all). For the 425th anniversary of Voronezh (September 11, 2011), the city authorities made a gift to the residents of the city—they renovated and reopened Scarlet Sails Park for visits. The restoration work was led by Olivier Dame, a landscape designer from France.
He preserved the layout of the Soviet architects but fundamentally changed the concept of the park area. Priority was given to the natural factor and opportunities for active recreation. Everything that was noisy, did not fit into the natural landscape and marine romance, was dismantled. Thus, the Ferris wheel and Chernomor—a subject of nostalgia for old residents of Voronezh—disappeared from the park. But luxurious gates, a ship with scarlet sails, and an equipped beach appeared.
Birds began to sing, the fluffy tails of squirrels flashed between the branches, and sailboats, catamarans, and boats glided across the water surface.
The park’s infrastructure is brought in line with European standards for comfortable outdoor recreation. It takes into account the needs of all ages: children, youth, married couples, grandfathers-grandmothers, and people with disabilities.
Cleanliness and order are maintained on an area of more than 60 thousand sq.m., and video surveillance is conducted.
The result was not long in coming: today, Scarlet Sails Park in Voronezh ranks 4th in the top best architectural objects in Russia outside of Moscow.
🏞️ Park Zones and Art Objects
At the entrance to the park area, there is a map showing the location of all attractions, sports grounds, cafes, and the administration building.
Below is a map of “Scarlet Sails” park from Yandex.Maps (you can open it directly in Yandex.Maps if desired).
Let’s briefly look at the main zones and objects of the best Voronezh park.
Green Zone
The Green Zone, with a pine grove as its core, serves as a corner of beauty and tranquility, featuring paths and trails covered with fine gravel—even in rainy weather, your feet remain dry.
Fluffy tails of squirrels flash in the pine branches; they often come down for treats.
Lawns with lush grass turn green along the walking routes—you can freely sit and lie down on them. Flower beds are decorated with roses of the “Voronezhskiye” variety—they were bred by French selectors especially for Scarlet Sails Park! The rose bushes, growing, cover the soil with a luxurious carpet. Yellow lights of frost-resistant buds delight the eye from June until late autumn.
Bird City
After the noisy attractions were removed from the park, the singing of birds became audible—they settle not only in natural nests but also in specially built birdhouses. According to the idea of local artist S. Gorshkov, a Bird City was created, where there is a “School” and a “University,” a “Theater” and an “Airport,” a “Bathhouse” and a “Kindergarten,” a “Telephone Booth” and a “Shopping Center.”
Nature lovers have the opportunity to observe the birds’ habits and walk along a path with images of the footprints of all birds inhabiting the Chernozem region. Near the Bird City, picnic areas are equipped—although fires, alcohol, and smoking are strictly forbidden in the park area. As, incidentally, is the free walking of dogs—a special place is allocated for four-legged pets.
Library
Not far from the main gates, among the pine trees, the Chess House – Library is nestled. The walls are lightly outlined with slats arranged in a checkerboard pattern—hence the name.
The motto of the library is “Take, Read, Return”. Visitors can freely use the copies standing in the cabinet of the Chess House. They are invited to bring their own interesting books here. Inside the house, there are tables and benches—sit, read, work. Wi-Fi network is guaranteed in the library—for those who urgently need the Internet.
Amusement Park
Not far from the Chess House, there are several playgrounds with attractions.
- The “Thousand Knots” park with rope routes of various difficulty is very popular with the public. The blue route is mastered by the smallest acrobats; the red one passes at a height of 8 m and is designed for adults and extreme teenagers.
One of the sections is a bicycle track on a rope at the height of a two-story building! The cost of the “1000 Knots” attraction: a ticket for the smallest ones – from 250 rubles for 30 minutes; teenage tickets – 350-850 rubles, the price of adult entertainment – almost 1000 rubles. Sometimes you get lucky and hit promotions, so the pricing situation is only clarified on site. This is what it all looks like in dynamics (25 second video):- Another extreme attraction is the “Lighthouse” climbing wall. The 13-meter height is stormed by participants with different levels of training. Climbing routes with difficulty from one to six stars are not conquered by every athlete. Mandatory equipment is helmets and safety harnesses.
- Visitors aged “two to five” prefer soft attractions: trampolines, slides, multi-level labyrinths. The rubber coating of children’s playgrounds minimizes the likelihood of injuries and bruises. Closer to the reservoir bank is an old wooden fortress, where children easily find opportunities for active recreation without the help of adults. The original swings in the form of a basket accommodate from three to ten kids. Group riding gives the children special pleasure, although such “baskets” are intended for children with disabilities: they can be seated comfortably, and if necessary, laid down in a deep circle.
Sports Grounds
The concept of the park is active recreation as an element of a healthy lifestyle. There are many opportunities for self-guided sports:
- there is a football field with a special coating; in winter, the field becomes a skating rink, which operates in 1.5-hour sessions from 11:00 to 22:30;
- a street basketball center equipped by the “Sibur” company is open for streetball fans
- along with the usual volleyball court, places for beach volleyball are equipped;
- there are always many players and spectators near the tennis tables;
- a snow tubing track is equipped, where people ride on “tubes” both in winter and in summer.
Recently, budget outdoor fitness machines have appeared in the park: those who wish to independently improve their body and athletic skills. 
Summer Cinema
The atmosphere of the park is complemented by softly playing music—a subject of nostalgia for bygone times. Not in vain do many believe that Soviet song is incomparable to anything else in its effect on the emotional state and mood of people. There are places in the park where high-quality modern music plays—a summer stage in the form of an amphitheater and a dance floor.
Actors, singers, musical and dance groups from Russia and abroad perform on the stage, contests and quizzes are held, and cartoons and films are regularly shown.
Cafes
In summer, there are no problems with snacks in “Scarlet Sails”—two cafes are open here, along with several points selling ice cream, coffee/tea, and fast food. If you want a substantial meal—go to “GRIN cafe” (obviously named after Alexander Grin, the author of the famous story “Scarlet Sails”), where student waiters will take your order at elegant tables.
The menu includes first and second courses, dessert, and luxurious ice cream, a portion of which resembles a work of art. The average check for lunch is 400-500 rubles. Children’s dishes are offered. During rush hour, this spot is busy, and you have to wait until the waiter finally senses your ravenous appetite. The highlight of GRIN cafe is the bookshelves, from which you can take a book you like and browse it over a cup of coffee. At “ABC Caffe,” the widest assortment of tea and coffee is available—combinations from A to Z. For each letter, there is some kind of additive in the preparation of the drink.
For those who are not satisfied with public catering and fast food, picnic areas are equipped near the reservoir. Sitting on the grass, you can enjoy homemade food to the singing of birds and the rustle of waves.
Beach
In Scarlet Sails Park, all roads lead to the beach, and a picturesque view of the Right Bank and the panorama of the Chernavsky Bridge opens up from it.
Swimming in the reservoir is not recommended for people, but you can admire the ducks, which splash happily near the shore. For meditation enthusiasts, stump-benches are installed, and for those who want to sunbathe − changing cabins.
There are playgrounds for volleyball, as well as opportunities for water trips. The price list is short: the price for renting a 4-seater rowing boat and a 2-seater pedal catamaran is the same – 250 rubles for 30 minutes. Near the rental point there are always people ready to sail the expanses of the Voronezh Sea on boats and catamarans.
Park Art Objects – Photo Shoot Locations
More and more often, Voronezh residents try to capture the main events in their lives against the backdrop of the landscapes and sculptures of Scarlet Sails Park.
- The sailboat “Secret” – the hero of the story “Scarlet Sails” – is inscribed in the flower bed of the central alley.
- The “View Window” on a hill is a perspective from which the most picturesque view of the reservoir opens up.
- “Pine Cone” and “Brown Bear” are metal sculptures half the height of a human; located within the Green Zone.
- “Lighthouse” – a 46-meter electricity pylon, made of red metal, decorated with garlands, stylized as a navigation tower (lighthouse). The illumination on the Lighthouse is turned on in the evening on holidays and weekends. In summer from 21:30 to 23:00; in winter – from 20:00 to 21:30. In addition to garlands, three spotlights light up at the top – their beams are directed at the Right Bank.
- The entire landscape of the park: pine trees, sandy beach, picturesque paths, lawns, and flower beds – serves as an excellent background for photo shoots for any occasion. The park’s art objects give the photographs a romantic touch.
Entertainment and Events
Over 10 years of its renewed existence, Scarlet Sails Park has become a traditional place for mass celebrations of citizens.
- In the spring, the international environmental action “Earth Hour” is held here; and a children’s costumed masquerade.
- In early May, cosplay enthusiasts (dressing up as popular characters) gather in the park for the Japanese Animation Festival.
- In the summer, the Ice Cream Festival is celebrated in Scarlet Sails, and city graduates are gathered for the last school ball.
- Since 2011, participants of the Platonov Festival—prominent Russian and foreign representatives of culture—perform at the park’s venues.
- The traditional Stroller Parade allows you to see masterpieces of folk art in the field of children’s technical equipment—from “techno”- and “turbo”-carriages to fairy-tale and doll carriages.
- Thousands of citizens come to the park for the healthy lifestyle celebration—the “Healthy Voronezh” festival.
Within the park boundaries is the “Scarlet Sails” training ground – a location for laser tag, paintball, and archertag competitions. The training ground is located in the forest and has numerous fortifications and shelters for conducting tactical operations.
The games organized by the active recreation club “Front Line” are an excellent way to celebrate a birthday, corporate event, or an outing in nature.
Contacts, How to Get There, How Much It Costs
The official address of Scarlet Sails Park: Voronezh, Arzamas street 4A. Map above in the text
Phone numbers: +7 (905) 644-30-03; +7 (473) 228-31-82
The park does not have its own website; information about the program of events is contained on the VKontakte social network page vk.com/parkalparusa
Location: in the Levoberezhny district, on the bank of the Voronezh Reservoir, near the Chernavsky Bridge dam, next to the yacht club. How to get there:
- From the Central Bus Station, take buses №90, 41, or minibus №37A to the “Ilyicha Street” stop; then take any transport for 3 stops along Leninsky Prospekt to the “Arzamasskaya Street” stop, from where it is a few minutes’ walk to the park.
- From the railway station, take buses 60B, 42, 6, or minibuses 104, 386 to the “Ilyicha Street” stop; then – along Leninsky Prospekt to Arzamas street.
- From the Pridacha station, you will have to walk 15-20 minutes to the VASO stop, take minibus 37A in the direction of “V. Nevsky Street” and get off at Arzamas street.
- By taxi, the ride will cost from 220 rubles.
- It is convenient to drive to the park in your own vehicle – there are two free parking lots located at the entrance gates.
Working hours: from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Entrance to the park is free, most attractions are paid.
Voronezh Hotels Near Scarlet Sails Park
Guests of Voronezh who want to relax in the best park of the city are recommended to stay on the Left Bank.
- Apartments on Leninsky Prospekt, 96B: 5 minutes drive to the park in your own car; one stop by public transport (minibus №36). Beautiful interior, bedroom, and living room can accommodate up to 4 people for the night. There is air conditioning, a TV, free parking, and a panoramic view of the reservoir from the balcony. The cost of a night’s stay starts from 2700 rubles.
- Apartments Like Home, Leninsky Pr-t, 68A: 1 stop by minibus to the park, 2 minutes by car. Guests have 1 bedroom for a maximum of 4 people, a kitchen with a microwave and refrigerator, a bathroom with a shower, a washing machine, a TV, and Wi-Fi. The cost of a night’s stay starts from 2700 rubles.
- Apartment on MOPRa St. 75A: 15 minutes walk to the park. The apartments accommodate up to 4 people: 1 bedroom with a TV, a kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave, a bathroom, a washing machine, free parking, a window view of the reservoir, and a quiet area. The cost of a night’s stay is from 1700 rubles.
Conclusion
A healthy lifestyle and active outdoor recreation are today’s trend. As long as Scarlet Sails Park follows this direction, it will remain one of the best not only in Voronezh but also in Russia. If you have already visited it, share your impressions in the comments below!
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