Moscow and the Region Estate and Preserves

 

ABRAMTSEVO

 
Historical, art and literary museum and nature preserve, a former country estate.

 In 1843 the estate became the property of the writer Aksakov; in 1870 it was bought by the famous patron of the arts Savva Mamontov, who formed a group of talented artists, singers, and musicians.

  

 Ceramics and carpenter’s shops, a sculptor’s studio, Church of the Vernicle, and structures in the Russian style, designed by members of the Mamontov group.

    

Segiyev Posad District.

take Yarosalvskoye Shosse or train from the Yaroslavsky Railroad Station for Abramtsevo

 

 

 ARKHANGELSKOYE

Palace and park ensemble of the 18th-19th cent., former country estate of the Yusupov Princes.

Collection of West European and Russian painting of the 17th-19th cent., Italian drawings, bronze articles of the 18th-19th cent. Collection of porcelain (1818-1838) of the Yusupov Plant; ceramics, porcelain and faience by leading producers; Gzhel. Concerts. Horseback riding & horse shows.

Krasnogorsk District.  M: Tushinskaya, bus 549 or shuttle taxi 151. www.arkhangelskoe.ru

 

 

KOLOMENSKOYE


The State Historical, Architectural and Landscape Museum of Kolomenskoye is located in the south of Moscow. Kolomenskoye was particularly important during the reign of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century and Alexey Mikhailovich in the 17th century. The unique architectural ensemble was built at this period. The dominant structure at Kolomenskoy is the Church of the Ascension. In the 16th century it served as a summer church for the tsar’s family. It was erected to mark a momentous event – the birth of a long-awaited heir to the Russian throne, the future Ivan IV, called Ivan the Terrible. The church reaches a height of 62 m.


KUSKOVO


Kuskovo is first mentioned as the country estate of the boyar V.Sheremetyev at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1918 private land was nationalized and the last owner relinquished the estate to the Soviet government. The entire territory of Kuskovo became part of the south-eastern region of Moscow in 1960.

The famous palace ensemble and park appeared in the second half of the 18th century.

Count Pyotr Sheremetyev, an important member of the nobility at the Russian Imperial Court, state functionary and collector of art and antiquities was its first owner. Count Sheremetyev had the mansion built not just as a recreational summer residence, but as a focus for different art forms appreciated by experts and connoiseurs. A large part of his vast collection of fine and applied art was dsplayed here. Kuskovo is the oldest park on the outskirts of Moscow, although what remains is only part of the sweeping expanse that was once the pride of the Sheremetyevs.

The regular French-style park was laid out in the 1750s – 1760s and featured pavilions, a conservatory and a collection of marble sculpture. Kuskovo was visited by Catherine the Great on several occasions. Up to 25 000 guests would flock here to lavish celebrations. The count decreed that the park should be open to the public in the summer months.

In 1932 the Porcelain Museum was transferred here. Today it has a unique collection of ceramics produced by Russian and foreign factories from the 15th to 20th centuries and numbering 18 000 items.

 

 

KUZMINKI


Kuzminki – museum of Russian Country Estate Culture. The country estate of Baron Stroganov, aide to Peter the Great, of the Counts Stroganov (17th -18th cent.), and Princes Golitsyn (18th-19th cent.); the Church of Our Lady of Blachernes in austere late classical style; a landscape park. Exhibitions: “Reminiscences of Moscow: Country House Idyll”; “Traditions of Home Education in 19th-century Russia” (paintings, rare books, decorative items); “Stable Yards at Country Estates” (coachmen’s tales; reconstruction of prince’s mews and coach yard; the history of transport and vehicles at the turn of the 20th cent.); “Heroes and Images”, illustrative graphics by Mikhail Petrov. Fancy-dress stylized tours; walking tours around the park.

 6 Topolyovaya Alleya.  M: Ryazansky Prospekt, bus 29, or M: Kuzminki, trolleybus 38.  

 

NEW IERUSALEM MONASTERY


New jerusalem resurrection monastery – unique 17th-cent. architectural and park monument on the Istra River.

Conceived by Patriarch Nikon as Russian Palestine, an image of the Holy Land with the exact copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher with its topography and relics. Collection of ancient icons & paintings; porcelain by famous Russian and West European firms. Open-air museum of wooden architecture. Tea Room (pies, tea from a samovar) on Sa&Su. Restaurant.

2 Ul. Sovetskaya, Istra. Take Volokolamskoye Shosse or train from the Rizhsky Railway Station to Istra or Novoiyerusalimskaya stations, then by bus.

 

 

OSTANKINO


Ostankino – a unique estate dating from the late 18th century, a residence of Counts Sheremetev, includes a wooden palace & theater, a recreation park, church from the late 17th cent., and “Arbor on Parnassus”, recreated according to 18th-cent. drawings. Open to public: Interiors of Western Palace Wing & park.

 5 Ul. 1st Ostankinskaya.  M: VDNKh, trams 11 or 17.

 

SERGIEV PASAD

 


Sergiyev-Posad history and art museum & preserve - located on the premises of the operating Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius.

Rich collection of 14th-20th-century Russian art based on the monastery’s treasures. Archeological findings excavated in the adjacent area, materials on the history of the monastery (laura).

Theme excursions, stylized program Let’s Perform Russian Wedding.

123 Prosp. Krasnoy Armii. Take Yaroslavsky Railroad Station for Sergiyev Posad.

 

TSARITSINO


Tsaritsyno is a historical museum of art and architecture in a landscaped park. The picturesque palace ensemble and park at Tsaritsyno, in the south-eastern outskirts of Moscow, date from the second half of the 18th century.

In 1775 Catherine the Great decided to build a residence here, from that time onwards the area was caled Tsaritsyno. Design and construction of the ensemble was entrusted to the eminent Rusian architect Vasily Bazhenov. The idea of creating an estate in the Romantic style was realized in an architectural ensemble that obeyed the strict laws of Classicism.

By using the forms of ancient Russian architecture, stylizing them and adapting them to a new environment. Bazhenov created a novel architectural and environmental ensemble. Contemporaries enthused at the work of the great Bazhenov. But fate struck and condemned the estate for the next two centuries.

Catherine the Great was displeased with the palace and ordered it to be completely demolished. Modern historians believe Catherine was angered by Bazheknov’s intimacy with “freethinkers” and the Masonic followers of Paul, heir to the throne. In 1927 a museum was opened in the estate.