Verbilki: Porcelain Manufactory and Park on the Dubna

Verbilki is a place whose character is shaped by porcelain production. The Manufactory “Manufaktury Gardner v Verbilkakh” continues to produce high-quality porcelain and preserve a tradition spanning more than two centuries. This gives travelers a clear cultural focus: craftsmanship here is not just a chapter in history, but part of the town’s living history today. Together with the recreation park on the Dubna, the story of porcelain offers different perspectives on Verbilki—from the production process to the historically significant riverbank.

Porcelain Between History and the Present

The manufactory is also connected to a specifically dated episode in the town’s history. From 1777 to 1783, four luxurious services were made in Verbilki for the imperial court: Georgievsky, Andreevsky, Alexandrovsky, and Vladimirsky. The four names and the limited time span give this period a defined shape, while also placing it alongside the longer-lasting porcelain tradition. This makes it possible to focus a visit on two themes: the history of the court services and the continued production of porcelain.

A Look at Porcelain Production

Group and individual tours require advance registration. Make arrangements before your arrival if you plan to take a production tour. The tour route passes through areas for preparing the porcelain slip, casting, shaping, the first firing, glazing, the tunnel kiln, and painting. During regular operations, visitors can observe the production process, including the firing of porcelain in a large tunnel kiln. The tour thus connects several stages of production and offers an insight for travelers interested in the manufacturing process itself. The focus is on specific work stages and their sequence, not just on finished porcelain pieces.

Park History on the Banks of the Dubna

The “Verbilki” recreation park is located on the banks of the Dubna. It was established in the early 19th century by descendants of Franz Gardner, the founder of the porcelain manufactory. The town’s history thus links the development of craftsmanship with a distinct park history: the park is a historic landmark on the Dubna, not merely another reference to the manufactory. Culture-minded visitors can therefore explore two different perspectives: porcelain production and a park whose origins trace back to Gardner’s descendants. Its riverside location and founding story give the park two clear points of reference: the landscape of the Dubna and the descendants of the manufactory’s founder.

Sports Facilities in the Town

The “Verbilki” sports complex offers another glimpse of the town’s character. It includes facilities for strength training, tennis, chess, and fitness. The outdoor area includes an ice hockey rink, a facility used as a multi-purpose court in summer, the football pitch at Trud Stadium, a volleyball court, and two workout areas. These different facilities provide a broad picture of the town’s sports infrastructure: indoor spaces sit alongside several outdoor activity areas, while the multi-purpose use is specifically limited to summer. Alongside the history of the manufactory and park, sports facilities are another distinct aspect of the town.

Discover more destinations: Novobrattsevskiy, Staraya Kupavna, Skhodnya, Serpukhov, Sergiyevo, Semenovskoye, Kozhukhovo, Tuchkovo.