The Russian capital is a city with a rich cultural and historical heritage. In Moscow, despite the ups and downs of life, many unique corners have been preserved. Russian estates erected by titled families allow history buffs to plunge into the depths of past eras.
The Moscow estate of Count Sheremetyev, which has the status of a “European pearl,” has been transformed into a museum. It is recognized as a unique architectural monument, a magnificent example of summer noble residences.
Location Kuskovo
The family estate with a huge architectural and artistic ensemble is spread in the east of Moscow, capturing a picturesque piece of the historic town of Veshnyaki. Once there was the ancient village of Kuskovo, transferred to A.A. Pushkin to the boyar V.A. Sheremetyev. Vasily Andreyevich laid the foundation for a luxurious estate, became its first famous owner.
The birth of the estate
The history of the Sheremetyevs in Kuskovo since the 18th century and to this day is inextricably linked with one noble family - representatives of the Sheremetev family. In 1715, the estate became the property of Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev. He bought it from his brother, Vladimir.
From this moment begins a serious arrangement of Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs' estate acquires the status of a permanent residence of a noble family. Her interior decoration is filled with patrimonial relics. By order of the field marshal, in the halls they find a place for a collection of rare weapons and a collection of portraits with Russian tsars and statesmen.
The heyday of the estate
His son, an enlightened nobleman Petr Borisovich, is engaged in the organization of amusements. Under him, the estate becomes a well-known summer residence, where magnificent receptions, crowded theatrical festivals and festivities take place.
For more than half a century, Pyotr Borisovich has been working on creating a brilliant ensemble in the manner of tsarist country residences. Famous architects and painters, talented serf masters were involved in arranging the estate.
Refined elements of manor architecture, a French park, a cascade of ponds are equipped with Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs estate with magnificent examples of garden art acting as excellent scenery becomes an impressive open-air theater platform.
Here grandiose theatrical festivities are held, dedicated to the birthdays of the owners, as well as important state and church dates. All representatives of the secular society of Moscow are eager to get here. In especially solemn receptions, the Sheremetyevs' estate cordially welcomed up to 30,000 guests.
Theater in Kuskovo
Air Theater is the main feature of the estate. The loud fame about him went far beyond the count's residence. There are a small part of hired singers, musicians and dancers in it. The basis of the cast is local peasants trained in theatrical play by foreign masters.
Parasha Kovaleva, declared in the programs under the stage name (Praskovya Zhemchugova), is recognized as an outstanding actress of the Sheremetyevo Theater. Catherine II, who had repeatedly visited the estate, admired the ability of the actors to skillfully play. She emphasized the performance of P. Zhemchugova. Once the actress received a diamond ring as a gift from the empress.
Sunset noble residence
The love of Messrs. Sheremetyevs for the clan nest was great. Grandson of Peter Borisovich, Sergei Dmitrievich, the last owner of a chic residence, made considerable efforts to preserve the estate created by the ancestors.
They escaped from the ruin of Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs estate with the cultural values accumulated in it was scrupulously described by Sergei Dmitrievich before the official transfer to the Soviet government. He purposefully turned the estate into a museum.
Thanks to Sergey Dmitrievich, the architectural and park ensemble with the richest collections collected by the owners, was destined to become a major center of Russian culture and enlightenment. In 1918, the Sheremetyevs' estate was recognized as a historical monument and converted into a museum.
Moscow Region Versailles
Since the owners intended to hold lavish social receptions and grandiose celebrations here, the estate was ennobled by residential and hunting houses, park arbors, and menageries. It even built a Kunstkamera and created a small fleet of ships on the ponds.
The architectural and park complex managed to preserve over 20 unique monuments of Russian architecture, surrounded by magnificent elements of the garden landscape. The estate museum includes a palace, houses with elements of Italian, Dutch and Swiss architecture, pavilions, greenhouses, churches and other buildings of the boyar and serf courtyards.
Versailles near Moscow is called Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs estate, the photo of which demonstrates how beautiful it is, rightfully deserves such a high rank. There is a museum of ceramics in the old estate. It contains the world's largest collection of ceramic and glass products. Expositions represent objects created by masters in different parts of the world, from antiquity to the present.
Sheremetyevo Palace
The magnificent palace is the compositional center of the baroque rocky complex in Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs' estate is decorated with a huge French park, where ponds with graceful arbors and marble sculptures gleam with mirror saucers.
In the two-story palace, the layout was fashionable in the 18th century. It has a suite of rooms. The doors of the rooms are on the same axis, the halls open sequentially, one after the other. The palace halls were intended for ceremonial receptions of guests. Wine cellars and utility rooms found a place in the basement of the so-called Big House.
Guest houses
The names of the houses are not accidental in Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs' estate combined the buildings of different styles invented by Dutch, Italian and Swiss architects. At the latest building - a wooden Swiss house, decorated with elegant "wooden lace", the first floor is painted "brick". This allows the original chalet to resonate with the Dutch pavilion.
The two-story pavilion, built in 1749, is called the Dutch House. The construction is the personification of the era of Peter I. Its functional purpose is clearly delineated. The first floor is occupied by the kitchen, and the second is a beautiful living room.
In the Italian house, which belongs to the number of federal architectural monuments, from 1755 they organized "small" receptions. In the palace-pavilion, the parade of rooms deprived of a solemn suite is emphasized by a variety of architectural and decorative decoration.
Halls for small receptions are decorated with oak panels, gilded carvings, typeset parquet and decorative painting. Thanks to the exquisite luxury of the miniature decor, the interiors of the Italian house are charming.
Pavilions
The owners of the residence and people close to them were resting in the Hermitage pavilion. The grotto is recognized as a unique pavilion. Its interior, decorated with shells, is amazing. It is made of stone in the style of luxurious baroque.
Having become a museum, the estate of Count Sheremetev continues to live. Kuskovo keeps the ancient traditions of Russian estates. Here they still receive guests, organize concerts, exhibitions, excursions, festivities and festivities for them.