Kuskovo Manor in Moscow is a magnificent example of architecture and landscape design of the 18th century. The architectural and park ensemble consists of several parts representing different European styles (English, French, Italian, Dutch). The center of the composition is the palace of the Sheremetevs. It preserved the old furnishings – furniture, decor items, works of art. There are 2 museums on the territory of the estate, which attract numerous visitors.
Construction history
The Sheremetev family has long owned the territory on which Kuskovo is located. The name of the residence is mentioned in chronicle documents as early as the 16th century. According to records dating back to the 20s of the 17th century. in Kuskovo there was a boyar estate, surrounded by the dwellings of serfs. Among the buildings there was also a wooden church. The name of the settlement comes from the word “piece”, since the land owned by the Sheremetevs was surrounded on all sides by the lands of the Cherkassy. The daughter of A.M. Cherkassky married Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetyev. As a dowry, she got the lands around Kuskovo. Thus, the manor became the center of a vast estate.
In the middle of the 18th century (1750-70s) P. Sheremetiev decided to rebuild his residence and give it the features of a style called “Elizabethian Baroque”. To this end, it was planned to modify the appearance of the palace, lay out a park, create artificial reservoirs, decorate the territory with various architectural forms and works of art. To create a project for the reconstruction of Kuskovo, serf master architects Alexei Mironov and Fyodor Argunov were involved. Under their leadership, the building of the palace was equipped (1774). A feature of its layout was the single-axis arrangement of the premises. All rooms stretched one after another, along a single line.
As conceived by the owner, Kuskovo was supposed to play the role of a country complex designed to receive and entertain guests. For this purpose, recreation areas (arbors, pavilions, grottoes) and all kinds of attractions were created:
At the same time, the residence could receive over 30 thousand people.
The last owner of Kuskovo was S.D. Sheremetiev. Immediately after the 1917 revolution, the estate was nationalized by the Soviet government and in 1919 acquired the status of a museum. At the end of the 30s. on its territory there is a collection of ceramics. Since then, both museums have coexisted together. In the early 60s. the district of the village of Veshnyaki, to which the Kuskovo estate belongs, turned out to be within the boundaries of Moscow.
Architectural ensemble
Compositionally, the space of the estate was divided into 3 parts:
- Palace surrounded by a French park
- Menagerie with artificial ponds
- English park
The building of the palace, otherwise known as the Big House, was built according to the project of the architect K. Blanc, a recognized master of the Baroque style. In its original form, the house was built of wood, which was covered with a layer of pale pink plaster on top. The facade was decorated with columns. Above them was the family emblem of the Sheremetevs. Porticos on the sides were decorated with carvings in the form of various military accessories. The army decor was supposed to remind of the field marshal rank of Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev.
The house had 2 floors, performing their own functions:
The palace is separated from the rest of the estate by the Big Pond. Various small structures were erected on the Zaprudnaya territory. They were intended to entertain visitors. The buildings included:
To serve the needs of the owners and guests, a kitchen in the wing, a barn for carriages, and a dryer were intended. In addition, a separate building was occupied by the manager. The estate had its own church, equipped with a bell tower. A special group is formed by buildings located in the park area. Each of them represented a certain direction in architecture. The premises were used for receiving guests.
Big house
The Summer Palace was built according to the basic requirements of the classical style. It is characterized by the solemn decor of the premises, the use of numerous works of art (paintings, sculptures) as decorations. Comfortable conditions (plank floors, fireplaces, lighting devices) are combined with decoration elements (stucco molding, carving, painting).
Masters of various specialties worked on the creation of the Big House – sculptors, artists, carvers. They were led by the talented architect Karl Ivanovich Blank, a representative of the Moscow architectural school. Thanks to the efforts of museum workers, the interiors of the Sheremetyev Palace in Kuskovo have been preserved in their original form. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, they were extensively restored. Visitors have a unique opportunity to touch the creations of the masters of the 18th century.
Italian house
An excellent example of South European architecture is the pavilion called the Italian House. It was erected in the 50s of the 18th century. The famous diplomat and connoisseur of Western art Yuri Ivanovich Kologrivov acted as the direct curator of the construction. He spent many years traveling around Europe in search of rare things. Trained as an architect in Rome.
The project of the Italian House developed by Kologrivov provided for the arrangement of 2 floors:
dutch house
In contrast to the splendor of the Italian pavilion, the Dutch house demonstrates simplicity and modesty. Its decoration repeats the traditional appearance of the Dutch dwellings of the 17th century. The main decorative element is ceramic tiles, which were used to cover the premises. Over 10,000 tiles made in Delft and Rotterdam were used to decorate the building.
Interior decoration consists of a rich collection of porcelain items: figurines, dishes, vases, tulips. In addition, the pavilion houses the only collection of fake figurines in Russia. In front of the house, a corner of Holland was recreated with a kitchen garden, a garden, pavilions. The building was built in 1749 and has survived to this day unchanged.
Pavilion “Grotto”
The arrangement of the Grotto on the estate was entrusted to the German master Johann Focht. The process took more than 10 years (1761 – 1775). The artificial structure was supposed to reproduce the interior of a real grotto as accurately as possible. For this purpose, natural materials were used: tuff of different shades (pink, yellow, white), shells.
The atmosphere of the underwater kingdom is imitated with the help of skillfully executed images of fish, molluscs, marine life. Inside the grotto is divided into 3 parts:
The real “highlight” of the pavilion is dolls made of clay and wood, decorated with shells. They were acquired by Count Sheremetyev in Europe at the end of the 18th century and are genuine rarities. To emphasize the connection of the Grotto with the water element, a pond with fish was equipped near it.
Pavilion Hermitage
The Hermitage pavilion was created for solitude and reflection. In it, guests could hold tete-a-tete meetings. However, the count made his Hermitage accessible only to a limited circle of close people. The small building had 2 floors. The servants were housed below, meals were being prepared. A special device for lifting food was equipped.
Design of manor parks
The park zone of Kuskovo is divided into several parts. They reflect the main features inherent in the landscape design of France and England. The only French park in Russia that has remained unchanged has existed for more than 200 years. It is decorated with numerous sculptural compositions. There are flower beds everywhere. Rare ornamental plants were collected in greenhouses.
Pavilions scattered across the territory organically fit into the landscape – the Dutch and Italian houses, the Hermitage, the Grotto. The English Guy is in many ways similar to the natural landscape, which is complemented by picturesque bridges and pavilions. Here is the House of Solitude, where the count's family lived. There was also a menagerie with wild animals and an aviary.
Homestead today
For almost 100 years, the Kuskov estate has had the status of a museum. This is a wonderful monument of the history and culture of the Russian people. Visitors can see the interiors of the premises, walk along the paths of the park area, and visit the Museum of Ceramics. A greenhouse was used to house the expositions. It presents portraits of prominent personalities from the Sheremetev family. The valuable collection of porcelain and ceramics is of great interest to the public.
The Kuskovo estate has repeatedly become a film set for popular films and TV series. Filming took place on the estate:
Opening hours and ticket prices
You can visit the estate from Wednesday to Sunday. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday. In addition, a sanitary day is held every month on the last Wednesday. The Museum of Ceramics is open to the public from May to September. The Grotto Pavilion is currently under restoration.
The exact schedule of work is presented on the official website of the Kuskovo Estate.
|
An object |
Time to visit |
| Palace, Italian house, Dutch house | 10-16 hours |
| Hermitage, American greenhouse, Large stone greenhouse | 10-18 hours |
| Park area | 10-18 hours |
The cost of entrance tickets to different objects is different. There are reduced rates for pensioners and schoolchildren. For inpatient students – free of charge.
|
Object for inspection |
adults |
Pensioners and schoolchildren |
| Castle | 250 | one hundred |
| dutch house | one hundred | 50 |
| Italian house | one hundred | 50 |
| Hermitage | 150 | 50 |
| Large stone greenhouse | 150 | one hundred |
| american greenhouse | 150 | one hundred |
| entrance to the park | 50 | 50 |
Where is it located and how to get there
The address of the estate is Moscow, st. Yunosti d. 2.
There are several ways to get around.
Metro: