Unfortunately, the fate of most ancient estates in Moscow and its environs is very sad - during the revolution and after it they were destroyed and looted. But among them there are those that have survived in their original form, thereby preserving the historical memory of their creators and owners. And now these ancient estates are real treasures of the capital’s metropolis, because everything here “breathes” many years of history. Let's take a walk through some of them... “Treasured alleys of noble nests. Forgotten garden. Half-overgrown pond. How good, how familiar everything is here!... The night darkened. The murmur of leaves is barely audible. Behind the grove the enamel of the moon glows slightly. And sadness arises in the young heart. And someone’s strange, sad whisper is heard. Someone at this hour feels sorry for something” (K.D. Balmont) “In 1917, the agony began... The houses were empty, the white columns collapsed. The paths of the parks were overgrown with grass... The lions on the gates peeled off and fell into shapeless pieces... In ten years a grandiose necropolis was created. It contains the culture of two centuries. ... And there is no tombstone over the necropolis.” A.N. Grech “A Wreath for Estates” But let’s not talk about sad things... If earlier many estates were built several miles from the city, now they have entered the boundaries of Moscow and have become part of the capital, its city parks.
Kuzminki Estate
Kuzminki, one of the largest estates, has the most interesting landscape and architectural ensemble Moscow. The history of this estate, which is more than 300 years old, is associated with such famous names, like the Barons Stroganovs and Princes Golitsyns. At the end of the 18th century, a huge English park was laid out here, the very first landscape park in Moscow, which was looked after by about 300 gardeners and designers. Moreover, many of them were discharged from abroad. The largest part of the estate was allocated for this park. The peculiarity of the English park is that it creates the illusion of natural nature, as if you are in the forest. 
English Park Hood. I.N. Rauch Such a park cannot be spoiled, it can only be cut down, which is why it continues to delight its visitors today. At the beginning of the 19th century, the owner of the estate, Prince Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn, undertook a radical reconstruction of it, which he succeeded in doing very well. 
Portrait of Prince S.M. Golitsyn. Hood. V. A. Tropinin The refined style of the renovated buildings and the grandiose park with exceptionally well-groomed territory delighted contemporaries. It is not for nothing that they began to call it Moscow Pavlovsk or Russian Versailles. 
I.N. Rauch. View of the manor house from the side of the pond The Golitsyns owned iron foundries, and real masterpieces were cast there to decorate the estate - unique gates, fences, benches, figures of lions and griffins. Also on the territory of the estate, monuments to Peter I, Maria Feodorovna and Nicholas I were erected. 
Unfortunately, the main building of the Golitsyn estate, which burned down in 1916, was not preserved in its original form; a new one was built on the old foundation in 1930. 
The Lord's House Today Kuskovo Estate
The Sheremetevs, being very rich people, were among the first among the Moscow nobility to acquire a summer country residence in the 18th century. Intended for receptions and balls, it was distinguished by luxury and pomp. Construction was carried out according to the designs of the best architects of that time - Karl Blank and Yuri Kologrivov. The main work here was carried out under Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev. 
The basis of this beautiful estate is a perfectly preserved French park with ponds, covering an area of more than 30 hectares. It is decorated with numerous marble sculptures and original pavilions. 
Moscow nobles loved to come to the Sheremetevs, sometimes the number of guests reached 30 thousand. Guests were always welcome here, and there were “countless joys and amenities” for them; the estate also had its own theater, which rivaled even the imperial one. The architectural complex of the estate consists of a Palace, two houses, Italian and Dutch, pavilions - “Grotto”, “Greenhouse”, “Hermitage” and the Church of the All-Merciful Savior. The magnificent Palace, built of wood, has retained its original layout and rich interior. The palace is plastered on top of the wood and painted in a delicate pink color. 
The most unusual building in Kuskovo is the Hermitage, a two-story building with an elevator. Here Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev, the son of Pyotr Borisovich, often met with his favorite, the serf actress Praskovya Zhemchugova, whose love story is known to many. Servants on the ground floor set the table for them and sent him upstairs in the elevator. Subsequently, the count married Praskovya, and she became the full-fledged mistress of the estate. 
Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev Kolomenskoye Estate
The Kolomenskoye estate, located in the south of the capital, is spread over a vast area of 390 hectares. There is a vast park here overlooking the Moscow River embankment, and there is also an untouched virgin forest. Kolomenskoye is also famous for its famous gardens; in addition, Peter’s oaks, whose age reaches 600 years, have been preserved here. According to legend, young Peter, the future Russian emperor, learned to read and write under their shade. 
Gardens in Kolomenskoye Kolomenskoye has long served as the patrimony of Moscow rulers; Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich especially loved to be here. During his reign, unique antiques were brought here from all over the country. wooden buildings. For himself, Alexey Mikhailovich built a bright and colorful wooden palace- a fairy tale of 270 rooms, which many contemporaries called the eighth wonder of the world. In 1775, Catherine II commissioned the architect Vasily Bazhenov to build a royal residence here. The wooden palace of Alexei Mikhailovich, which had become dilapidated by that time, was dismantled and a new one was erected in its place, which also did not survive. However, they did not have time to complete the work, which lasted for several years. In connection with the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, the court moved to the city on the Neva, funding for construction practically ceased and the estate began to fall into disrepair. In 1990, work began on the restoration of this estate, its architectural monuments. Using the surviving drawings, it was even possible to restore the famous palace of Alexei Mikhailovich. And now under open air here it is a real museum wooden architecture. 
Palace of Alexei Mikhailovich Tsaritsyno Estate
Construction work on the construction of a residence for Catherine II began here in the 70s of the 18th century. The empress attracted the famous architect Vasily Bazhenov to the work, approving the plan he presented for the future estate, which was drawn up taking into account all her wishes. Ten years later, when the construction of the estate was nearing completion, Catherine II came to look at the work and was dissatisfied with it. Bazhenov was removed and another architect, Matvey Fedorovich Kazakov, had to complete the construction of the residence. But after the empress died, all work was stopped. And only in the 90s of the last century a radical restoration of this estate began, ending in 2007. At the same time, many buildings were restored practically from ruins. Now palace and park ensemble Tsaritsyno - most beautiful place holiday capital with magnificent palace, reminiscent fairytale castle, a picturesque park and the famous Tsaritsyn ponds... 
The history of the Russian noble estate goes back about six centuries. Villages Ancient Rus' were the prototype of the future patrimonial estate; the house of the most prosperous owner stood separately in them. Estate construction developed under Peter I, who donated lands to his associates. The Russian noble estate embodied the dream of their owners to create their own world with special traditions, rituals, morals, a specific type of farming, a schedule of everyday life and holidays. For several centuries, the main events in the life of a nobleman were connected with the estate, so its structure was thought out to the smallest detail. Very often, manor houses were painted yellow and had white columns. This combination spoke of the wealth of the owner (he was personified by the yellow color, reminiscent of gold) and his spirituality (the white columns demonstrated the desire for light). The gray facades indicated that their owner was a philosopher and was seeking to retire from active life and society. The red color on the facade spoke of the active nature of the owner, his confidence and authority. The greenery of gardens and parks demonstrated joy, health and success. The built world of the noble estate was isolated and separated by a lattice fence, a stone wall, and, when the surrounding landscape allowed, by lakes, ravines and ditches. In addition to the ceremonial elements - the manor house and parks - the noble estates also had “economies” (the term was used since the 18th century and meant the outbuildings of the estate: horse and cattle yards, barns, greenhouses and greenhouses), which were built in the same style as the house and park
“Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility” or “On the Granting of Liberty and Freedom to the Entire Russian Nobility” is a decree of Peter III of February 18 (March 1), 1762, which exempted the nobility from compulsory public service.
The heyday of noble estates occurred in the mid-18th and early 19th centuries. Estates were built around Moscow and in the provinces. After the release of the “Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility,” construction covered almost the entire European part of Russia. As a result, after 1762, owners of large, medium and small estates began to actively develop their estates. In the architecture of the Russian noble estate of Elizabethan times, Baroque aesthetics was popular. The facades were painted in blue, green, red, yellow shades. By the middle of the 18th century, the layout of estates became regular with axial construction and symmetry. An example of a noble estate of that time is Yasenevo, where during the Lopukhins’ time a manor house with outbuildings was built. In Kuskovo, Count Sheremetev decorated the park with pavilions and gazebos, bridges, monuments, and sculptures.
After the release of the manifesto, large estate complexes were built in the suburbs of Moscow: Bratsevo, Vasilyevskoye (Mamonova Dacha), Kuntsevo, Znamenskoye-Sadki, Neskuchnoye, Lyublino, Ostankino, Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo, Ochakovo, Uzkoye, Troekurovo, Cheryomushki, most of which were built in classicism style. Some estates used neo-Gothic elements - for example, in the Mikhalkov estate (the estate was built in the 16th century, then rebuilt), the main entrance to Vorontsovo, and the economic complex in Cheryomushki. The imperial residences - estates - Petrovsky Palace and Tsaritsyno became examples of Russian neo-Gothic.
Gradually, regular French classicism in the design of a noble estate was replaced by English landscape classicism. Sometimes in a Russian noble estate, as, for example, in Kuzminki, landscape and regular design were combined. After the War of 1812, new noble estates were rarely built; the owners of the estates limited themselves to the restoration and repair of old buildings. Some estates were actively being built. For example, Kuzminki, where buildings were built in the Empire style.
But, basically, in the 19th century, the estates were restored and completed in the classicist style, which was reflected in the columns, porticos, sculptures, and facade pediments. Russian noble estates have always formed a single ensemble; in addition, they never had a fortification purpose, since the nobility did not conduct military operations among themselves. Now in fashion is the construction of country residences in the style of a noble estate with houses with classical elements and park or garden areas in a regular or landscape style. As an example of a modern mansion, which can stand alone or be a house in an estate, we can cite the building of a private cottage in Tyumen with elements of a classical style:
Thematic selections of the Architecture section
In the shade of dense alleys. Estates
Once upon a time “a haven of peace, work and inspiration.” Nowadays, there are romantic corners with majestic houses and shady alleys that still survive. The estates still live their measured country life, only instead of generations replacing each other among family portraits, there are guests. Escaped from the bustle of the city into the past.
Noble Nest. Marfino Estate
Literally and figuratively. The estate, which became the film set for the film of the same name, belonged to several eminent owners. The master's house in pseudo-Gothic style, an extensive park with gazebos and ponds survived, despite the Napoleonic invasion and merciless time. Preserved and a stone bridge, and gazebos. Ponds, creations of serfs and man-made islands with romantic names: expectations, meetings of love, partings. How many expectations and partings have passed over the centuries - only the stone griffins remember that they impartially look at the bustle of this world.
Demidov's dacha... or the romance of Nizhny Tagil
The only country estate of the 19th century in the middle of the industrial center. More than a century ago, Krasnogvardeyskaya Street was a Matilda suburb, named after the wife of Anatoly Demidov - Princess Matilda de Montfort, niece of Emperor Napoleon. The estate was built by Russian engineer and inventor Fotiy Shvetsov, and the Demidovs were the second owners. Following the sophisticated young ladies and industrialists, railroad workers, Komsomol members, and athletes walked up the stairs of the lemon mansion. Since 2013, the Demidov Dacha has become a museum.
Where Lensky lived, or Dmitry Venevitinov's Estate
The home of the early 19th century romantic poet, philosopher and critic, whose image was used by his fourth cousin Alexander Pushkin for his romantic character from Eugene Onegin. But there is another name - “The House in which the writer Ethel Lilian Voynich lived and worked.” The author of “The Gadfly” worked as a governess at the estate. Perhaps the secret of the literary inspiration of the inhabitants of the estate near Voronezh is in the picturesque corner on the left bank of the Don. The Venevitinov estate is one of the few for its time that has survived to this day in perfect condition; even the stone paths have not changed the design since the 18th century.
Suvorov's estate in Konchanskoye, where the commander sang in the church choir
The only surviving Suvorov possession. In the 18th century, Konchanskoye was Suvorov’s patrimony, where Alexander Suvorov lived in exile and from where he went on the Italo-Swiss campaign. The estate is located 250 kilometers from Veliky Novgorod. The commander's house was recreated, and the park, which occupied 4.5 hectares, was preserved. According to legend, Alexander Vasilyevich himself planted several linden trees in this park. And not far from the estate, in the village of Sopiny, there is a stone church of the Life-Giving Trinity, built by order and at the expense of Suvorov.
Priyutino Estate: “I loved you...”
...Wrote by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, according to one version - by Anna Olenina. The poet often visited the country estate of the President of the Academy of Arts: Alexey Nikolaevich designed the first edition of Ruslan and Lyudmila. And the poet became imbued with romantic feelings for the daughter of the owner of the estate. The romance of the place also contributed to this: a red brick house and two greenhouses. The Smolny stream, which has turned into a picturesque dam, a park with landscape paintings and centuries-old oak trees, which parents planted with their children. The oak planted by Kolya Olenin dried up after his death on the Borodino field. A monument was erected at this place - a truncated pyramid.
Home for Peter's little boat. Estate in Veskovo
The boat “Fortune” from the amusing flotilla of Peter I became the basis of one of the first provincial museums in Russia. The estate's buildings match its status: the White Palace, built with donations in the mid-19th century for balls and receptions. Local merchants organized “Pereslavl assemblies” here. In 1925–1926, writer Mikhail Prishvin lived and worked here. The decoration of the estate is a monument to Peter, Triumphal Arch and a rotunda that recreates the interior of the Peter the Great era. The only difference is that near Mount Gremyach on the shores of Lake Pleshcheevo, the once numerous amusing flotilla remains only a memory in the festival of historical clubs “ Russian fleet be!".
The fields where the count sowed grain. Mansurovo Estate
Ilya Lvovich Tolstoy, the son of a classic of Russian literature, bought one of the oldest landowner estates Kaluga region at the beginning of the twentieth century. The economy was developed on a grand scale. The count ordered agricultural machinery from abroad, raised livestock, cultivated an orchard, and developed a landscape park. The estate loved guests and a large clearing was set up in front of the house for games and picnics. The gazebos on the islands made the estate more picturesque. The main house rises on the banks of the Pesochnya River and should return to its former grandeur as part of the Yasnaya Polyana Museum. The estate was abandoned for a long time, and the linden park turned into a real forest.
“A village, a wide meadow, and there is a happy house...” Muranovo Estate
Sung in verse by Evgeny Boratynsky. Nikolai Gogol visited these places, Fyodor Tyutchev stayed for a long time, and the poet’s son, whose wife inherited the estate, opened his father’s museum. The heyday of the estate was the 19th century. The peach and flower greenhouses, the pineapple greenhouse are delightful with a riot of color; in the garden there are jasmine and lilacs, and a linden alley. Even now, several trees planted under Boratynsky have been preserved in the park - for example, European larch near the main house. And in the house itself the atmosphere of estate life of the 19th century is preserved.
The house where you dreamed of heaven. Zhukovsky Estate
Place of residence of the family of the founder of aeronautics. In 1847, the father of Russian aviation was born in these places. He came to Orekhovo as a high school student, student, and then as a teacher at Moscow State University. The Vsevolzhsky princes built the estate, and the Zhukovsky nobles landscaped the house with a mezzanine and 12 hectares of land in the area. After the death of the scientist, his sister allegedly saw the silhouette of a woman disappearing in the middle of the pond. At the request of Vera Zhukovskaya, the pond was cleaned and the chest was found. By donating the jewelry to the state, she received money to create a museum. This is the legend of the estate, and there are many like them in every old Russian estate.
Kuskovo estate from a bird's eye view
The Sheremetev counts were very rich and were among the first among the Russian nobility to be able to afford their own country residence. The main manor buildings appeared here in the 18th century. At that time Kuskovo was located outside of Moscow. Nowadays, the ancient estate is part of the city and is located in the Veshnyaki district.
The preserved palace and park complex includes the building of the Great House (or Palace), elegant Dutch and Italian houses and two pavilions. They were built according to the designs of some of the best architects of that time - Karl Blank and Yuri Kologrivov. The Sheremetev serf artist, the famous Ivan Argunov, also took part in the creation of the palace buildings.
Many people are familiar with Kuskovo in absentia, because this Moscow estate has been filmed more than once. Many episodes for the popular films “Vivat, midshipmen!”, “Shirley-Myrli” and “Hello, I’m your aunt!” were filmed in the picturesque park. Guests of the estate can visit the perfectly preserved interiors of the count's house, take a walk in the park and see a large collection of Russian and foreign porcelain and ceramics.
Trolleybuses, buses and minibuses run to the estate from the Moscow metro stations “Ryazansky Prospekt”, “Vykhino” and “Novogireevo”.
Izmailovo - the royal apiary and menagerie
Bridge tower and Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Izmailovo estate from a bird's eye view
The first buildings on the estate appeared in the 14th century, and in the 1670s, the construction of a royal residence began here. In those days, Izmailovo was located far outside of Moscow. The surrounding areas were sparsely populated, there was a lot of game in the surrounding forests, and Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich gladly used Izmailovo for hunting.
In addition, the Russian Tsar was distinguished by his great economy and love of innovation. By his order, seeds and seedlings of fruit trees and shrubs were brought to the estate. The Tsar organized a highly productive and profitable subsistence economy in Izmailovo with an apiary, flax and glass-blowing production, stables, poultry houses, wineries, oil churns and water mills. For fun, they even kept a large menagerie here, where they brought animals from Africa and Asia that were strange to the Russians.
Today, the royal estate has been rebuilt. The buildings Izmailovo Kremlin combined the best traditions of Russian wooden and stone architecture of the pre-Petrine era. Today it is a place for the revival of ancient crafts and artistic exhibitions.
The estate can be easily reached on foot from the Izmailovo or Partizanskaya metro stations.
Lyublino - a house in the form of the Order of St. Anna
The main house of the Lyublino estate
The small but very picturesque Lyublino estate became famous thanks to its owner, the Moscow rich man Nikolai Alekseevich Durasov. For his services to the state, he was awarded the Order of St. Anne, and this gave Durasov the right to the so-called personal nobility. In honor of such a significant event, the owner of the estate ordered an unusual house from the fashionable architect Ivan Egotov. It resembled a rotunda and in plan was very similar to the image of the Order of St. Anne.
The Durasov estate was famous in Moscow as a place for entertainment. The owner regularly invited guests to lavish balls. He ran his own musicians and theater. Outlandish fruits were grown on the estate, and sterlet swam in the Lublin pond. Today, a museum exhibition has been opened in the old estate, telling about Durasov and the history of these places, and beautiful park It has long become a favorite place for walks among residents of surrounding houses.
The estate can be reached on foot in 10 minutes along the Lyublinsky Pond from the Volzhskaya metro station. Another option is to arrive at the estate on foot from railway station"Lublino"
Kolomenskoye – royal oaks and apple orchard
General view of the Kolomenskoye estate
There are several reasons to visit Kolomenskoye. This is the place where the oak trees under which Tsar Peter I grew up are preserved, and where his first literacy lessons took place. The size of the 600-700-year-old giants is amazing. There are also linden alleys, laid out in 1825, and a large old apple orchard.
Kolomenskoye has always had the status of a royal estate. The oldest wooden buildings, of course, were destroyed long ago. However, in the estate you can see many interesting architectural monuments. Since 1532, the slender, tent-roofed Church of the Ascension has stood here. It was built on the high bank of the Moscow River and was used for many centuries as a temple and as a lookout point. Not far from the church stands the unusual Vodovzvodnaya Tower and the Church of St. George. Of the wooden buildings, the most notable are the house of Peter I, brought here from the mouth of the Northern Dvina, the building of the meadery, as well as the towers of the Nikolo-Karelian monastery, the Sumy and Bratsk forts.
From the Kashirskaya or Kolomenskaya metro stations you can walk to the estate in 5-7 minutes.
Kuzminki - Golitsyn's possessions
Horse yard at the Kuzminki estate
The ancient Kuzminki estate is divided in two by a small river valley and a cascade of artificial ponds. The spacious green park is a pleasant place for walking. At any time of the year, the place is visited by parents with small children, joggers and skiers, as well as those who like to feed the squirrels and ducks living along the banks of the ponds.
The best architects worked on the estate buildings - Dominico Gilardi, Ivan Egotov, Andrey Voronikhin and Ivan Zherebtsov. Of the old buildings erected during the time of the Golitsyns, the main house, the complex of the equestrian yard, the Musical Pavilion, grottoes and the beautiful temple of the Blachernae Mother of God have been preserved.
Today there are three museums in the estate. One of them is dedicated to the history of Russian estates, another tells about the life and work of the writer Konstantin Paustovsky, and in the third you can get acquainted with the traditions of honey production.
The estate can be easily reached on foot from the Moscow metro stations “Volzhskaya” or “Kuzminki”. Bus No. 29 goes to the estate church from the Ryazansky Prospekt station.
Tsaritsyno – a masterpiece of a disgraced architect
Grand Palace in the Tsaritsyno estate
In the southern part of the capital, next to large ponds on the Gorodnya River, there is a manor complex with interesting story. Empress Catherine II planned to turn these lands into one of her residences. In the 1770s, the famous Russian architect Vasily Bazhenov began the construction of a palace and park complex that would meet all the requests of the empress. The work lasted 10 years, and when everything was almost ready, the empress came here.
Despite the fact that she approved the drawings and projects in advance, Catherine II did not like the construction. She saw many Masonic symbols in the decor of Bazhenov’s buildings and was offended. Matvey Kazakov was entrusted with completing the construction of the estate. However, with the death of the empress, the main work ceased.
Tsaritsino was restored quite recently. Nowadays, it has become a large museum complex, as well as a well-groomed park area, where both city residents and tourists love to come. Many concerts are also held here.
It is easy to get to the estate on foot from the Tsaritsyno railway station or from the metro station of the same name.
Ostankino - noble nest and theater
General view of the Ostankino estate from the Ostankino TV tower
One of the most beautiful estates in the capital, Ostankino, was built over four centuries, and it was owned, like Kuskovo, by the count family of the Sheremetevs. Built in the 18th century, the palace-theater building is an outstanding example of classicism and one of the few pleasure palaces that have survived in Russia. Inside it there is a stage, an auditorium and dressing rooms for actors. The musical and theatrical traditions of the ancient estate are continued every year by the Sheremetev Seasons festival.
In addition to the palace, a beautiful park and the picturesque Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, built in the last third of the 18th century, have been preserved on the territory of the estate. The facades of the church are decorated with beautiful tiles, figured red brick masonry and elegant white stone carvings.
To get to the estate, you must first get to the VDNH metro station. From there, trams and trolleybuses go to the estate. Another option is to come to the estate by trolleybuses or buses coming from Alekseevskaya station.
Vorontsovo – a picturesque park and cascades of ponds
Entrance gate to the Vorontsovo estate
In the southwest of the city there is an old estate that once belonged to the boyar Fyodor Voronets. Muscovites often call it Vorontsov Park. The estate complex reached its heyday in the 18th-19th centuries under Field Marshal Nikolai Repnin.
The history of the estate has preserved an interesting fact. IN early XIX century, they began to build a huge balloon, which could lift up to 50 people into the sky. It was planned to conduct military operations against Napoleon's troops. However, this ambitious plan was not fully realized.
Today the estate appears in all its glory. It has been perfectly restored and is surrounded by green parkland with picturesque cascading ponds.
You can get to the estate by bus from the Prospekt Vernadskogo or New Cheryomushki metro stations. In addition, it is about a quarter of an hour's walk from the Kaluzhskaya metro station.
