Kuskovo is an estate of wondrous beauty. Kuskovo - an estate of wondrous beauty Kuskovo Park history

This week, after a long break, we decided to continue our trips to Moscow estates. This time the choice fell on the Kuskovo estate. Like Kuskovo, it belonged to the Sheremetyev family. In the 17th century, Count Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetyev turned it into his country residence. A new palace was built (the old one was built by Boris Petrovich and it was destroyed due to disrepair) and other buildings from the ensemble, and a regular garden was also laid out.

In 1917, Kuskovo was turned into a museum, and it remains one to this day.

In order not to spend a long time looking for the right bus, you need to exit the metro in the right direction - follow the arrow to Papernik Street, and then turn right to the stops. A 10-minute bus ride and a pond appeared, and behind it the estate itself.

One glance at Kuskovo was enough to understand that Ostankino was taking a rest in comparison. Kuskovo like Ostankino, it is also surrounded by a forested park area, there is also a pond here, and the main palace is located right on its shore. But it was immediately clear that this estate received more attention from Count Sheremetyev than from Ostankino. If only one estate was built in Ostankino, then here the count went all out and built a whole ensemble of buildings with a regular park. The territory of Kuskovo is much larger than Ostankino.

Looking at the palace from afar, for some reason I remembered the film “Midshipmen, Forward!” Just the sight of the territory and buildings of Kuskovo brings to mind scenes from historical films, and you can imagine that a carriage is about to pass by, and some count or the queen herself will get out of it.

Without waiting for the carriage, we walked to the ticket office, because... To get to the estate, you must buy a ticket to any of the buildings of the ensemble (although I read on the forums that someone passed by just like that). Ticket prices ranges from 50 to 150 rubles, depending on the house you want to visit. For example, entrance to the estate costs 150 rubles, and an Italian house costs 50 rubles. On that day, the main palace of Kuskovo, the Italian House and the Grotto were open to the public. We bought tickets for the full program + photography (100 rubles). Later it turned out that the photography was taken in vain, because You can’t film in the estate itself (and other buildings too), and no one is monitoring the filming on the territory. Yes, and I made one unforgivable mistake - I forgot the replacement batteries for the camera at home, and the ones that were there turned out to be dead. As a result, they died immediately after visiting the palace, because... I still tried to take pictures secretly. Therefore, most of the photos you see on this page were found on other resources.

At the entrance, again, as in Ostankino, we were given felt slippers, warned that photography was prohibited, and we began our inspection. I note that the layout of the palace is such that you can walk around it in a circle, going from one room to another. Inside, the main palace is much richer than Ostankino. In every room there are paintings on the walls, painted ceilings, rich beautiful furniture. I was surprised by the bed that was seen in one room, or rather its size – just over a meter. I can't even imagine who could fit in it.

There was an aquarium in another room. As the caretaker explained to us, there were no fish in it, only drawn ones. And what's the point?

Go ahead. In one of the rooms I really liked the mosaic reproduction of the entire territory of Kuskovo. I myself would never have guessed that this was a mosaic. We arrived at the excursion, and the guide told us this. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a picture of it and couldn’t find any photos on the Internet. Just know that when you see a table with a picture of the entire estate under glass, it is a mosaic, not a painted image.

The next room had a gallery. As the guide said, Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev himself personally selected all the paintings for his gallery. The oldest painting is from the 16th century, the rest are from the 17th – 18th centuries. Most of the authors are French and Italian artists.

Hall of Mirrors. Palace “discos” were held here. It’s not for nothing that the hall is called mirrored; almost full-length mirrors and beautiful candlesticks hang on all the walls; images of all state awards received by the Sheremetyevs are painted in the corners, and on the central walls is the coat of arms of the Sheremetyev family. On the ceiling there is a fresco with an allegorical depiction of the origin of the coat of arms. The large window offers a beautiful view of the regular park and the Great Orangery.

I was very surprised when I saw a billiard table in one of the rooms. I don’t know why, but I never expected to see a billiard table here. It turned out that at that time it was fashionable to have a pool table in the house.

In the count's dining room we saw huge portraits of Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev and his wife and, as befits a dining room, a large set table with antique dishes.

Having visited the Kuskovo Palace, I can say with confidence that it is much more beautiful than in Ostankino. The atmosphere here is richer and walking around it was much more interesting than Ostankino.

Having finished with the palace, we moved towards the Grotto. I never understood what it was intended for. The inside of the Grotto is made in a marine style. Sea “landscapes” are depicted on the walls; shells are embedded in them. Many of the exhibits on display in the Grotto are also made using shells, such as the paintings. They are difficult to describe in words, you just have to see them. There are also porcelain products in the form of fish, shellfish and other inhabitants of the deep sea.

I can’t tell you anything particularly interesting about the Italian house. Also antique furniture, paintings on the walls, everything is “as usual.”

Of everything we visited, we liked only the main building of Kuskovo; the rest did not make much of an impression.

In my opinion, the Kuskovo estate is a great place where you can have an interesting time, but it’s better to go here in the summer. In autumn, the regular park does not look so beautiful; park rangers cover all the sculptures with wooden boxes and not all buildings from the Kuskovo ensemble are open to the public.

How to get from the metro:

You can get there from the Ryazansky Prospekt metro station by buses No. 133, 208 or from the station. m. Vykhino by bus No. 620. Those who live in the metro areas. Shchelkovskaya or Enthusiastov Highway can get to Kuskovo by bus No. 133 or by minibus 157M - it goes along the same route as the bus. The stop is called “Kuskovo Estate”.

The Kuskovo estate is also called “Versailles near Moscow”. It’s as if an unknown force moved a corner of France to Moscow, to the territory of the Veshnyaki district. Walking through the park with marble sculptures, exquisite pavilions and quiet ponds, you can feel like you are somewhere in Paris. Near the reservoir lies a palace in the style of early classicism with hints of baroque. The luxurious decoration of the building has been preserved - during the revolution, the property was not affected by the bitter fate of most estates. Today, tourists can admire the heritage of the past.

"Moscow Versailles" is one of the most beautiful noble residences of the Russian Empire. Tourists can explore about 20 large objects of the Kuskovo estate. Among them are a palace, a Grotto, a greenhouse, an Italian house, and an ancient church. In the last century, the estate was combined with a ceramics museum. Now one of the largest collections of products made from this material is stored here.

From idea to implementation: the history of Kuskovo

The name of the estate is sonorous - the name was given to the property by Peter Sheremetev. He inherited land from his father. “A piece,” the new owner said. The area was small. The Sheremetevs owned this territory since the end of the 16th century. In the 17th century, there was already a boyar courtyard, serf housing and a church here. In the 18th century, Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev took over the inheritance and was actively involved in the construction of buildings. True, there was not much space - the owner of Kuskovo was looking at the wide open spaces of the neighboring estate. The remaining lands in the district belonged to State Chancellor Cherkassky.

Peter showed no less interest in the heiress of Cherkassky’s fortune, Varenka. The young people knew each other from a young age. Varya was friends with Peter’s sister, Natalya, and often visited Kuskovo. The young charmer charmed young Sheremetev with her liveliness, cheerful and easy-going disposition. Peter and Varya were already heading towards a wedding, but before that Natalya married Ivan Dolgorukov. After the death of Emperor Peter II, the entire Dolgorukov family fell into disgrace. Varenka’s father did not like this relationship - he did not want to fall out of favor with Anna Ioannovna. The lovers had to wait for the right time. Varvara became the empress's maid of honor and fought off all the suitors. Peter waited ten years until Elizaveta Petrovna came to power. Then the couple got married.

Varya was an enviable heiress, one of the richest brides. Sheremetev's fortune doubled - now the couple owned 44 estates in 28 provinces. 140 thousand serfs worked for them. The marriage was happy, husband and wife lived in perfect harmony. They did not forget to equip the family nest. Peter Sheremetev decided to build a new palace. The old one was built by his father and then collapsed due to disrepair. At the same time as the palace, it was decided to build other intricate buildings, and at the same time lay out a garden.

The creation of the palace was carried out by the architect Karl Blank according to the design of the French specialist Charles De-Vailly. The count had another large estate - Ostankino. But Peter paid much less attention to other possessions. Here he tried his best: he built a whole ensemble of buildings. And the territory of the Kuskovo estate exceeded Ostankino - 230 hectares. Both estates are surrounded by forested areas and have ponds. In addition to famous architects, serf craftsmen were also involved in the creation of the palace and other architectural objects.

The couple did not create a cozy palace complex for privacy - they were attracted by lavish receptions and crowded festivities. Large-scale construction covered the years 1750-1770. The palace became the center of the composition. A park with a large pond was created nearby. For entertainment, they set up a greenhouse, a billiard room, and a menagerie. A hunting lodge was also built on the territory. The space was decorated with pavilions, gazebos, and marble sculptures. The architectural complex was created in the Baroque-Rocaille style.

The Sheremetev family was famous for its hospitality. During the warm period, the Kuskovo estate was filled with cheerful voices and laughter - the Moscow nobility came to visit. Sometimes the count organized especially luxurious balls, inviting up to 30 thousand people to the celebration. The Sheremetevs had no time to be bored: they rode boats on a huge reservoir near the palace, watched ballet performances and listened to orchestra performances. The owner of the Kuskovo estate spoiled the nobles with fireworks. The Count Sheremetev Theater received applause - it was considered the best in Moscow. From the marriage of Varya and Peter, six children appeared - three sons and three daughters.

The heir to the Kuskovo estate was Nikolai. He had extensive travel experience in Europe. Abroad, he picked up revolutionary ideas and decided to organize life in Kuskovo according to European canons. Even during his father’s life, Nikolai became fascinated by the actress of the Sheremetev serf theater, Praskovya Zhemchugova. Peter's death turned out to be a strong blow for young Sheremetev, but Zhemchugova supported him. Soon the couple got married and moved to Ostankino. The Kuskovo estate was forgotten. Only several decades later, Nikolai’s son restored the past luxury.

For three centuries the estate was owned by the Sheremetevs. After the revolution, the estate was declared a museum, and two decades later it was combined with a ceramic exhibition. During the war, barracks were located in the Kuskovo estate. Today tourists come to see the estate. In this place, it seems, you can hear the echo of antiquity, when classical music concerts and exhibitions were held in the estate.

The charm of the Sheremetev Palace

Already at the entrance to the palace complex a magnificent view opens up. Lush green lawns, carefully trimmed trees, architectural buildings - all objects with French charm. In Kuskovo, a palace and pavilions, a park with flower beds and sculptures, and a pond have been preserved. There is an ancient church and a ceramics museum on the site.

The palace is the central building of the Kuskovo estate. In the 18th century, the owners modestly called the building “The Big House.” The palace was created in the traditions of Russian architecture. It didn’t take long to build – six years. Wood was chosen as the main material, and the style was early classicism with baroque elements. It was decided to extend the palace along the reservoir. The “Big House” was originally designed to allow guests to enjoy their holidays in the summer. It united two floors: the front floor with majestic halls and the mezzanine with a wine cellar and utility rooms.

Sheremetev did not skimp when creating the palace in Kuskovo. The Count invited the best artists and sculptors from abroad. Russian craftsmen took part - both serfs and freemen. Tourists today notice echoes of the past: an intricate monogram, an inclined surface for entering the palace at the entrance, figures of sphinxes. On the front there is a family coat of arms with the inscription “God protects everything.” A spectacular white stone staircase leads to the main entrance.

The Count wanted to show off in front of the guests, so he chose the then fashionable enfilade arrangement of rooms. The rooms were sequentially adjacent to each other, and the doorways were located on the same axis. Mirrors were placed on the walls to create the feeling of an endless corridor.

The palace was equipped with both state halls and cozy chamber rooms. During balls, guests hurried to the dance hall. For entertainment there were billiards and card rooms. Family evenings were spent in a trellis room decorated with tapestries. Musical evenings were also organized in this room. The palace contained an art gallery, a library and a living room with a mechanical organ. The decoration of the halls is different, but it is in harmony with each other and creates a common artistic idea.

Plank floors, fireplaces and stoves, stucco molding, mirrors and lighting fixtures have remained to this day. Some of the furnishings have been recreated according to ancient descriptions. The fabric surface of the walls and furniture was restored. Following the fashion trend, Sheremetev decided to decorate each hall in different colors. The rooms were named by the color of the upholstery: white, blue, crimson... The front bedroom, decorated in green silk with roses, had to be completely restored. This room was created especially for Catherine II, when the majestic lady decided to visit the Kuskovo estate. The fine upholstery was lost in the 19th century - it was recreated from pictures and scraps found behind skirting boards and furniture.

Historians consider the count a joker, because he used various tricks to decorate the palace. Many design elements are fake. You can consider papier-mâché, grisaille patterns for volume, artificial marble, mirrors to visually enlarge the corridors.

Ancient paintings have also come down to us from the past: Russian and European paintings, portraits of emperors, images of the owners of the palace, Count Sheremetev. One of the most interesting exhibits of the palace is the organ. The musical instrument simultaneously served as a clock mechanism. At a certain time, a programmed melody sounded. There were ten compositions in total, which were used at different times of the day.

Blooming paradise of the Kuskovo estate

A walk through the park brings no less pleasant emotions to tourists. Straight paths create a neat geometric pattern, dividing the space into parts. The interlacing paths are “guarded” by pavilions and statues. In the center of the park in Kuskovo there is a figure of the goddess Minerva. She is known as a champion of the arts and crafts. When creating the park, every detail was taken into account, down to the height of the plants and the color of the foliage. Foreign gardeners worked on the arrangement.

The French park was divided into three parts. The center was occupied by open space - with flower beds, paths and lawns, and various sculptures. The statues mainly depict Greek gods, Roman heroes and lions. In total there are more than 60 sculptures in the park. The right and left parts are occupied by pavilions and alleys. The four sculptures depicted morning, day, evening and night. The figures were placed so that the sun illuminated them in turn (except for the last one). The side pieces include "perspective writing." This is the name given to decorative images in the form of an architectural object. A feeling of volume was created - it seemed that there were ruins, a mill or a gazebo very close by. Some garden trompe l'oeil structures have survived to this day.

In addition to the French park, there was an English park on the north side. There were also many attractions there: a temple of silence, an Indian hut, a retreat house and a lion's cave. When creating the green zone, trees were selected according to their shape and shades, and alleys were cut.

Walking through the center of the French park, tourists find themselves in the Large Stone Greenhouse. Could Sheremetev manage without a collection of plants? Indeed, in the 18th century, noble people raced to collect tropical species. Once on the site of a stone greenhouse there was a wooden one, but the serf architect transformed the space. This is how a house with a central octagonal pavilion appeared in the Kuskovo estate. It was located between two glass galleries. In the greenhouse, guests not only walked among tropical plants, but also held balls. They danced in the central part. A bright “flower ball” was organized for the arrival of Catherine II. Dance tunes flowed from the inner balcony where the musicians were located. The guests, tired of the noise, rested among the trees of the winter garden: laurel, coffee, lemon, orange.

Thanks to the greenhouse, the owners of the Kuskovo estate were supplied with fresh fruit all year round. Peaches, oranges, lemons and pineapples were served at the table. The winter garden allowed Count Sheremetev to shine in front of the empress. In severe frosts, he would pass a basket of the freshest peaches to the table of a noble person.

Amazing park objects

The elegant Grotto is considered the most exotic structure on the territory of the Kuskovo estate. The stone pavilion is made in Baroque style. According to the serf architect's idea, the Grotto should be associated with the elements of stone and water. The appearance of the pavilion is attractive: statues in niches, images of lions above the windows, wall decorations in the form of water streams. Inside, the Grotto is framed with mother-of-pearl shells, colored glass, pieces of mirrors and plaster stucco. Patterns of strange animals, birds and fish are laid out from the shells.

A curious object of the Kuskovo estate is the Hermitage pavilion. Its furnishings were kept from prying eyes. Only a select few, friends of the count, could get inside. The first floor was reserved for servants. Using a lifting mechanism, servants served drinks and snacks to guests. We went up to the second floor by mechanical elevator.

The Dutch house and neighboring buildings were also designed to entertain the public. This object was created in memory of the reign of Peter I and his interest in Holland. The house was “trusted” to welcome guests who came to the estate through the drawbridge. Near the elegant pavilion there was a pond with carps. The fish swam to the sound of the bell. Nearby there is a garden with tulips and hyacinths, as well as a vegetable garden with cabbage. On the other hand, the property has recreated the Italian atmosphere. An elegant house for modest receptions, rare works of art, a pond, cages for birds - the combination of several objects created the spirit of Italy.

On the site of the Kuskovo estate there was also a Swiss house, an Air Theater, a manager's building, a kitchen outbuilding, a place for carriages and a drying room. The oldest building is considered to be the Church of the All-Merciful Savior. It is still in effect today. Next to the temple there is a bell tower - a new building of the estate.

Pride of Kuskovo: collection of ceramics

Tourists also visit the Kuskovo estate for the ceramics museum. The extensive collection was located in the basement of the palace. Entrance is on the southwest side, near the church. Guests can see samples of Meissen porcelain, Venetian glass, and Italian majolica. The total fund of the museum is 50 thousand items. Some of them are occupied in the palace setting. The museum has a ceramics workshop where original works by contemporary artists are sold.

Visit to an old manor

Getting to Kuskovo is easy by public transport. First, take the metro to Ryazansky Prospekt, and from there take bus No. 133 or 208. The stop is called “Kuskovo Estate”. Travelers with their own vehicle need to find the address: st. Yunosti, 2. It’s worth driving up on weekends when it opens, otherwise there will be nowhere to leave the car.

The Kuskovo estate is open in warm weather from 10 am to 6 pm. From mid-October to mid-spring - until 16:00. But the ticket office always closes an hour earlier. The facility is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Also unavailable on the last Wednesday of the month. You can explore the estate park until 20:00 (purchase tickets until 19:30). Every third Sunday of the month the museum is open free of charge.

Some visitors book excursions around Kuskovo - in advance or on the day of the visit. The routes last 1.5 hours. An additional bonus when visiting is regular stock exhibitions. Museum staff organize 3-4 exhibitions a year. In summer, concerts and music festivals are held in the palace dance hall. In an ancient luxurious setting you can listen to the organ, harp, and piano.

An interesting way to get to know the Kuskovo estate is to take part in a quest. For an exciting game you need a mobile device with the Internet. Participation is paid, but the amount is divided among everyone. The number of participants is not limited. On average, the quest takes two hours. The whole team needs to answer questions, notice unexpected details and unravel the tangle of mysteries.

"Kuskovsky Park is not to blame for anything,
What to a native of the Neva banks
It reminds me of the Summer Garden,
Either Tsarskoye Selo Park or Peterhof."
(Vladimir Britanishsky)

A pearl of architectural art of the 18th century, the Kuskovo estate was formerly the summer country pleasure residence of the Sheremetev counts, which they owned since the 16th century. Once upon a time, Kuskovo was the most popular social place in Moscow. The estate, spread over 230 hectares, attracted up to 30 thousand guests on the days of especially ceremonial receptions.

It is known that according to the plan of Count Pyotr Sheremetev, “Kuskovo” was supposed to be more luxurious than all other estates and not inferior to the royal residences in its beauty. Construction of the Kuskovsky Palace began in 1769 and continued until 1775.

In the second half of the 18th century, this estate was well known to all Muscovites. Twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, the Count organizes festivities there, where you don’t need to buy tickets or wait for an invitation. Any person decently and cleanly dressed can amuse himself in the park and in the house to his liking during these "open days." Any tradesman could afford to take a walk in the park with a lady, see a theatrical performance, ride on a carousel swing, or simply fish, which is why “every Sunday, from May to August, the Kuskovskaya road was the street of a crowded city, and a carriage would overtake a carriage.” according to N.M. Karamzin.

We are going counterclockwise. Now we are in the eastern, “Italian” part of the park. The first thing we see is the Grotto pavilion. The Grotto is one of the most remarkable pavilions in Kuskovo. Built according to the design of F. Argunov, the pavilion will resemble the Grotto in Tsarskoe Selo, only more modest and smaller.

The Italian fashion for grottoes reached Russia by the middle of the 18th century. By this time, grottoes, as rooms that retained coolness, had lost their intended purpose and had even undergone significant changes, turning from marble-lined caves with fountains into garden pavilions.

This pavilion combines two elements: water and stone. This can be seen at first glance at the pavilion, standing on the shore of a pond and crowned with a symbolic fountain, the water of which “flows” along the ribs of the roof. Now painted green, these fins were made of shiny white metal, emphasizing the imitation of water.

Once upon a time, the walls and ceiling of the Grotto were decorated with shells, tuff, glass, mirrors and stucco, creating a magical underwater world inhabited by unprecedented animals, birds and fish. Mediterranean mollusk shells were used to decorate the walls and vaults. Shells were delivered by cartload from Holland, which was the former supplier of this outlandish product.

Next to the Grotto, on the shore of the same small pond, the architect Yu. Kologrivov erected an Italian house. With a typical southern flat roof and a loggia that served as a “hanging garden,” the Italian House was not only a palace of art with a rich collection of Italian painting and sculpture, but also a small palace for receiving guests.

Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev was ten times richer than the famous rich man N.B. Yusupov. Therefore, he could afford any degree of luxury. In the Italian House one could admire paintings by Raphael, Rembrandt, Correggio, Veronese and other famous Italian artists.

Opposite are the Menageries, houses for keeping waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks, cranes, American geese and pelicans), which visitors hand-fed. The Grotto, the Menageries and the Italian House are a group dedicated to Italy.

On the territory of the estate there were many different types of entertainment, one of them was the Menagerie (or Poultry House). The large cage contained various species of birds that delighted visitors with their singing. Now two silent peacocks are sitting here.

Next comes the Big Stone Greenhouse. Gardens and parks of the late XVIII - early XIX centuries. played the role, if not of private botanical gardens, then of extensive collections of plants. Such nobles as the Sheremetevs, Golitsyns, and Yusupovs raced to instill the latest European achievements in their homeland.

Peaches and pineapples, oranges and lemons grew and ripened in the Kuskovo greenhouses. Sheremetev loved to show off by sending a basket of peaches from his greenhouses to the Empress’s table in December.

The building served not only as a greenhouse, but also as a dance hall. In 1780, it was here that a “flower ball” was held in honor of the visit of Catherine II.

The estate is incredibly symmetrical. From one pavilion to another there are straight alleys, mostly linden trees.

Small pavilion of the Hermitage (from French. ermitage- a place of solitude) was built from 1765 to 1767 according to the design of K. Blank. If all other pavilions of Kuskovo were accessible to the public, the Hermitage has always remained a place for the elite. Only those with whom the owner wanted to talk on equal terms without interference or unnecessary ears were invited here.

We were already in the western part of the park. This includes the Hermitage, Dutch and Swiss houses. The entire western part of the park seemed to be dedicated to the simple pleasures of home, comfort and solitude, while the eastern part was dedicated to the arts and social pleasures.

The Dutch House is one of the oldest buildings in Kuskovo (1749), built in memory of Peter the Great’s hobbies for Holland. Its goal was not only to entertain guests, but also to educate and introduce them to European life.

Built of red brick, with a steep roof, it is reflected in the waters of a small pond. This house embodied the ideas of people of the 18th century. about the life of the Dutch burghers, at the same time being an imitation of the style of Peter the Great's residences.

The drawbridge was thrown across the channel between the Big Palace and the Dutch Ponds, so the Dutch House on the shore of the pond of the same name was the first to receive the attention of the guests.

Now to the right of this bridge there is a second entrance to the Kuskovo estate. Next to it there are many cafes and kebab shops, a boat pier and bike rental, but we won’t go there, otherwise we’ll have to pay to enter the park a second time.

The pond was inhabited by carp, trained to swim up to the attendant for food at the sound of a bell. From the Dutch House, parallel to the main planning axis, there was an alley of games (“Malia games”), laid out in 1750. Now there are no games here.

A century later (in the 1870s), a Swiss house, built according to the design of N.L. Benois, will appear next to the Dutch House. This construction was the last in Kuskovo.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the last owner of Kuskovo, Sergei Dmitrievich Sheremetev, lived in this house. Now the administration of the museum is located here.

We went to the very center of Kuskovo, to the central square, which is called Parterre. The ground floor is located between the Palace and the Great Stone Orangery. It is a rectangle with many statues and flower beds.

Looking from the windows of the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace or leaving it on the balcony, we get the feeling of a single huge hall stretching to the Great Stone Greenhouse . Everything, right down to the height of the plants and the color of their foliage on the flat area of ​​the park, is taken into account and calculated, like the color of the furniture upholstery in the halls.

The obelisk in honor of Catherine II was built after Catherine II arrived and visited the estate in Kuskovo. The Empress came here in 1774, after Russia defeated Turkey. There is an inscription on the monument: “Catherine II granted unforgettable favor to Count Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev in 1785 during his tenure as provincial leader of the Moscow nobility.”

On the central axis of the parterre there was a column with a statue of Minerva. The depiction of Empress Catherine as the goddess of reason Minerva was very popular at the time.

Up to 60 preserved marble figures used to be displayed in the stalls and alleys. Busts were placed symmetrically on both sides of the stalls on high pedestals.

But this statue is not Neptune, certainly not Poseidon, but only the “Allegory of the Scanmindre River”.

Four sculptures depicting the time of day were placed so that the sun alternately illuminated the figures of “Morning”, “Day” and “Evening” at the appropriate time of day, always leaving the sad “Night” in the shadows.

It doesn’t make sense to photograph all the statues in Kuskovo, well, here’s Lev and Lev, and to hell with it.

As in Arkhangelsk, there are tunnels made of wild grapes or ivy, they run parallel to the back side of the Palace.

So, we walked around the park and went to the entrance to the Kuskovo Palace. To do this, we need to go around several outbuildings and go through a green tunnel called the “Trellis Gallery of the Kitchen Building.”

And we find ourselves in a huge green clearing. During the time of the Sheremetevs, tables were set up in this clearing for those guests who did not have a place in the palace. As has already been said, any decently dressed person could come here for dinner. This is just some kind of communism.

Count Sheremetev, a friend of the people, did not forbid anyone to join the celebration of life in one way or another. It’s like Chapaev, who told Petka: “The commander is always with the soldiers. If I smoke, sit down and you smoke. And if I’m having lunch, sit down and you smoke.”

This pavilion is called "Kitchen wing (building)". From here the servants carried all kinds of dishes to the Palace and other places where the guests were. Well, we didn’t manage to have a snack at the estate. There is only one cafe, the rest are nearby, but no longer on site, and if you interrupt your walk for lunch, you will have to buy a ticket again. In the same cafe, the waiters serve food for two hours, and it’s just a waste of time.

The oldest building here is the Spasskaya Church, built in 1737-39. There used to be 4 statues in the niches of the church building, and the roof was crowned with a statue of an angel with a cross, which was recently restored.

But in church language the church is called differently, a little strangely: “Temple of the Origin of Honest Trees.” This church is small, bright and very cozy.

The bell tower appeared much later, in 1792, by the will of Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev, well known to us thanks to his scandalous marriage to the serf actress Praskovya Kovaleva-Zhemchugova.

How can a brilliant, rich count marry a serf? For a lot of money, they found facts in the archives that Praskovya Kovaleva descends from the ancient noble Polish family of Kovalevsky. As a result, Parasha and her entire family received their freedom. And in 1801, Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev married Praskovya Ivanovna, née Kovaleva, although secretly.

In 1803, the Sheremetev couple had a son, Dmitry. And 20 days later, Praskovya died of tuberculosis, never knowing that the count had managed to beg the king for legal rights for their son.

We are located in front of the main Palace of the Kuskovo estate. Who watched the new series "Ekaterina"? There, all the actions on the street in the first episodes, at least the arrivals and departures of the empresses, take place here, on this little patch.

Construction of the estate began in the 1750s. Kuskovo bordered on the vast estates of Prince A. M. Cherkassky, and they say that it even got its name from the fact that the Sheremetev piece of land was small compared to the neighboring expanses. After his marriage to Princess Cherkassy, ​​Sheremetev's possessions expanded sharply due to the bride's dowry.

Empress Elizabeth, who often visited Moscow, loved to visit her morganatic husband A.P. Razumovsky in the village of Perovo, which was given to him, where, according to Rastrelli’s design, a palace was erected for the empress and a ceremonial residence was set up. In the summer of 1754, Sheremetev managed to get to his estate a dear guest who was traveling along the road to Perovo. The Empress liked the reception in Kuskovo, and she promised to come there again.

In anticipation of the royal visit, B.P. Sheremetev launched construction; he decided to surprise Elizabeth by concentrating all the entertainment he knew in Kuskovo. The project for planning the park and developing the estate was carried out by Yu. Kologrivov and included fragments of the works of other architects, such as K. Blank, F. Argunov, G. Dikushin, A. Mironov. Now on the territory of the Kuskovo Museum, only the central part of the regular park has been preserved.

According to an eyewitness's description, the park looked like this: “In the greenhouses there are huge laurel and orange trees that are a hundred years old. On the islands one could see either a fisherman's hut or Chinese pavilions under the shade of mighty cedars. There were two lighthouses on the shore. A gilded yacht with cannons and a Chinese junk sailed along the lakes, and swans glided importantly. Cranes, pheasants, peacocks, and pelicans walked freely along the paths.”

Most of these “ventures” were short-lived, and soon they disappeared forever. In the 18th century, they did not try to create the eternal, but lived for momentary entertainment, coloring their days with wooden pleasure palaces, horn orchestras, serf theaters...

View of Kuskovo from the other side of the lake. From left to right we see: a palace, a church with a bell tower, a kitchen wing and building, a Grotto, an Italian house. The remaining pavilions are not visible behind the trees.

One of the Sheremetev holidays was especially remembered by contemporaries. In 1775, Catherine II came to Kuskovo, accompanied by the Austrian Emperor Joseph, ambassadors and foreign guests. At the entrance to the estate they were greeted by triumphal gates. The visit of the sovereigns was arranged so magnificently that Joseph decided that he had come to a member of the imperial family who was hosting a reception at public expense.

Eyewitnesses wrote the following: “They were returning from the theater through a garden illuminated by thousands of lights; boats and gondolas with singers and choirs of musicians floated on the pond; two lighthouses on both sides of the pond shone with lights, on the other side of the pond shields with the queen’s monogram were burning and cascades of multi-colored lights were falling "

Before the fireworks began, the empress was given a mechanical dove, and from her hand it flew to the shield with her image and Glory hovering above her; along with this shield, others flashed in an instant - both the pond and the garden were filled with bright light. During the fireworks display, several thousand large rockets were launched at once, and foreigners who were at the festival were surprised how a private person could waste several thousand pounds of gunpowder for a moment’s pleasure.

For banquets, the palace has a special hall with a buffet room that has access to the kitchen building. On especially special occasions, the table could be served in any dance hall of the estate - in the Mirror Gallery, in the Grotto or in the Great Greenhouse. Ready-made dishes were brought to the pantry from a separate kitchen building along a special trellis gallery, densely surrounded by linden trees.

The start of the gala dinner was announced to the guests by a cannon shot from the cannons standing under the windows of the banquet hall, which were echoed by shots from the yacht. The table amazed not only with the quantity and sophistication of dishes and dishes, but also with exotic fruits and dish components.

The long feast was turned into a show. The hall for the gala dinner was decorated with flowers and orange trees in tubs. By the size and number of these trees one could judge the size of the owner’s capital; for example, in Kuskovo, Count Sheremetev had about 600 orange trees.

It was customary to place a small bouquet in front of each device. These bouquets carried a personal wish to the guest and, knowing the meaning of each flower according to the then fashionable “language of flowers,” the guest had to independently decipher this message.

The mirrored or white gallery, used as a ballroom or as a banquet room on special occasions, overlooks the park.

Someone might need a map.

For those who are going to take a walk in Kuskovo in the near future. What's new for the summer of 2016? Firstly, two male peacocks were brought into the poultry house, who compete in beauty and scream heart-rendingly at the whole world. It is impossible to photograph them properly, the bars of the grille are too dense, the lens does not fit through, and any photo will have a stripe from the grille.

Spasskaya Church under repair. It works, but the scaffolding outside really spoils the view.

There are now only pies and coffee on the estate. You can eat kebabs outside, at the entrance, which is opposite the island. I recommend that motorists park there instead of in the main parking lot; it is much closer to walk from here.

Historical reference:
Kuskovo, Moscow district (now within Moscow), from the 16th century. and until 1917 belonged to the Sheremetevs.
One of the most famous representatives of this family was the boyar (from 1682), field marshal general (from 1701) B. P. Sheremetev. His merits in the military and public fields were appreciated by Peter I: in 1706 he became the first Russian count (F.A. Golovin and A.D. Menshikov were counts of the Roman Empire) and received 2,400 peasant households.
The founder of the count branch of the Sheremetevs was distinguished by his ease of use, generosity and generosity towards the poor. After the death of the field marshal, all his estates, including Kuskovo, were received by gr. Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev (1713-1788). Marriage in 1743 to Varvara Alekseevna Cherkasskaya (1714-1767), the only heiress of the Chancellor Prince. A. M. Cherkassky, made P. B. Sheremetev the richest man in Russia: the number of serfs reached 160 thousand people.
Perovo, Ostankino, Veshnyaki and other villages joined the Sheremetevs' possessions near Moscow. However, Kuskovo became the main estate of P.B. and V.A. Sheremetev near Moscow, on the construction of which they spent huge amounts of money.
The location of the buildings of the architectural complex developed mainly by the mid-1750s.
The ensemble included a wooden palace, a park with 17 ponds, numerous fountains, waterfalls, grottoes, drawbridges, park structures: “Italian” and “Dutch” houses, “Grotto”, “Greenhouse”, etc.
The pride of Kuskov was a huge theater, which surpassed the Moscow one in wealth and was the first among the other serf theaters. Kuskovo was famous for its magnificent holidays, which attracted up to 50 thousand walking visitors, not counting invited guests with tickets, the number of which exceeded 2 thousand people. The celebrations organized by the owners in honor of the arrival of noble guests were particularly pompous. Empress Catherine II visited here more than once; in 1775 she came with the Austrian Emperor Joseph, and in 1787, during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of her reign, with the entire court and retinue.
The brilliant era of Kuskov did not end with the death of his organizer. At gr. Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev (1751-1809), a great connoisseur of music and art, the theater in Kuskovo flourished even more than under his father.
In subsequent years, the estate belonged to his son Dmitry Nikolaevich (1803-1871), then the grandson of Count. Sergei Dmitrievich Sheremetev (1844-1918).
After the October Revolution of 1917, the Kuskovo estate of the Counts Sheremetevs was nationalized. In accordance with the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of October 23, 1918, the State Museum-Estate "Kuskovo" was created, which was open to the public from May 1, 1919. This decision of the Soviet government made it possible to preserve intact the unique estate complex with monuments of architecture and landscape art, as well as extensive art, library and archival funds.

Toponymy:
Kuskovo is an architectural and artistic ensemble of the 18th century. in the east of Moscow.
Brief description of interesting objects located on the territory:
The palace is the main building in the country pleasure estate of Count Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev in Kuskovo. The “Big House,” as the Palace was called in the 18th century, was built in 1769-1775 under the leadership of the Moscow architect Karl Blank and was intended for the ceremonial reception of guests in the summer.
The Dutch House is the earliest surviving entertainment pavilion of the Kuskovo estate. It was built in 1749 in memory of the era of Peter I and his passion for Holland. This “architectural souvenir” was the first to greet guests entering Kuskovo across the drawbridge. During the heyday of the estate, it was the center of a small ensemble on the shore of the bay-pond
Of the numerous “undertakings” of the brilliant Kuskov of the 18th century, only the architectural ensemble of the Italian Pond has been preserved with the greatest completeness. It was built in 1754-1755 under the leadership of Yu.I. Kologrivova. The Italian house served as a palace for “small receptions.” In the southwestern part of the Kuskovo regular park there is the Hermitage pavilion. It was built in 1765-67, under the “supervision” of Karl Ivanovich Blank, a famous Moscow architect. The peculiarity of this building is the close interweaving of several styles. The smooth, rounded shapes of the facades are superimposed on a strict, precise order system of classicism, which, however, also contains baroque features, for example, alabaster busts of Roman Caesars located in special niches under the cornice.
Over time and in the events of history, its decorative decoration, carving details, wall panels, and mirrors were almost completely lost. Only the typesetting parquet in the round offices, as well as fragments of the ceiling painting on the second floor, have survived to this day.
Ceremonial and hothouse greenhouses were an indispensable element in Russian gardening ensembles of the 2nd half of the 18th century. Exotic heat-loving plants were kept and grown in them. In summer, plants were displayed in tubs in the open air, decorating the park's stalls and alleys. Their crowns were cut in the form of geometric shapes, ships, human figures and fantastic animals, which harmoniously combined with the architectural and sculptural decoration of the park.
The Air Theater is a rare example of the synthesis of architectural, park and stage art. Similar theaters spread in Russia in rich Russian estates of the 18th century, along with terraces and grottoes. It consisted of an amphitheater for spectators and a stage area. The stage, located on an artificial hill 1.5 m high, surrounded by birch bosquets, inside of which strawberries and wild strawberries were grown, was decorated along the edges with a high wall of trimmed barberries. Six pairs of wings were made up of a spruce trellis, the maintenance of which was difficult, but justified by its excellent acoustics. The top of the stage was covered with a grass carpet, and during theatrical performances - with a wooden flooring. The turf amphitheater, consisting of three semicircular benches with a passage in the center, was designed for 80-100 spectators.
Interesting facts related to the history and modernity of the territory:
Currently, the State Museum of Ceramics and the Kuskovo Estate of the 18th Century is one of the largest Moscow museums, possessing historically established collections of a high artistic level. The total art, library and archival collection of the museum currently amounts to more than 50 thousand items.
The harmonious symbiosis of the architectural and park ensemble and various art collections is ensured by both traditional museum activities - storage, exhibition, study and popularization of historical monuments, and the revival of theatrical, entertainment, concert, and festival forms within the framework of the museum's estate culture.
With the onset of the summer season, the Kuskovo estate opens its state rooms not only for tourists, but also for lovers of classical music. The museum hosts already traditional concerts and festivals, where the best Russian and foreign performers consider it an honor to perform.
There is a special charm in such concerts - the audience is surrounded not only by live classical music, but also by music frozen in the beauty of architectural monuments and a regular French park. In 1932, the Moscow Porcelain Museum with the richest nationalized collections of Russian, Western, Eastern porcelain, ceramics and glass by famous patrons A.V. Morozov, L.K. Zubalov, D.I. Shchukin and others was located on the territory of the museum. their official unification took place under the name “State Museum of Ceramics and “Kuskovo Estate of the 18th Century”. In subsequent years, the museum's collections were completed by acquiring antiques, works of contemporary ceramic artists and glassmakers, as well as exhibits donated by the owners.
Area and length of the territory:
Forest park with an area of ​​310.6 hectares.

It took place on September 8, 2012. The day was changeable - either the bright sun would come out and the sky would turn bright blue, then suddenly a dark gray cloud would hang overhead, it would get dark and it seemed like it was going to rain. But God was merciful. The rain never fell and we were able to enjoy this absolute beauty.
In general, it is very difficult to write about this kind of sights - it may turn out to be a historical (or architectural) essay or an ode of praise. But in fact, Kuskovo should just be seen, enjoyed, contemplated.

However, we cannot do without general descriptions, if only because not everyone has been to Kuskovo and not everyone knows what this wonderful place is. And the place to visit is really worthy - it’s a good place to spend a day off, take a walk in the park, go to museums, or even hold your wedding. The impressions will be unforgettable.

Let's structure our conversation about Kuskovo according to the following plan:

1. Kuskovo Estate - location, history, architecture, prices,
2. Photo report. Part 1. Palace, Dutch House, Grotto,
3. Photo report. Part 2. Regular French park, Italian house, Hermitage, Greenhouses.

Today is the first part of our conversation about the Kuskovo estate. The most important thing in my articles about Kuskovo will be photographs, because this is the genre chosen in this case.

Story. The Kuskovo estate is known as the summer country pleasure residence of the Sheremetevs. The heyday of life in the estate occurred at the time when Count Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev, the son of the famous field marshal of the Peter I era, the first Russian Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetev, lived there. He devoted more than 50 years to creating this magnificent place. But the estate did not arise suddenly; it was built on the site of a family estate, which the Sheremetevs had owned since the 16th century.

Kuskovo is a ceremonial residence and that says it all. Here everything was done in the image and likeness of the royal country residences and using the latest achievements of architecture of that time. Large and small receptions, celebrations, and events were held here.
But in addition to their rich, entertaining estate life, the Sheremetevs were also engaged in useful activities - they built churches, did charity work, and also created their own home theater, which was considered one of the best in Russia in the 18th century. and competed with the imperial court theater. Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev was especially “sick” of the theater.

Everyone knows the story of Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev’s true but tragic love for the serf actress of his theater, Praskovya Zhemchugova.
"As a little girl, Parasha was taken to study at the count's house for her talent and beauty. As a teenager, she fell in love with her master - and this is not surprising. Nikolai Sheremetev was good-looking, educated, civilized. Both of them adored the art of opera. This could only remain an affair, but it grew into great love. The fragile Parasha devoted her entire short life (she lived for 34 years) to singing and to Nikolai Petrovich. Now imagine. What it was like to break away from your peasant roots and never become a countess in the eyes of high society. The peasants called her "the master's canary", i.e. a mistress. And the nobles, despite the fact that they admired Parasha’s singing (she had a rare voice) and gave her gifts (the empress herself gave her a diamond ring), still looked down on her .
Parasha developed consumption early from her experiences. She could no longer sing. Nikolai Petrovich secretly married her, and Parasha bore him a son and died a few weeks later."

Location. The Kuskovo estate is located in the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow at the address: st. Yunosti, 2. There are two entrances to the estate: the first - central - from the street. Yunosti and the second - from Dvortsovoy Proezd. We took a detour - along Oranzhereynaya Street and Dvortsovy Proezd, where it was easier to park the car. In general, there is a lot of transport on weekends due to the fact that many wedding groups come to Kuskovo to hold a wedding, as well as a photo shoot. And not in vain - the photographs here turn out fabulous, a memory for a lifetime.
Entrance to the estate paid - both to the territory and to the Palace and other pavilions. I think that the information shown in the photo below from the announcements at the checkout will be useful to you. It's not very visible, but you can read it.

Map of the Kuskovo estate:

Architecture. The architectural ensemble of the estate is quite impressive:

1. Palace (Big House) (1769-1775)
2. Church of the All-Merciful Savior (1737-1739) and bell tower (1792).
3. Kitchen outbuilding (1756-1757).
4. Coach house and drying room (2nd half of the 19th century).
5. Pavilion "Grotto" (1755-1761/75)
6. Italian House (1755)
7. Menagerie (modern reconstruction)
8. Italian pond and canal with the Great Palace Pond and Menageries.
9. Aviary for birds (modern reconstruction)
10. Great stone greenhouse (1761-1763)
11. American Greenhouse (modern reconstruction).
12. Manager's house (1810).
13. Hermitage Pavilion (1765-1767)
14. Dutch House (1749)
15. Dutch pond
16. Swiss house (1870s).
17. Regular park
18. Column with a statue of Minerva
19. Air Theater (1763).
20. Entrances to the territory of the museum-estate

We are lucky - the estate is perfectly preserved and we can admire it to the fullest. Here are the main architectural objects of the estate.

Palace (1769-1775)- the main building in a country pleasure estate. This photo shows the southern side of the palace, overlooking the Great Pond.

The palace is made of wood, which is very clearly visible in the photograph.

Italian house (1755). The first floor of the pavilion was intended for storing rarities - paintings, sculptures and other works of art. The second floor was made in a palace style and was intended for small formal receptions.
The pavilion is currently undergoing restoration.

And here’s what the Dutch House looked like before (an old engraving):

Pavilion "Grotto" (1755-1761/75). The grotto is usually of great interest to visitors to the estate. And the question of particular interest is: why was it built? The answer is simple: such structures are purely southern buildings and it was usually customary to arrange a bathhouse or fountain there. And “cool” there on hot summer days.

Menagerie (modern reconstruction) located on the shore of the pond opposite the Grotto. There are 5 of them. They stand in a semicircle. Cute houses designed to keep birds. We found them during reconstruction.

Hermitage Pavilion (1765-1767). Hermitage - from the French ermitage - hermitage. Like other park pavilions, in the 18th century the Hermitage was used to receive guests, and its name emphasized the purpose of the pavilion, intended for amusement and entertainment in a close circle of select society.