This 1968 Soviet color postcard shows the central part of the City Garden in Odesa, the city’s oldest public park.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground depicts park pathways and wooden benches with several visitors seated. In the center, a multi-tiered fountain is operating alongside a circular open-air gazebo (rotunda) with a domed roof. To the left of the fountain, a bronze lion sculpture stands on a stone pedestal. The background is filled with dense green tree canopies under a clear sky.
Historical note
The City Garden was laid out in 1806 by Felix de Ribas, brother of Odesa’s founder Jose de Ribas, and donated to the city in 1811. The bronze lion and lioness sculptures, created by French sculptor Auguste Cain, were relocated here in 1927 from a private estate. The wooden rotunda shown in the image was restored during the post-WWII reconstruction period.
Present day
Today, the City Garden on Derybasivska Street remains one of Odesa’s landmark locations. Following a major renovation in 2007, the park’s historical rotunda was restored, and the central fountain was updated with modern light and sound features.
Location (map)
Address: Derybasivska St, Odesa, Ukraine
Coordinates: 46.484270, 30.733150
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Central fountain and rotunda in the City Garden of Odesa.
Questions and answers
- When was the City Garden in Odesa established? The City Garden was founded in 1806 by Felix de Ribas and officially transferred to the city’s ownership in 1811.
- What is the sculpture visible on the left side of the postcard? It is a bronze lion sculpture created by French artist Auguste Cain, which was placed in the garden in 1927.
- What is the modern state of the park? The park was fully reconstructed in 2007, restoring the historic rotunda and upgrading the fountain into a musical and light fountain.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Odesa from 1968.
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