Sheremetyev Estate Museum Kuskovo: history, how to get there, what to see. Beautiful Kuskovo Kuskovsky park history

Address: Russia, Moscow, Yunosti street (Ryazansky Prospekt metro station)
Main attractions: Palace, Italian house, Dutch house, Grotto Pavilion, Hermitage Pavilion, Large stone greenhouse, Church of the All-Merciful Savior
Coordinates: 55°44"10.7"N 37°48"30.9"E
Object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation

History of the estate

The first information about the estate is found in chronicles of the 16th century. The ancient estate, occupying more than 30 hectares of land, was located in the east of Moscow and belonged to one of the richest noble families in Russia - the Sheremetevs. At the beginning of the 17th century, apart from the boyar's courtyard and a wooden church, there was nothing else on the estate.

General view of the estate

Its heyday dates back to the 18th century, when the owner of the estate was Count Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev. He turned an ordinary courtyard into a luxurious architectural ensemble consisting of a palace, a park area and ponds. The owner organized lavish receptions at the estate, which sometimes attracted tens of thousands of guests.

Pavilions and elegant gazebos appeared for entertainment events held in the courtyard. In addition, the buildings of a greenhouse, a menagerie, a hunting lodge and a cabinet of curiosities were built. After the revolutionary events of 1917, the estate was nationalized, and two years later it became the State Museum, which was subsequently combined with the collection of the Museum of Ceramics.

Manor Palace

The estate territory is divided into three parts: the dammed area with the Menagerie, the English park “Guy” and the strict French park. The best preserved part of the estate is that located in its center.

The main place here is given to the palace or Great House, which was erected by order of the owner of the estate in the traditions of early classicism. The construction work was led by the architect Karl Blank, and they were carried out from 1769 to 1775. The palace building was built of wood, which was later plastered and painted with soft pink paint.

Church of the All-Merciful Savior with bell tower

The decoration of the façade was a portico with a colonnade. The one in the center bore the monogram of the Sheremetev family - the letters “PS” were located under the count’s crown. The porticos were decorated with carvings on the sides. The palace had two floors. The lower floor was occupied by wine cellars and utility rooms, and on the upper floor the owner held receptions. You could get into the palace building via the main staircase.

Pavilion "Grotto"

There was an Italian House for meeting guests or small receptions. It was built in the middle of the 18th century under the leadership of Yuri Ivanovich Kologrivov.

On the shore of the pond, an elegant Dutch house has survived to this day. It appeared earlier than other estate buildings. The unusual name was chosen by the owner of Kuskovo - Sheremetev, as a memory of the love of Tsar Peter I for Holland. The house was surrounded by a garden with tulips, and it looked very festive and attractive.

Pavilion "Greenhouse"

Another unusual structure is the baroque pavilion “Grotto”, personifying the elements of water and stone. It was built according to the design of Ivan Petrovich Argunov for 6 years, starting in 1755. The walls of the pavilion are decorated with limestone tuff and multi-colored glass.

For those who wanted privacy, there was the Hermitage pavilion, made in the traditions of early classicism. Here guests could have a private conversation and even have lunch, since special mechanisms raised the dining table into the Hermitage hall, located on the top floor.

Italian house

In the east of the park area there is an “Aviary” - a large round wooden cage designed for unusual birds. Dances and concerts were held in the central part of the Orangerie pavilion. It was connected by glass passages to other, smaller pavilions. To satisfy spiritual needs, the Church of the All-Merciful Savior stood on the Sheremetev estate.

Dutch house

Interior decoration of manor buildings

The original interiors have been preserved to this day in the palace - marble fireplaces, mirrors of unusual shapes, paintings, parquet, stucco, etc. The furniture in the halls is decorated with carvings and gilding, and the walls are covered with silk upholstery. The creation of interiors was carried out by Russian serfs and free craftsmen, as well as foreign furniture makers and masters of decorative and applied arts.

Swiss house

The porcelain collection of the Sheremetev family is exhibited in the Dutch House. These are mainly vases and tableware. Here you can also see beautiful paintings. The first floor of the house is decorated with unusual panels made of colored marble and antique sculptures.

The Grotto pavilion is divided into three parts - northern and southern rooms, and a central hall. On its walls hang landscapes depicting the sea and decorated with shells. In the pavilion you can see porcelain items made in the shape of various sea creatures. The central hall of the “Grotto” is painted like marble.

Hermitage Pavilion

Design of manor parks

There are many sculptures installed in the austere French park. This is the only example of a garden preserved in Moscow from the 18th century. The regular park contains small ponds, along the banks of which the main estate pavilions stand. The picturesque English park "Guy" did not have so many buildings. Here was only the House of Solitude, where the count’s family lived. The premises of the menagerie were located on the site of Zaprudny Park.

Aviary for birds

Modern life of an ancient noble residence

Today, the estate houses two large museum collections. This is the Kuskovo estate museum of the 18th century and the only ceramics museum in the whole country. The best examples of glass and ceramic products created by masters from different eras are collected here. The museum doors are open to visitors from May to September. The old estate is especially attractive in the summer, when all the park sculptures are open for inspection.

Several noble estates have been preserved in Moscow, and, of course, one of the most beautiful and interesting to visit is the Kuskovo estate, which belonged to the ancient Sheremetev family for almost 300 years. They owned houses in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Ostankino, Ostafyevo estates and many other estates, but it was Kuskovo that was created for entertainment: balls and luxurious receptions, so every corner of the estate was designed to please the eye.

Kuskovo estate. Castle

History of the Kuskovo estate

Already in the 16th century, the village of Kuskovo was mentioned as the property of the Sheremetevs; there was a manor house, premises for serfs and a wooden temple. In the era of Peter the Great, Boris Petrovich Sheremetev distinguished himself as a prominent military leader and statesman; he was the first in Russia to receive the title of count. Later he became related to Peter the Great by marrying his uncle's widow. It is known that the emperor himself was present at the magnificent wedding. However, at that time, Count Sheremetyev called his possessions east of Moscow a “piece”, since they were very small, hence the name Kuskovo. And the neighboring lands belonged to an important statesman, Prince A.M. Cherkassky. The son of Count Sheremetev, Pyotr Borisovich, married his only daughter and heir to his entire enormous fortune, thereby increasing his possessions several times. In the 18th century, the Kuskovo estate spread over an area of ​​230 hectares (for comparison, it now occupies approximately 32 hectares).

Under Pyotr Borisovich, an architectural and park ensemble of the estate was formed, which was divided into three parts: behind the pond there was a menagerie and a kennel, in the center there was a regular French park with a Grand Palace for receptions, and there was also an English park. Hundreds of serfs dug the Great Pond, in which fish were bred and served at ceremonial dinners. This pond was also used for boating. It is the central part of the estate with the palace and a beautiful park copied from Versailles that has been best preserved to this day.

Plan of the Kuskovo estate. Source: http://kuskovo.ru/

A linden alley leads from the gate to the Big House, and the crowns of the trees in the park have been given the shape of a ball. This is what distinguishes a French park from an English one: it is believed that in a French park everything should demonstrate the subordination of nature to man, while the English park looks more natural, and man only adapts to the natural landscape. Along the way we see the oldest building of the estate - the Church of the All-Merciful Savior with a bell tower, built in 1737 on the site of an old wooden church.

Church of the All-Merciful Savior

Then comes the Grand Palace, built specifically for ceremonial summer receptions. In appearance it appears to be made of stone, although it is made of wood. The best architects were invited to design the manor house, but ultimately they chose the design of K.I. Blanca.

Palace in Kuskovo

Now a soft pink palace with a front porch is reflected in the surface of the water of the Big Pond. There are ramps leading to the main entrance, which were created to allow guests to drive directly to the entrance of the house. These ramps are crowned with figures of sphinxes.

Palace in Kuskovo

We began our tour of the Kuskovo estate with a visit to the Big House. In those days when the Sheremetevs held balls here, only the most distinguished public were allowed into the palace. Usually there were no more than a hundred guests. While the entire estate could accommodate up to 30 thousand people.

Palace in Kuskovo

First, guests found themselves in an entrance hall-living room, the walls of which were decorated with Flemish tapestries made at the end of the 18th century. They depict fragments of a park very similar to the one that existed in the Kuskovo estate. In addition, here you can see a trellis with a portrait of Empress Catherine the Great, made in St. Petersburg. It is known that Catherine II attended receptions in Kuskovo six times, and many European kings and aristocrats attended balls at the estate with her.

Hallway-living room

We move into the crimson living room, where you can see busts of B.P. Sheremetev and his wife, portraits of Empress Catherine the Great, her son Pavel Petrovich and his wife, as well as a ceremonial portrait of Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev, who created this grandiose estate in the form that we now see.

Portrait of Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev

Raspberry living room

When guests entered the crimson living room, they heard music coming from the organ. Unfortunately, the clocks with moving figures that decorated this instrument have not survived to this day. The fact is that Napoleon’s troops stayed at the estate in 1812 and many valuables disappeared without a trace after their visit.

Front bedroom

Then there is an office-office where you can see a unique table for storing sheet music. On its tabletop, the author created a panorama of Kuskovo from different types of wood. The work was very difficult and painstaking; they say that at the end the master lost his sight and finished the table, no longer seeing the result. The office and the adjacent restroom, sofa and library belong to the count's personal chambers.

Office desk

Sofa

In addition, for the daytime rest of the owners and guests, a daily bedchamber was created.

Daily bedchamber

Here you can see “Portrait of the Kalmyk girl Annushka” by the Sheremetev serf artist I. Argunov. In those days, it was fashionable in Russia to keep Kalmyk children with you. They were kidnapped by the Cossacks during internecine wars between the Kalmyk khans, and then they brought the children to the capital and presented them to representatives of the nobility. Children were given Russian names, and Varvara Alekseevna Sheremeteva got herself such a pupil.

Portrait of a Kalmyk girl Annushka

In addition, in this room there are portraits of P.B.’s children. Sheremetev: heir Nikolai Petrovich and two daughters Anna and Varvara. Nikolai subsequently fell in love with his serf Praskovya Kovaleva-Zhemchugova, hired her the best teachers and enrolled her in the troupe of his serf theater. He gave stage names to his serf actors in honor of precious stones: Almazovs, Khrustalevs, Izumrudovs, Granatovs, Zhemchugovs, etc. This is how Praskovya Kovaleva received her new surname.

Due to his high position in society, the count could not immediately marry his beloved. For a long time he tried to get permission for an unequal marriage. As a result, only in 1800 they got married. However, soon after the birth of her son Dmitry, Countess Sheremeteva died. Six years later, the count also died, and their heir was raised by Praskovya Zhemchugova’s friend, former serf actress T.V. Shlykova-Granatova. But let's return to the palace.

Behind the daily bedchamber is a painting room, where works by Western European masters of the 16th-18th centuries are collected.

Picturesque

And immediately after the painting room is the largest room of the Big House - the Hall of Mirrors, where balls and dance evenings were held. The floor of this room was decorated with parquet made in St. Petersburg. Along one wall there is a series of windows facing the park, and on the other side there are mirrors that visually expand the space. During our visit to the palace, the Ballroom was being prepared for a concert, so the entire room was filled with chairs for spectators.

Hall of Mirrors

In general, musical evenings and concerts are often held in the Big House in Kuskovo. At one time, the Crystal Turandot theater award was even presented here. In addition, a huge number of films were filmed on the territory of the Kuskovo estate: “Vivat Midshipmen”, “Secrets of Palace Coups”, “Property of the Republic”, “Hello, I am your aunt!”, “Admiral” and many others.

In another wing of the Big House there is a State Dining Room, a Billiard Room, the Count's Bedroom and a Music Room. We go out into the manor park with a regular layout.

Kuskovo Estate Park

All elements of the park are subject to certain rules; it is distinguished by a geometric layout, the symmetry of all objects, the use of marble statues for decoration and the giving of shrubs and trees of various shapes. In the 18th century, it was the largest French park in Russia, which housed several pavilions.

Kuskovo Estate Park

Kuskovo Estate Park

Dutch house

The very first one was built in 1749, a Dutch house in memory of the era of Peter the Great. This pavilion was also intended for guests to relax.

Dutch house

There was a kitchen on the ground floor, and a guest room on the second floor. The walls of this room are lined with Rotterdam tiles from floor to ceiling and decorated with objects from all over the world. The owner of the estate selected them so that they illustrated the life of the Dutch as Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev imagined it.

In the Dutch house

In the Dutch house

The walls of the Dutch house were decorated with about 120 paintings by Flemish artists. On the other side of the park, a Grotto was built symmetrically to the Dutch house.

Grotto in Kuskovo

Unlike the wooden palace, it was built of stone, so on a hot day there was a pleasant coolness inside. In Italy, baths were located in similar grottoes, but in Kuskovo this pavilion was also created for relaxation and a pleasant pastime.

Grotto Kuskovo

It is known that Catherine II dined in this Grotto during one of her visits. Despite the fact that it was built quite quickly, its interior decoration took about twenty years. Shells brought from all over the world were used to decorate the walls: from distant oceans to reservoirs near Moscow. In addition, marble chips and colored glass were used in the decoration.

Inside the grotto

Italian house

In the 18th century in Kuskovo there were 17 ponds full of fish, which the Sheremetev guests could feed.

Hermitage Pavilion

The Hermitage pavilion, in which the guests closest to Count Sheremetev rested, has also been preserved in the park. A similar house with the same name exists in Peterhof.

Hermitage Pavilion

Just like in Petrodvorets, the Hermitage in Kuskovo has two floors. Downstairs there was a servant who prepared food and set the table. Guests were accommodated on the second floor, to which they were lifted by a special elevator mechanism. When it was time for lunch, the table was lowered down, also with the help of a special device, and raised with a wide variety of dishes. This allowed noble visitors to avoid encountering service staff at all. In the 19th century, the lifting mechanism of the Hermitage broke down and now we will no longer be able to see it in action. Unfortunately, many interior items of this pavilion were lost. Now it is mainly used as an exhibition hall.

Greenhouse in Kuskovo

Exotic plants were once grown in the Great Stone Gallery, and on the day of our visit to the estate there was an exhibition of glass products. The nearby American greenhouse houses exhibits of a unique ceramics museum in Russia, containing more than 40 thousand objects from all over the world from ancient times to the present day. This museum was created after the revolution on the basis of the porcelain collection of a representative of the old merchant family A. Morozov.

Greenhouse

Fortunately, the Kuskovo estate has survived to this day in excellent condition, including thanks to careful restoration work. The palace and park ensemble of the 18th century estate, which has no analogues in our country, is very well preserved here. It’s pleasant to stroll through the park in Kuskovo at any time of the year, and the interiors of the palace and pavilions amaze with their elegance and impeccable design. Years have passed, but the masterpieces of architecture and garden art created at the expense of Count Sheremetev still delight guests of the estate.

How to get to the Kuskovo estate:

Address: 111402, Moscow, Yunosti street, building 2

Official website of Kuskovo

Opening hours: Grotto, Palace, Italian House, Dutch House, American Greenhouse, Hermitage, Large Stone Greenhouse are open from 10.00 to 18.00 (Monday, Tuesday, and the last Wednesday of the month the museum is closed).

• m. "Novogireevo"(from the metro - trolleybus 64, bus 615, 247, stop "Ulitsa Yunosti").
• m. "Ryazan Avenue"(from the metro bus 133 and 208, stop "Museum Kuskovo")
• m. "Vykhino", then by bus 620, minibus 9M, stop "Kuskovo Museum").

The flourishing of the estate is associated with the name of Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev. In the 1750-1770s in Kuskovo with the participation of Yu.I. Kologrivov, an estate appeared with a palace, “pleasure activities”, a large park and ponds. This is completely the creation of the hands of serfs - thousands of peasants from surrounding villages were driven to these swampy places to build the estate.

In 1774, according to the design of Karl Blanc (there is a version that the architect was Charles de Wailly), a palace was built in Kuskovo next to the temple in the name of the Origin of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord. Its layout corresponds to the fashionable enfilade arrangement of rooms. A white stone staircase and gentle ramps with sphinxes lead to the main entrance - descents for carriages to enter. On the pediment is the Sheremetev coat of arms with the phrase “God protects everything.” And, indeed, the palace was preserved, despite the fact that in 1812 Marshal Ney’s corps stopped there.

The Kuskovo estate was intended for lavish receptions and entertainment. For this purpose, pavilions and gazebos, a greenhouse and a cabinet of curiosities, a menagerie and a hunting lodge in the Gothic style were built.

The palace in Kuskovo is framed by a French regular park with ponds and marble sculpture. Its straight paths form a regular geometric pattern. At the intersection of the paths there is either a statue or a pavilion. And on the main axis of the park there is an obelisk from 1787 and a column with a statue of the goddess Minerva, patroness of the arts, sciences and crafts.

North of the regular park in Kuskovo there was a landscape English park with many attractions. Among them were the Philosophical House, the Temple of Silence, the Indian Hut, the Haystack, the Lion's Cave, the Chaumière (hut in French), and the retreat house where P.B. died. Sheremetev. To create this park, a lot of effort also had to be made: trees selected in color and shape were planted in certain places, and alleys were cut.

The Italian house in Kuskovo served as a palace for “small receptions”. At the same time, the pavilion’s interior reflected the characteristic 18th-century interest in collecting “rarities” and rare works of art. This gave the small palace the character of a museum.

The Dutch house in Kuskovo was built in 1749 in memory of the era of Peter I. This “architectural souvenir” greeted guests. He was the center of the ensemble on the shore of a pond with carps that swam to feed at the ringing of the bell. The Dutch house immediately drew you into a world of fantasy: windows with frequent, “thirty-two glass” sashes, “urban development” with a “Pillar” gazebo, a pond similar to a Dutch canal, a tiny garden with tulips and hyacinths, a vegetable garden with asparagus and cabbage - all this was supposed to evoke associations with Holland.

During the heyday of Kuskovo, the Hermitage Pavilion was intended only for the owner’s friends who wanted privacy during the ball. The second floor could only be reached using a mechanical elevator. The ground floor was intended for servants, and drinks and snacks were served upstairs using a lifting mechanism. Any of the sixteen plates on the table could be lowered and raised separately. Guests wrote the name of the desired dish on the boards under each plate and rang a bell - the plate was lowered to the first floor, the servants passed the order to the cooks, and then sent it back.

In 1755-1761, a Grotto designed by F. Argunov appeared in Kuskovo. The stone pavilion in the Baroque style is lavishly decorated with sculptures and lion masks above the windows. This is the only pavilion in Russia that has preserved its unique “grotto” decoration from the 18th century.

There were other entertainments - the Alley of Games, the Carousel, the “amusing flotilla”, the estate “museums”, the library. The estate also included service and outbuildings: Kennel and Stable yards, Menageries for keeping waterfowl, American greenhouses for growing exotic plants and fruits, which also served as a concert hall, Aviary for birds, and kitchens.

Palace of the luxurious nobleman,
Moscow's favorite helicopter,
Where a day was more precious than life
Among countless joys,
Than a year in another beautiful country!
Do you know the fate of the unfortunate?..
New delights all the time
They changed there like clouds;
Kuskovo was a spare place for everyone, -
Just ask for bird's milk:
Wherever you stretch five fingers,
You will find pleasantries everywhere.

But the son of Pyotr Borisovich Sheremetev was more interested in the theatrical Ostankin. And Kuskovo, which he abandoned, began to decay. Although the Sheremetevs did not abandon the estate, and it continued to attract the public, Kuskovo lost its former greatness.

In 1919, the estate received the status of a State Museum, and in 1938 it merged with the only ceramics museum in Russia, the basis of which 30,000-strong collection was the personal collection of porcelain by A.V. Morozova.

The estate is now open for inspection. The aerial theater is also being revived, with a clearing serving as the stage and fir trellises serving as the backstage.

They say that......no money was spared on the Kuskovsky Theater. It was built by the French architect Charles de Wailly. The three tiers of boxes and the proscenium were decorated luxuriously. Sheremetev's performances were performed free of charge on Thursdays and Sundays. All of Moscow flocked to see them. Because of this, the then owner of the Moscow private theater Medox filed a complaint against Sheremetev that he was taking spectators away from him.
...when choosing a location for the Kuskovo estate, proximity to the summer residence of Empress Elizabeth in Perovo played a role.

Kuskovo in photographs from different years:

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In the east of Moscow in the Veshnyakovsky district there is the ancient Kuskovo estate. This is a summer country estate of the famous Sheremetev family. The architectural and park ensemble of the 18th century, which includes about 20 monuments, has been perfectly preserved to this day. Today it houses the State Museum of Ceramics and the Kuskovo Estate.

If your soul asks for peace and quiet, go to Kuskovo. Here you will take a break from city noise, problems and an endless flow of information. As if by magic, you will be transported back three centuries and find yourself on a small island of harmony and beauty.

History of the Kuskovo estate

Since the 16th century, the life and history of Kuskovo has been inextricably linked with the Sheremetev family.

The estate reached its greatest prosperity in the second half of the 18th century under Count Petr Borisovich Sheremetev. The estate became famous not only in the Russian Empire, but also in Europe.

By this time, the construction of the main and service buildings had been completed, parks had been laid out, and a system of canals, ponds and bridges had been built.

Kuskovo folk festivals attracted up to 30 thousand participants. Twice a week everyone who came was received. It all began with a solemn service. Then the guests were treated to folklore performances, boat rides, fireworks, singing, music, games and entertainment. Such fun could not have happened without traditional theatrical performances and palace balls. The Sheremetev Fortress Theater played one of the leading roles in the cultural life of Moscow in the 18th century.

Famous guests and monarchs came here. The estate was visited by Catherine II, the Polish king, and the Austrian emperor.

All this splendor was inherited from his father by the count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev. A great expert in European theater, he organized training for serfs in acting, music and singing.

Legends of the Kuskovo estate

Every ancient estate has legends and traditions, usually associated with some real romantic story. There was such a story in Kuskovo: the count’s deep and devoted love for a young peasant girl.

The muse and love of his life was for Nikolai Petrovich the famous serf artist of his theater, Praskovya Ivanovna Kovaleva-Zhemchugova. Empress Catherine II herself admired her voice and performance on stage. Parasha, as the actress was lovingly called, was the owner of not only outstanding talent, but also high spiritual qualities.

Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev was secretly married to Praskovya Ivanovna. Son Dmitriy, born from this marriage, inherited the estate in the 19th century.

The last representative of the Sheremetev family who owned these lands was the son of Dmitry Nikolaevich - Sergey Dmitrievich.

In the 19th century, Kuskovo lost its significance as a summer estate for lavish receptions and became a favorite countryside vacation spot for Muscovites.

After the revolution of 1917, the Kuskovo estate was nationalized and turned into a museum. In 1937, a merger took place with the Moscow Porcelain Museum under the general name “State Museum of Ceramics and “Kuskovo Estate of the 18th Century”. It contains Russia's largest collection of ceramics, porcelain and glass from European and Eastern countries. The general fund includes more than 50 thousand exhibits from antiquity to the present day.

Walk around the estate

The Kuskovo estate amazes visitors with its beauty and integrity of style. It is not for nothing that for the fourth century in a row Kuskovo has been one of the most favorite vacation spots of Muscovites.

Here the plastic arts merged in a single harmony: architecture, sculpture, painting with gardening culture, music and theater.

Upon entering the estate, you will find yourself on a central alley running along the Big Pond. On its shore there are: Church, Castle And Kitchen outbuilding.

The oldest architectural monument of the estate ishouse churchin the name of the All-Merciful Savior. The building has remained almost unchanged.

The heart of Kuskovo estate architecture is Castle. Its two-story building is designed in the style of early Russian classicism with columns and a grand staircase. From the main entrance there is a view of the Big Pond. From the northern facade of the Palace - exit to french park.

The park has no surviving analogues in Moscow. The strict geometric style of the paths and plantings is enlivened by the beauty of white marble sculptures by Italian and Russian masters of the 18th century. The alternation of flower beds and carpets of greenery in the open air is completed Large stone greenhouse. They not only grew plants in it, but also received guests. For this purpose, a dance hall and entertainment rooms were built.

To the right of the Palace is the Italian corner. It's fabulously gorgeous Grotto, graceful Italian house and a cheerful row Menagerey, which once housed waterfowl.

Italian housewas created as a palace for “small receptions”. Rare works of art were displayed here.

Stands out for its beauty and unusual architecture Pavilion "Grotto". The three-part baroque building is located on the shore Italian pond. It seems to flow down its steps into its clear waters. The building is designed for coolness and relaxation on hot summer days.

Italian corner: grotto, pond

If you walk a little deeper into the park and then turn left, you will certainly end up in Hermitage pavilion(from French - “hermit’s hut”). It was a place for special meetings of the owner's closest friends.

The Dutch corner is located on the left side of the park, closer to the central alley. Double decker Dutch house- the earliest of the amusement pavilions. It was built in honor of Peter I. Near the house there is a canal and a Dutch pond.

You can have a cup of coffee, tea or a small snack at cafe, located at the end of the park, about American greenhouse.

Nestled not far from the cafe ceramic workshop. Pass here master classes in pottery. But before you start sculpting yourself, it is recommended to see how high-class masters did it. To do this you need to visit exhibitions.

Exhibitions at the Kuskovo Museum

• In the Great Stone Greenhouse: “Ode to Glass.” Dedicated to the history of glassmaking from antiquity to the 20th century.
• In the Hermitage pavilion: “The irrevocable mirage of a pastoral paradise...” A gallant age in porcelain. The works of the largest European manufactories of the 18th – early 19th centuries are presented.
• In the American Greenhouse: “Open Fund. Russian porcelain of the 18th – early 20th centuries.”
• “Her soul was a temple of virtue.” Dedicated to Praskovya Ivanovna Kovaleva-Zhemchugova (Countess Sheremeteva). Located in the eastern part of the Palace in the chambers of Count Nikolai Petrovich.

Returning from the greenhouses to the central alley, do not forget to look into the large carved gazebo in the form of a cage - Aviary for birds. Peacocks and golden hunting pheasants live there.

Kuskovo at different times of the year

The Kuskovo estate is good at any time of the year. The gold of autumn, winter decoration, spring freshness, the riot of summer - everything suits her. It's always interesting here, there's always something to do. In warm and dry weather, you can ride a bicycle or roller skate along the alleys. Sledding and skiing, wallowing in clean snow - in winter. In the heat of summer, enjoy a boat ride on the Big Pond. Here, with any number of visitors, you can find a secluded corner to be in silence, read a book, or listen to birdsong. Or you can simply wander along the alleys and contemplate the beautiful views of the estate.

Things to do in Kuskovo

Do you want to take a ride around the estate? in a carriage drawn by a pair of horses?

A crew and an experienced driver are at your service.

Do you like music concerts? Welcome to the Palace. Every year from May to September, the Ballroom of the Palace hosts concerts and festivals ancient instrumental and organ music, performances by vocalists.

Weddings in Kuskovo

The Kuskovo estate provides the opportunity to get married almost like a king. Those who have submitted an application to the Perovsky Civil Registry Office in Moscow can register their marriage in the Kuskovo estate in the White Hall of the Italian House.

You can negotiate with the priest about the wedding, order carriages with horses, photographers and cameramen.

Opening hours of the Kuskovo Museum

The museum is open daily:

• Palace, Grotto, Italian House, Dutch House - from 10.00 to 16.00
• American Orangery, Large Stone Orangery, Hermitage and Regular French Park - from 10.00 to 18.00
• Cash desks are open from 10.00 to 17.30

The museum is closed:

• Monday and Tuesday, the last Wednesday of the month is a sanitary day.
• Every 3rd Sunday of the month the museum is open free of charge.

Entrance fee to the Kuskovo Museum (RUB)

Below is the cost of entry to the estate and museums

Object of visit/Adult ticket/students, pensioners, etc.

• Architectural and park ensemble of the 18th century - 40 /30
• Palace - 150/50
• Hermitage with exhibition - 100/50
• Large stone greenhouse with exhibition - 150/50
• Dutch house - 50/40
• Italian house - 50/40
• Mainsail - 100/50
• American greenhouse with exhibition -150/50
• Photo / video / wedding photography -100/200/1000

A purchased ticket to one of the park pavilions gives you the right to enter the museum.

The museum offers tours of the architectural and park ensemble, displays and exhibitions. Visitors have the opportunity to order excursion services in advance or directly on the day of visiting the museum.

For children

For junior and senior schoolchildren, a variety of children's programs, travel games and activity games are offered.

• Registration for excursions: tel.: +7 495 375 31 31, answering machine +7 495 370 01 60, [email protected] , [email protected]
• Address of the Kuskovo Museum:111402, Moscow, Yunosti street, building 2.
• Official website of the Kuskovo Museum: http://kuskovo.ru/

How to get to the Kuskovo estate

• metro station "Ryazansky Prospekt", then bus. 133 and 208 to the stop. "Museum of Kuskovo";
• metro station "Vykhino", then bus. 620, route. taxi 9M to the stop. "Museum of Kuskovo";
• metro station "Novogireevo", then trol. 64, auto. 615, 247 to the stop. "Street of Youth".

That is, there are several ways to get to the estate by metro with further transfers to a bus or trolleybus.

And the palace, dating back to the early 1770s, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, wooden house in Moscow. Since 1919, the Kuskovo State Estate Museum has been opened here. The estate of Counts Sheremetev has survived to this day almost in its original form.

History of the estate

The first documentary mentions of Kuskov date back to the beginning of the 16th century, when V.A. Sheremetev exchanged land from A.A. Pushkin. Since then, the Sheremetev family owned the estate for almost 300 years, and if it was sold, it was only within the family. Thus, an associate of Peter I, commander and diplomat, Field Marshal Boris Petrovich Sheremetev bought Kuskovo from his brother in 1715.

Under his son, Count Pyotr Borisovich, who inherited the estate in 1719, Kuskovo gained European fame. This was largely due to his advantageous marriage.

The fact is that the Sheremetevs owned only a small plot, and all other lands in the district belonged to State Chancellor Alexei Mikhailovich Cherkassky. After the marriage in 1743 of Count Pyotr Borisovich with the prince’s only daughter Varvara, who was a maid of honor at the highest court and was considered the richest bride in Russia, the Sheremetevs became the sole owners of these lands. By the way, at first Varvara Alekseevna was betrothed to the famous satirist Prince Antioch Cantemir, who refused the marriage, believing that marriage would interfere with his literary and scientific pursuits. Peter Sheremetev, having retired from court service, was glad to start improving the estate. He personally supervised construction work in all areas: the layout of the park, the construction and decoration of the palace and pavilions. The Kuskovsky ensemble as a whole was formed in the years 1750–1770.

The wooden palace, built under the leadership of the famous Moscow architect Karl Blank in the style of early Russian classicism, was intended for the ceremonial reception of guests in the summer. The palace was two-story and consisted of a main floor and a mezzanine, on a high stone plinth. A white stone staircase and gentle ramps lead to the main entrance of the palace - descents for carriages to enter.

Estate structure

The earliest building of the estate is the Church of the All-Merciful Savior, built in 1737 in the “Anninsky Baroque” style, and the bell tower, on the contrary, is the latest of the estate buildings. Together with the palace and the kitchen wing, these buildings form the ensemble of the Court of Honor, located on the shore of the Big Pond.

Soon the fame of the brilliant “summer country pleasure residence” of the Sheremetev family spread throughout Russia and even Europe. Kuskov's main purpose at that time was to entertain and surprise numerous guests. In the 1770–1780s, Kuskovo was visited by up to 30 thousand people per reception, including crowned persons: Empress Catherine II visited here in 1774, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II and many others also visited Kuskovo.

The holiday program included folklore performances, boat rides accompanied by choir singing, fireworks, orchestras, naval parades, games and carousels and, of course, balls and theatrical performances.

The entire structure of the estate was subordinated to the idea of ​​amusement and celebration, where there was a game alley, a carousel, a “funny flotilla,” estate “museums” and a library. There was “Diogenes” here, dug into the ground - he was sitting in an oak vat with a removable lid; The philosopher was made of alabaster and painted to match the color of the natural body, he had with him an ant jug and a corded book bound in leather.

In the only French regular park in Moscow with marble sculptures and a complex system of ponds, canals and bridges, numerous pavilions were scattered, many of which have survived to this day. “The ponds of Kuskov were full of expensive fish; there was so much fish that 2,000 crucian carp were caught in a seine at a time, and once a shell with pearls was taken out of the pond; in the old days there were several fishermen’s huts on the pond, there were yachts with boats and boats, there was an island with ruins, there were sailors in skippers’ caftans of coffee and cherry color with white buttons,”– wrote the researcher of old Moscow Mikhail Pylyaev.

In the western and eastern parts of the estate, the Dutch and Italian pavilions were built, which have survived to this day in the best possible condition. The earliest of the entertainment pavilions of the Kuskovo estate - the Dutch House, built in 1749 in memory of the era of Peter I - was the first to greet guests entering the estate through the drawbridge. This house was entirely lined inside with tiles or tiles of the most varied designs, with a marble floor, and the walls were decorated with many paintings with Dutch views of the Flemish school depicting domestic life. The Italian house served as a palace for “small receptions” and at the same time as a storage place for rare works of art. In the eastern part of the Kuskovo park, on the shore of a small picturesque pond, there is the Grotto pavilion.

This baroque building with a stone vase on the dome and columns was built in 1756–1761 by the Sheremetev serf architect Fyodor Argunov. Currently, the Kuskovo Grotto is the only pavilion in Russia that has preserved its unique decoration from the 18th century, and, without a doubt, it is the most exotic among the architectural structures of the estate.

In the southwestern part of the park there is the Hermitage pavilion (from the French ermitage - hermit's hut), which was used to receive guests who could retire on the second floor without servants (it could only be reached using an elevator). The pavilion was built in 1765–1767 under the “supervision” of Karl Blanc. 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. But the museum carried out enormous restoration work (the architecture and sculpture of the facades were restored, the parquet floors and stairs were restored), and the Hermitage opened to visitors in 2013.

In addition, two greenhouses were built in Kuskovo, without which almost no estate could do at that time. The American Orangery was built in the 1750s in the northeastern part of the regular park. In 1763, according to the design of the serf architect Fyodor Argunov, the Large Stone Orangery was created, which became the largest pavilion of the palace and park ensemble of the estate. In addition to growing fruits and flowers, it was also used for receiving guests. Inside the pavilion there was a “voxal”, a small round dance hall with choirs for musicians.

Theaters Kuskovo

In Kuskovo, in addition to the permanent theater (New with 150 seats), there was also an “aerial stage” in a garden of linden trellises with a large amphitheater for 80–100 seats. “There was such an “air theater” in Neskuchnoye, the village of D.V. Golitsyn. The grove near the theater was once an excellent English garden, and in this grove stood the summer house of Count Pyotr Borisovich, where he constantly lived during his “non-reception” days. This house was called “the house of solitude,” writes Mikhail Pylyaev, a researcher of old Moscow. Here the count received only close friends.

Created in the 1760s, the “aerial theater” provided an opportunity to see the performance for the public who watched the performance from the paths of the park.

“The common people died with laughter at every funny word, giving their own interpretation to everything, and thus presented another very entertaining spectacle.”,” wrote an unknown participant in one of the Kuskovo holidays.

The serf theater was always important for the life of the estate, and under Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev it completely eclipsed the rest of the serf theaters of the empire: its own theater orchestra, rich scenery, costumes from the best tailors. Pylyaev provides the following data: in 1811, according to an inventory made in the theater, there were seventeen chests of “theater dress” of brocade, silk, etc., and 76 chests of various headdresses, feathers, shoes, etc.

The count sent his actors to study in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and they were taught not only acting, but also languages ​​and poetry. But what made the favorite of Paul I, chief marshal of the highest court, Nikolai Sheremetev, famous throughout Russia was not his theater or public service, but the fact that he officially married the serf actress Praskovya Kovaleva-Zhemchugova.

We must not forget that the enlightened Russian nobility perfectly combined advanced European ideas and aristocratic education with the Eastern way of life. Many landowners had harems of serf girls, who were sometimes kept in very harsh conditions. There could be no question of refusing the master or his guests. Therefore, Sheremetev’s many years of requests, first to Paul I, then to Alexander I, to allow an official marriage with his beloved actress (whom, however, he had long given his freedom) met with absolute misunderstanding and refusal. And only in 1801, the fifty-year-old Count Sheremetev received a gift from the young Emperor Alexander I - a special edict that gave him the right to marry the Polish noblewoman Paraskeva Kovalevskaya (the documents about the nobility, of course, were fake).

In 1803, a son, Count Dmitry, was born into the Sheremetev family, and twenty days after the birth of her son, Praskovya Sheremeteva-Zhemchugova died. The count's life lost its meaning. In 1804, he finally dissolved his serf theater and became involved in charity work. In memory of his beloved, he built in Moscow (now the building of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine).

Kuskovo estate in the 19th century

When the French occupied Moscow in 1812, soldiers of Marshal Ney were stationed in Kuskovo. In the 30s of the 19th century, the theater in the estate was dismantled. The same fate befell both gazebos on the sides of the Dutch House.

Since the beginning of the 19th century, no more receptions were held in Kuskovo, keeping the central part with the French park intact; the estate was used as dachas.

In addition to the Swiss house built according to the design of Nikolai Benois in the regular part of the estate, all other later buildings were erected in the Zaprudnaya and Landscape parts of the dachas.

The last owner of the estate before the 1917 revolution was Sergei Dmitrievich Sheremetev.

The estate in the post-revolutionary period

After the October Revolution, all estates, estates, and palaces belonging to the Sheremetevs were nationalized. Sergei Dmitrievich transferred to the complete disposal of the Bolsheviks the estate architectural ensembles in Kuskovo, Ostankino, Ostafyevo, the Hospice House, Voronovo and the Fountain Palace in St. Petersburg.

Before his death in 1918, Sheremetev, together with artists S.Yu. Zhukovsky and V.N. Meshkov was involved in compiling an inventory of museum values ​​of the Kuskovo estate.

Today, the museum’s collections, consisting of the main collection of the Sheremetev counts and subsequent acquisitions, number about 6 thousand works of painting, graphics, and sculpture of the 16th–19th centuries. The estate preserves rare examples of artistic furniture and decorative arts, books from the family library and the estate’s “Portrait Gallery”, unique in its completeness and historical significance.

In 1938, the Museum of Ceramics was created in Kuskovo on the basis of the best collection of Russian porcelain in Moscow, nationalized at the end of 1918 by A.V. Morozova.

In addition, the estate regularly hosts musical concerts; the traditional concert season in the Palace Ballroom begins in May and ends in September.