Among the most famous antique dealers and collectors of our time in Russia, one can single out Vadim Zadorozhny, who opened in 2005 a unique private museum of military equipment in Arkhangelsk - one of the largest in Europe, which contains a rich collection of rare cars and military equipment. In the personal workshops of the museum, exhibits are restored and brought to working condition, which until yesterday had no value.
In the picturesque suburbs, in the Krasnogorsk district, is the village of Arkhangelsk. The Museum of Vadim Zadorozhny gives you the opportunity to visit the training ground, which hosts an exhibition of equipment in an open area, and exhibition halls in the museum. The museum also has a field kitchen, restaurants and a small business center.
The history of the estate Arkhangelsk
The date of the complex, consisting of palaces and parks, dates back to the end of the XVIII century. Previously, the Arkhangelsk was called Uplose. At the beginning of the XVI century, the owner of the estate was Alexei Ivanovich Upolotsky. After him, among the most famous owners of the estate were Fedor Ivanovich Sheremetev and the princes Odoevsky. In 1703-1810 the estate was owned by the Golitsyn family. In the years 1790-1799. Nikolai Alekseevich Golitsyn began to build the palace, designed by the French architect S. Gern. The Italian architect Giacomo Trombaro participated in the project for the construction of terraces in front of the palace with busts and statues of ancient philosophers and gods. The uniqueness of this park was the complex of buildings "Caprice" of the Italian architect Giovanni Petondi. In 1810, Prince N. B. Yusupov became the owner of Arkhangelsk.
Thanks to the complex of parks and palaces erected by the former owners of the estate, Arkhangelsk is called the Moscow Region Versailles.
Manor in our time
Today, that part of the estate where the famous palace is located is guarded and paid. And for free access, the Apollon Grove and a theater called Gonzaga are open. Today, an exhibition of paintings by artists of the mid-18th century is open for viewing. Nowadays, the Arkhangelskoye estate has become a popular venue for various festivals and concerts. The Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology, located in the immediate vicinity of the estate, attracts many visitors to its territory.
Museum exhibits in Arkhangelsk
Among the numerous exhibits, the museum of military equipment in Arkhangelsk offers to view not only retro cars and images of military equipment, but also motorcycles, small arms, a collection of cameras. At the exhibition of rare cars you can see American, Soviet and French pre-war cars, the total number of which is about 100 pieces. The pride of the collection is the oldest Russian car Holsmann in 1902, a car for the highest command of Germany - Mercedes-Benz 770, as well as a car made for Stalin I.V. - ZIS-115. The Arkhangelsk Museum of Military Equipment has exhibits such as the first Yakovlev RRAIR-1 aircraft and the last surviving Yak-15. Also in the main building of the museum is an exhibition of motorcycles of Soviet and German production. The Museum of Military Equipment in Arkhangelsk opened an exhibition of howitzers, tanks, mortars and multiple launch rocket systems on an alley with military equipment.
ZIS-115
Of particular interest among the museum exhibits deserves ZIS-115. It was first released in the Soviet Union in 1948 - this is the first armored Soviet car. Car safety was achieved by installing armored windows and armored body protection. For the years 1948-1949. 32 ZIS-115 armored vehicles were produced, but to date, there are only 8 copies that have been preserved intact.