Moscow estates can be compared with the chronicle of the capital and the state. Each is closely connected with the history of the ancient city and Russia. Many estates in Moscow are located within the metropolis. And that makes them look even more luxurious.
Kuskovo
The history of this amazing place is closely connected with the biographies of representatives of one of the oldest boyar, noble families in Russia. The Sheremetyevs had a colossal influence on state policy, were related to the Rurik dynasty, and were never content with little. Unrestraint can be safely called one of the characteristic features of the representatives of the famous dynasty.
Great: military leaders, embezzlers of public funds, patrons, politicians, criminals, musicians, intriguers, duelists, Casanovas, historians, public figures. And it's all about them. And the estate was that quiet harbor, representatives of an amazing dynasty left and returned to the world from there. Her heart: a classical style palace. He, like a Roman emperor, is surrounded by a retinue: no less magnificent houses, pavilions, greenhouses.
Not all buildings have survived to our time, however, what remains is striking in its luxury. Creators of incredible beauty, mostly created according to the canons of classicism: famous foreign architects and serfs who belonged to the Sheremetevs.
The incredible atmosphere of the estate, turned into a museum and a favorite place for mass celebrations of Muscovites, guests of the capital, fascinates, inspires to create masterpieces. It is symbolic that the famous Soviet, Russian comedies, fairy tales, TV series were filmed here.
Arkhangelsk
The real age of the patrimony-estate-estate-museum is 2 times more than the official one. The history of Arkhangelsk began 600 years ago, and not in the 18th century (as guidebooks often report). The owners of the most beautiful corner of the capital have repeatedly changed. Its history is closely connected with the famous noble, princely dynasties of the Sheremetevs, Odoevskys, Golitsins, Cherskasskys, Yusupovs.
The nobles who owned Arkhangelsk were incredibly rich, and yet almost every one of them was pursued by evil fate. The estate was not a safe haven, despite all its splendor, refined beauty, almost ancient grandeur. Rebels, conspirators, disgraced poets, writers, actors, courtesans, masons gathered here.
Palaces, temples, monuments, gardens, fountains, terraces and other objects of the museum-estate built at different times create a feeling of amazing harmony. Why do directors prefer not to shoot movie scenes here? Creative people are extremely cautious about everything connected with the Yusupov family. There are two reasons for this: the curse lying on the princely dynasty and ghosts, which quite often fall into the lenses of tourist cameras and video cameras.
Bratcevo
The estate complex, whose architecture is dominated by classicism, is recognized as an object of cultural heritage of Russia. Its owners (from the Naryshkin Romanovs to the Stroganovs) left a bright mark on Russian history. It is noteworthy that almost all the owners of Bratsevo were deeply religious people. The place is associated with many extraordinary personalities, family stories in the spirit of “the rich also cry.”
Here lovers hid from their former “patrons”, spouses, illegitimate children of crowned persons were announced, great Russian composers created masterpieces in a fit of unrequited passion. The estate can still serve as a great source of inspiration for soap operas today. For example: the scenes of the series “Poor Nastya”, which conquered China, Greece, the states of Eastern Europe, were filmed here.
In Soviet times, Bratsevo was owned by various organizations, issues with its land, buildings today can hardly be called resolved, but visitors have access to a significant part of the complex. The main house, the gazebos surrounding it, and the park are reminiscent of the luxury in which representatives of noble families lived. This amazing place is captured on the canvases of the great Russian landscape painter Ivan Shishkin, frames of famous Soviet, Russian films.
Izmailovo
The museum of the same name is often called a symbolic place in Moscow. The estate on the island has been known since the time of the Rurikovichs, and the representatives of the Romanov dynasty who took possession of this land set up the first prison here. Please do not confuse this word with prison. At that time, prisons combined all the elements of a fortress house. Like medieval Italy.
In prison they hid from enemies, trained warriors, prepared campaigns, wove political intrigues, prayed, hunted, played amour and developed domestic industry. The first Russian manufactories for the production of wine, glass, building materials, medicines, processing of agricultural products, bee products were opened in Izmailovo.
There is a version that Peter the Great was born here. The estate repeatedly blossomed, fell into decay, changed in borders. And today, even with a reduced area, its splendor has been preserved. Here you can see the majestic temples, whose amazing architecture combines different styles. The park, the Kremlin, which were previously part of the estate, are recognized as separate objects, they are also open to the public.
Altufyevo
The name unites a whole complex of unique museum objects. The owners of the estate changed several times, and similar transformations occurred with its renaming. The place was such a tasty morsel for the Moscow nobles that due to the possession of land, close relatives became bitter enemies.
For many, love for this land simply grew into mania: almost all the owners of Altufyevo entered into marriages of convenience, got into debt, participated in deadly, insane adventures, went for forgeries, just to leave the estate behind.
Today, a house, a church, utility buildings built in classical and Russian styles rise on its territory. The place before the revolution was something like a sanatorium or a recreation center. Wealthy Muscovites, who were in no hurry to acquire villas, had fun in a narrow circle in the dacha village. Maybe you foresaw what would happen next?
In Soviet times, there was a prison in a series of institutions, but the Bolsheviks were in no hurry to destroy the church. Today, the temple is one of the famous places of pilgrimage, where Orthodox priests, who were active in public activities, held services at different times. Part of the territory of the estate has turned into a separate park of culture and recreation.
Sviblovo
Unique place. Legends about him have haunted the minds of Muscovites for centuries. Historians argue furiously about the names of the first owners of the former noble estate. So far, it has been possible to prove for sure that among the owners of these places was one of the friends, associates of Dmitry Donskoy. In honor of that boyar Sviblo, the estate, the Kremlin tower and several other Moscow sights are named. Donskoy's comrade-in-arms was a talented politician, military leader and a typical victim of the struggle for power.
It is symbolic: centuries later, the historian Nikolai Karamzin will write lines dedicated to that dangerous time in this estate. Sviblovo was a place of attraction for strong personalities: from favorites of Catherine the Great to associates and political opponents of Emperor Alexander the Blessed. But the merchants did not favor the estate for its obstinate character.
Merchant people became bankrupt or got into such life circumstances that they urgently sold land and buildings at a loss. A communal apartment, a landfill, a place of fire – all these are pages of the history of Sviblovo. From the former splendor of the estate today there is a temple, a house restored after a fire, parts of outbuildings. The land is owned by the Orthodox Church, access to tourists who want to see the ancient exquisite buildings in the style of classicism and baroque is open.
Srednikovo
The estates of the nobility, like Russian poetry, had their own “golden age”. Two well-known families at different times owned this land: the Vsevolzhsky and the Stolypins. The first served the Orthodox Church, managed industrial enterprises, were in rather complex, confusing distant family relations with the Rurikovichs, the Romanovs. The Stolypins were military leaders, statesmen, talented writers and poets.
Serednikovo entered the history of the “silver age” of Russian literature, because “singers of love, singers of their sorrow” gathered here. Russian artists and composers adored the estate, and more than 130 years ago it was already beginning to lose its magnificence. In Soviet times, Serednikovo suffered greatly, and only in the 90s of the last century did the revival of its former greatness begin with donations from a private foundation.
Today the estate hosts cultural events. Restorers put the buildings in order. The place is a landmark for fans of Pushkin, Lermontov. The majestic architecture of the surviving buildings allows visitors to the museum-estate through the centuries to touch the environment in which the masterpieces of the “golden age” of poetry were created.
Ostafyevo
Another unique place on the map of Russia, connecting the fates of writers and poets of different generations. Today, there is a museum of federal importance, whose employees literally bit by bit collect “traditions of the deep antiquity.” Karamzin, Pushkin, Zhukovsky, Vyazemsky, Griboyedov, Gogol are only a small part of the list of prominent personalities associated with Ostafyevo.
They visited for a short time, lived here for a long time, created immortal masterpieces, argued about the future of Russia, fell in love, turned into sworn enemies. That is life. More than 120 years ago, one of the representatives of the Sheremetev dynasty did the impossible for his time: he opened access to the estate to people from all classes, turned Ostafyevo into a museum in order to pass on to the descendants the collected unique literary and historical heritage.
But later, the Bolsheviks who came to power sold off the personal belongings of writers, poets of the Pushkin era, Sheremetyevo collection items, and masterpieces of Renaissance painting. Enthusiasts managed to save the main house, adjacent buildings, a temple, a park with sculptures of writers and poets of the “golden age” located on its territory from destruction. And the restorers did the impossible: they restored the interior of the rooms of the main house as close as possible to that era.
Tsaritsyno
In an amazing place, according to Muscovites, the ghost of Catherine the Great often appears. 100 hectares of luxury. How else can you call the palace and park ensemble, built on her orders. The imperial residence was built in pseudo-Gothic style. Simply put: a style that existed and did not exist at the same time. Any direction in art has stages: origin, development, peak, extinction, disappearance.
Pseudo-Gothic was invented (created) and tried to “close on itself” by two extraordinary architects: the freemason Bazhenov and the grandson of the former serf Kazakov. The first Tsaritsyno brought disgrace, the second – glorified and opened the door to the elite of society. The death of Catherine the Great, the reign of her son stopped the implementation of a large-scale project.
The grandson of the Empress decided to open a garden in Tsaritsyno – a place of rest for the noble public. But, in fact, the village with a huge palace, park, adjacent buildings began to turn into an ordinary holiday village. Only at the end of the last century, attempts were made to save what little was left of the buildings that survived the Soviet era.
And again a parallel: the objects were restored and not restored. They completed it in the way that Bazhenov could hand over. Or Kazakov? The result is… a luxurious park open around the clock with palaces, grottoes, bridges, monuments, fountains. And, who knows, maybe the Empress would approve of such an option.
Marfino
There is a sanatorium on the estate, but the former noble estate in the Moscow region is open to the public. Almost all of its buildings were erected in pseudo-styles: from the Nikolaev pseudo-Gothic to the Golitsyn baroque, whose existence the architects do not recognize. Marfino takes its visitors to a fictional knightly era: ideal, without the fires of the Inquisition, gloomy castles and dungeons, plague epidemics and the persecution of dissidents.
Disney parks had not yet been born, representatives of the noble families arranged their estate in a spirit close to the creations of Disney. In Marfino, everything looks fabulous: the main house, temples, gazebos, bridges, ponds. The air here is very clean, you can walk along the alleys of the park for hours without getting tired.
It doesn't matter that art historians have heated discussions about the styles of buildings. The main thing: the idea of the owners of the estate to create their own fairy-tale world has not disappeared. Marfino attracts fans of romance, idealizers of the knightly era.
Kolomenskoye
The museum-reserve is often called the hallmark of the capital. According to conservative estimates, the history of Kolomenskoye began 700 years ago. Unique buildings were built here, gardens were planted, defensive structures were erected. Kolomenskoye was repeatedly subjected to fires, the blood of thousands of rebels was shed on the ground.
During the years of Soviet power, unique architectural monuments were destroyed in Kolomenskoye, but the village-estate-estate, like a fabulous phoenix bird, was reborn from the ashes. What is a must-see in Kolomenskoye? House of Peter the Great. Thanks to the Royal Family of the Netherlands for a full size copy of the original. But in the building, which the guides position as a house that belonged to Peter I, the emperor has never been.
Interesting architecture, interior decoration of the palace, mills, towers, gates. Temples are called true pearls of Kolomenskoye. The oldest of the churches is over 400 years old. Famous Orthodox relics are stored in the estate, including the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Sovereign”. It is with her that the prophecy of the famous clairvoyant monk Abel about the fall of the Romanov dynasty is connected.
Vorontsovo
The huge recreational area occupies almost 50 hectares. The trees that grow here are centuries old. The park acquired its modern look almost 15 years ago. Its history is closely connected not only with the Vorontsov dynasty, in whose honor the estate is named. Almost 300 years ago, a new architectural direction appeared in Russia: “under Versailles”. It is still interesting today for its ambitiousness.
The master's house amazes with the splendor and sophistication of the baroque elements of the exterior. And it's brand new. The Vorontsov estate suffered a fate similar to that expected by Tsaritsyno: the estate turned into a holiday village, and under the Bolsheviks it was plundered. And, perhaps, she would have completely disappeared from the map of Moscow, but a miracle saved her.
The usual reconstruction of green spaces in the 80s of the last century attracted the attention of the public, the authorities of the capital to the deplorable state of the monument. The huge house was destroyed in a fire in 1812, the remaining buildings were not enough for a full reconstruction. Only at the beginning of this millennium was it possible to solve this problem.
The temple was in the best condition, its reconstruction was carried out faster. A cascade of picturesque ponds, Chinese and Italian gardens filled with exotic plants, shrubs, and trees have also been restored from scratch.
Abramtsevo
The museum-reserve is often compared to one of the pearls of the Moscow region. Abramtsevo has always been a place of attraction for talented individuals: from Tyutchev, Gogol to Shchepkin, Pogodin, Repin, Chaliapin. One of its owners (manufacturer, philanthropist Mamontov) dreamed that one day the estate would turn into the cultural capital of Russia. The fantastic idea did not come true, but it left a mark in the hearts of Savva Ivanovich's contemporaries.
The estate was given a new status by the Soviet authorities, whose ideologists were supported by Mamontov before the revolution. The industrialist was deprived of everything, but the beloved place of the patron had a chance not to be destroyed. Almost all architectural monuments survived on the territory of the estate, including those built more than 300 years ago. Managed to save the fund of 25,000 unique exhibits, buildings, decorated with skillful carvings.
Open for year-round visits. In it, time for guests stops its inexorable run, transfers to the past, when “the Decembrists woke up Herzen” and the creative elite of the Russian Empire naively believed that if the monarchy was removed, prosperity would immediately come to the country.
“Muranovo” named after F.I. Tyutchev
The Literary and Memorial Museum near Moscow was once the estate of the poet Yevgeny Baratynsky, before that the village belonged to the ancient Russian noble families. A piece of land, together with serfs, in essence, passes from hand to hand to people of the same circle, who are also connected by family ties. But “Muranovo” passed the fate of being divided into parts, lost at cards, sold for debts, as often happened with noble estates.
The leader of the world proletariat V.I. Lenin was one of the first who supported the idea of opening an exposition in the famous estate. Gradually, “Muranovo” acquired the functions of an educational and cultural center, whose activities today are aimed at promoting the achievements of national culture.
Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo
The estate, even when it was in an abandoned state, did not leave creative people indifferent to their fate. The settlement that existed on its territory was on the map of Russia about 500 years ago. He was repeatedly threatened with the fate of total destruction. Under False Dmitry, the estate survived only because its owner changed his political orientation in a timely manner, betrayed his comrades-in-arms, and supported the coming to power of a new dynasty: the Romanovs.
Many generations of the owners of the estate faithfully served the crowned persons, including Peter the Great. Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo was a real family nest, from where the nobles began their military, political, and social careers. Notes of various
styles sound in the external and internal decoration of the buildings.
An amazing fact: the Streshnevs, with all their wealth and closely related ties with the Romanovs, did not spoil their children, they raised them in Spartan conditions. And opposite the estate before the revolution there was an elite holiday village, where one of the houses belonged to the famous doctor Botkin, who was shot along with the family of the last Russian emperor.
Nowadays, it would be correct to call the estate a recreational area, and not a forest park. This is a favorite vacation spot for guests and residents of the capital.
Museum-estate of L.N. Tolstoy in Khamovniki
It is crowded here at any time of the year, because there is no such unique exposition anywhere in the world. At the initiative of the leader of the world proletariat V.I. Lenin's manor complex has turned into a museum of international level. Before the Tolstoy family, this land has changed many owners, but the magic of the place is such that even nobles with the manners of martinets tried to come up with something original to decorate the estate.
Leo Tolstoy admitted in his memoirs that he was horrified by how industry was changing the unique nature of the Moscow region. In his beloved estate, he created immortal works, tried to the best of his ability to improve the quality of life of common people, to save green spaces. The rooms of the museum today look as if the Tolstoy family never left them. The writer's house-museum has long turned into a cult place for fans of his work.
Lublino
A quiet harbor near Moscow, where everything reminds of the enormous wealth of the princely families. Most of the buildings of 300 years ago survived. The picturesque place has a special cosiness. Most of the people who owned this land were very happy in their family life. Maybe because the estate is named after the wife of one of the Prozorsky princes. Flowers, jewelry, compliments appear, disappear, but such romantic sweet deeds remain for centuries.
Several houses, a theater, a theater school, greenhouses. All this was built on a grand scale. On the territory of the estate, rare species of fish were bred, various varieties of pineapples were grown. Later, dachas were built here, but only rich people could afford to rest there. Lyublino has never been famous for its democratic traditions.
For some reason, the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky liked its atmosphere, he here with great pleasure stopped to rest, created his immortal works. Today, the quiet place is experiencing the beginning of a new heyday and is turning into the Theater City.
Trubetskoy Manor in Khamovniki
Compared to other Moscow estates, the estate in Khamovniki seems tiny. toy, undignified. There is a popular children's park here. For many, it is associated with modernity, but the age of the estate is estimated at 4 hundred centuries. The Trubetskoys invested enormous amounts of money to turn the place in Khamovniki into a luxurious area for everyday recreation, a place of recuperation.
Alexander Pushkin admired this corner of the Moscow region, Russian Masons performed secret rituals here, the Decembrists developed plans to overthrow the Romanovs. For the Soviet authorities, the village was of no value. The site gradually turned into a huge dump, and then it was decided to equip a children's park with various attractions at this place.
20 years ago, the original Trubetskoy house was destroyed by fire. Thanks to photographs, drawings, engravings, specialists restored the building. But this is a brand new one. Its concrete structures have only an external resemblance to the elements of the house-palace, where, as Muscovites say, the ghosts of the Decembrists lived.
Manor of the Saltykov-Chertkovs
A very mysterious luxurious place, about which there are a lot of conflicting legends. There are versions that the unique library located here contained maps of treasures buried almost in the time of Ivan the Terrible. Yes, and the owner of the estate, Alexei Chertkov, was too bright a personality. He alone has done more for the preservation of historical monuments, more unique exhibits than any modern research institute.
The doors of the unique library of the archaeologist and collector were open to Pushkin, Zhukovsky, Gogol and other people of art. Less is known about the representatives of the Saltykov dynasty, but there are historical documents confirming the fact: they invested a lot of money in the prosperity of the estate and (unheard of in those days!) tried to make it profitable.
Under Soviet rule, the estate fell into decay and flourished again. Not the last role here was played by the shooting of films that became masterpieces of the cinema art of the USSR. First of all, we are talking about the famous TV series “17 Moments of Spring”. The homestead survived.
The pale blue building of the main palace-house seems to be floating in the air. And inside it mixed elements of various styles. Therefore, finding yourself in huge rooms, halls, you can simply get lost in time and space. There is here the luxury of the Catherine's era, Moorish palaces, elements of baroque, classicism, gothic. Everything is different, eclectic, but at the same time has not lost its harmony.
Vlaherna-Kuzminki
A place with a musical name attracted, like a magnet, representatives of various noble families. The main owners of the estate were the Golitsyns and the Stroganovs. Representatives of each dynasty equipped the picturesque place, which was once a wasteland, to their taste. But fate has its own plans and a sense of humor: Muscovites did not name land ownership in honor of the nobles, but in memory of the unknown Kuzma. Either a miller, or a tramp, or a princely combatant.
There is a legend: the expression about that Kuzka's mother appeared in Russia exactly here, when a woman with a tough character, who killed robbers in the wasteland, was in charge of the mill. The true heyday of Kuzminki began under Peter the Great, who granted this place to the Stroganovs. The latter intermarried with the ancient noble family of the Golitsyns, and later the estate turned into a favorite vacation spot for representatives of the Romanov dynasty.
Balls, intrigues, betrayals, forbidden vicious pleasures, support of butovchikov, traitors – one side of the life of the estate. Patriotism, self-sacrifice, devotion to the imperial house, crazy love to the grave, revenge on the enemies of the Fatherland until the last breath is another. The Soviet authorities tried to erase the memory of the former owners of Kuzminki: they set up laboratories here. But you can't fool fate.
Today, the estate hosts unique exhibitions dedicated to the culture of noble estates, famous princely families, and a children's museum center has been opened. The only negative: most of the buildings are modern replicas of those incredibly luxurious palaces.
Dubrovitsy
A cozy place near Moscow in guidebooks is called the Golitsyn estate, thereby confusing travelers. Why? The princely family owned a large number of estates, they subsequently changed owners, and the memory of the first owners remained. To understand the level of architecture and art of Dubrovits, just look at the Church of the Sign. Its splendor fascinates, the details of the external, internal decoration can be contemplated for hours, forgetting about everything.
The Romanovs' estate was repeatedly taken away from the Golitsyns for obstinacy, and then the imperial family forgave the rebels and returned their property to them. For the right to own this land, blood relatives were ready to kill each other, not shying away from denunciations, bribing judges. And here the artist Sokolov created his immortal witty postcards (they have long been equal in price to diamonds among collectors).
During the years of Soviet power, the former owners of the estate were left beggars and they tried to arrange a museum of landlord life here. She failed miserably. Everything fell into decay, and only relatively recently the long-term restoration of the main attractions of the estate was crowned with success. Anyone can see the park area, the church, the restaurant on the territory of the estate. Outsiders are not allowed into the scientific library located in the Golitsin Palace.
Manor Muravyov-Apostolov
One of the iconic places for Russian history. In the mansion, built in the style of classicism, the Decembrists made their plans. Many documents relating to those days were destroyed personally by representatives of the Romanov dynasty. The Soviet authorities later tried to present the Decembrists as heroes, but the works of the rebels anticipated the Stalinist terror and fascist massacres of civilians combined.
At the time of the KGB, the surviving documents were strictly classified so that the citizens of the Soviet state would not have unnecessary questions. The Decembrists advocated the complete annihilation of everyone who did not agree with their policies, including children and women, the introduction of total surveillance in the state, and many other innovations that even from the point of view of the autocracy seemed crazy.
During the years of Soviet power, the chic building fell into disrepair, and after the collapse of the USSR, the distant descendants of the Decembrists decided to revive the estate and arrange a museum of the Decembrists here. Such an irony of fate, but thanks to it, Muscovites, guests of the capital, have the opportunity to get acquainted with unique exhibits, enjoy classical music concerts, and visit exhibitions of unique works of art from private collections.
Stroganov's dacha on the Yauza
A piece of paradise with a magnificent Empire style house is beautiful at any time of the year. This amazing place was owned by representatives of the Stroganov dynasty and the once strong and numerous merchant family of the Alekseevs. From the western part of the house there is a stunning view of the Yauza River. The dacha park was once cozy and small (its beauty can be judged from the surviving pre-revolutionary images).
Externally, the building remained the same as under the Stroganovs, but inside there are no those luxurious interiors. And the servants lived here in luxurious (even from the point of view of modern ideas about millionaires' villas) conditions. The manor park was destroyed in Soviet times, but the place still attracts tourists. Outsiders are not allowed into the house, but the external examination leaves an indelible impression.
The estate of Vorontsov-Dashkov
A picturesque place in the Moscow region traditionally attracts travelers of all ages. Here and today the spirit of the Nikolaev era reigns. There is something in the estate from which the owners of this land tried to hide, to run away. The splendor of the buildings could not replace the personal happiness of the nobles. The representatives of the noble dynasties Vorontsov, Izmailov, Ilyin had everything. Almost all.
After all, they paid for the right to a short family happiness with a career and the loss of loved ones. During the years of Soviet power, Bykovo was plundered. From the estate “unidentified persons” took out everything, including finishing stones. The level of destruction of monuments has reached incredible proportions. The fact that there were tuberculosis patients here did not stop anyone.
Then the almost destroyed buildings were transferred to the state in federal ownership. Today, architects and restorers have been given the task of restoring the estate in 7 years. It is clear that all these will be “copies of that greatness”, but there is still a chance to restore the beauty of the temple and the main house of the old estate.
Pokrovskoe-Valuevo
One of the few Moscow estates that was almost not plundered during the years of Soviet power. This land was owned by Musin-Pushkin, who is more commonly referred to as a learned nobleman. But he was a member of the Masonic lodge, did not shy away from intrigues. The Decembrists developed their plans here. Before the revolution, the architectural complex changed owners several times and began to fall into decay.
Soviet sweetness gave the estate a second life by organizing a sanatorium here. The manor is still its location today. At the same time, films and series are being filmed in it. This tradition also originated in Soviet times. External, internal decoration of all buildings remains virtually unchanged. This can also be seen on the frames of Soviet film masterpieces: the films “Hussar Ballad”, “War and Peace”.
The palace, the magnificent park, the fortress theatre, huge outbuildings, magnificent portraits on the walls, exquisite interior items… Everything remained unchanged, as if the former owners never left the estate.
Belaya Dacha
A romantic place associated with the name of Catherine the Great. There are legends: the ghosts of her favorites appear here. It attracts tourists rather than scares them away. In reality, the manor house belonged to the noble family of the Arshenevskys. Here they spent the last years of their lives after many years of labor for the glory of the Fatherland.
The nobles organized the laying of gardens, the construction of ponds, pavilions, terraces. It was a family passion for landscaping, when people simply created beauty around them. The tradition was continued by representatives of other families who owned Belaya Dacha. In Soviet times, there was one of the best state farms in the USSR, where distinguished foreign guests were brought on excursions.
The Soviet Union collapsed, and everything began to decline. Today, faceless high-rise buildings reign on the territory of the former estate, but the brainchild of the Arshenevskys holds on. There is a museum in the main house, part of the ponds and a small park area have been preserved nearby. And most importantly: at Belaya Dacha, the church bells of the church built about 10 years ago are ringing again.
Voronovo
Many of the estate's buildings were just lucky they weren't blown up or taken apart brick by brick. This is a mystical place on the map of Russia, the most incredible legends circulate about it. Voronovo in 1812 was burned by the French who invaded Moscow, but the owner of the estate, as if possessed, found craftsmen, a lot of money, so that everything could be restored without the slightest change.
Among the owners of the estate are the descendants of Dmitry Donskoy's comrade-in-arms, who, as the chronicles testified, was a werewolf, an idle (actually: a beggar) prince. And that's not it. The Romanovs several times took the estate to the treasury under plausible pretexts, and then immediately got rid of it. Cause? In the crowned family, a series of strange deaths immediately began.
But Masons, Decembrists, and all sorts of rebels felt comfortable in Voronovo. The large and small house, the temple, the stable on the estate have been perfectly preserved to this day. Baroque, eclecticism, Peter's style… An amazing mix of elements of the interior and exterior decoration of buildings is beautiful. And there is something else in it mystical, rebellious.
Dunino
The place is closely connected with the name of the great Russian, Soviet writer Prishvin. He lived here for only 8 years, but this time was enough to create works that are still read today by fans of classical literature in different parts of the world. The main attraction of the estate: the house-museum of the writer. Harmony, silence and the atmosphere of Switzerland reign in it. In Dunino, even the climate is slightly different: more even, softer.
The name of Prishvin saved the estate from destruction, and also the intervention of famous Soviet writers, composers, theater figures, favored at the state level. You can't forbid living beautifully. The Soviet elite lived more than luxuriously. This is evidenced by the personal belongings of the writer and his cars (That's right, in the plural).
Zakharovo
A corner of the Moscow region remembers the mischievous little Sasha Pushkin. Previously, the estate belonged to several well-known noble families, but guides rarely remember them, and they were very worthy representatives of the Russian nobility. But everyone knows about little Pushkin. The village of Zakharovo was owned by the poet's grandmother: a woman of strong temper, of an iron character, who knew how to equally passionately love, revenge and hate.
The modern manor house in Zakharovo is a remake. The Soviet government did not particularly appreciate the estate, and later politicians near Moscow were not up to it. But the exhibits here are the real ones. It is not a fact that they belonged to Sashenka, but these things were definitely in noble families. Zakharovo today plays the role of a cultural center, whose programs are mainly addressed to children.
Ivanovskoe
On the territory of pre-revolutionary Russia, there were many places with this name, which belonged to the nobility. Moscow region Ivanovskoye is surrounded by high-rise buildings, but the estate benefits from this, because … the results of the “creativity” of the vandals are not so noticeable. The museum complex is left with tiny fragments of the former decoration of the main house and outbuildings.
But, even after the total ruin, the huge mansion looks impressive. Part of it is reflected in the river and resembles a Venetian villa. Massive exterior elements create a feeling of solemnity. Balls and secret amorous dates were once held here, politicians decided the fate of Russia, started multi-way combinations to strengthen the position of the state in the international arena.
The first wave of ruin overtook the owners of the mansion before the revolution. Muscovites were still talking about the curse of one of the Tolstoy counts. The nobleman forbade descendants and any persons living in the house to engage in trade, to communicate closely with those who are lower in rank and estate.