Izmailovo - museum-reserve, which saves the history of the royal family

Manor Romanovs, located on the man-made Izmailovsky Island - the oldest aristocratic estate of Moscow. Built in the XV century, it was rebuilt many times, it was destroyed and rebuilt, erected new buildings and even changed the landscape of the island. Reviews of tourists report that only four buildings have survived to this day: the entrance gate (front and rear), the Bridge Tower, the Cathedral and the Nicholas almshouse. Now Izmaylovo is a museum-preserve, one of the oldest and most picturesque places in Moscow.

From peasant huts to royal chambers

Historians still do not know exactly when the first buildings of the future royal residence appeared at the mouth of the small river near the town of Robka near Moscow. It is known that as early as the beginning of the 15th century several peasant households stood here, and reliable information about the estate appeared only in 1571. Then Ivan the Terrible granted Izmailovo land to falconer Nikita Zakharin-Yuryev. This is the beginning of the story of a new noble estate named Izmailovo. Moscow was only 7 versts - this gave the opportunity to build projects with minimal costs. The estate changed owners many times, and for several years it was completely empty - after the plague epidemic it was defined as a "tainted" estate.

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich - the first descendant of the great Romanov dynasty, took over the management of the estate in 1663. He decided to build a real architectural ensemble in place of the wooden chambers, consisting of palaces, cathedrals, outbuildings, greenhouses and nurseries. Alexei Fyodorovich managed to turn the boyar village into a real exemplary estate with a large farm and well-organized hunting grounds in 25 years.

The Royal Residence

Under Tsar Feodor Alekseevich Izmaylovo became a favorite place for the summer country vacation of the royal family. The Sovereign and his family lived here from May to November. Neither the tsar nor his wife, Sophia Alekseevna, were great adherents of household plots. The estate hosted receptions and balls, foreign ambassadors were received here, and the Boyar Duma held meetings. This was the most secular period in the history of Izmailovo. Moscow noble considered the estate the second royal palace.

Peter the First here won the first military victories of his "comic troops" and dreamed of the greatness of the future of the Russian fleet. At the beginning of the 17th century, Izmailovo moved away from Praskovya Fyodorovna with her daughters-they lived alone, built a real theater in the estate, and spent most of their time in gardens and greenhouses. Reviews of tourists can tell that the last royal special, who managed the estate, was Anna Ioannovna. She restored hunting lodges and lived in Izmaylovo for two years, devoting time to hunting and amusement.

The new history of the estate

Russian nobility never lived on Izmailovsky Island again, they came here for rest or hunting. In 1812, the estate was plundered by French soldiers and was abandoned for almost 25 years, until the construction of an almshouse - a shelter for invalids of the national war - was started in 1837.

The chronology of events after the events of 1917 was the following. Red Army men were stationed in Izmaylovo, and later communal apartments appeared in the corps of the almshouse and the royal boards. Izmaylovsky Island was renamed into a town named after. Bauman, and for almost a hundred years people lived in unique historical buildings and state institutions were located.

Museum and historical complex

The first restoration work began here only in the second half of the last century. Izmailovo - museum-reserve, was opened only in 2005. Now it is a major historical and cultural center where, in addition to conducting excursions, guests are invited to listen to lectures of museum workers on various historical topics, to participate in master classes and the work of creative studios.

From the feedback of tourists, one can draw information about the fact that the joint museum-reserve Izmaylovo is one of the first Russian museum complexes, which made the main accent on working with small guests. Several children's educational programs are constantly working here.

The guys are offered to find a treasure after going through the Izmaylovsky park with a map, to take part in the quest "In the past century through the world of objects," listening to the fascinating tale of the war of 1812 and the history of Izmailovo to the sounds of military marches. The Museum-Reserve constantly hosts concerts and exhibitions, and in 2016 a unique project "Olympics. Museums. Parks. Manors ». Any schoolboy who loves and knows history can become a real Olympian.

Izmaylovo as part of a large museum complex

Immediately after the opening, the museum became part of the largest architectural and landscape complex on the territory of the country, the Moscow Art History, Architecture and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve Kolomenskoye -Izmaylovo-Lefortovo-Lyublino. "

The complex united the four most significant historical territories of Moscow: the Kolomna Tsar's Palace, the merchant's estate in Lublin, the imperial quarters in Lefortovo, the Romanov's country residence in Izmailovo. The Museum-Reserve became the oldest part of this large complex.

Location, opening hours, ticket prices

For the visit, more practical information will be required. For example, that:

• The museum is open every day from 9:45 to 17:30 h.
• Monday is a day off.
• The cost of the ticket may vary depending on the exhibition or excursion, but usually the total price is 100 rubles, for schoolchildren and students - 50 rubles.
• In the museum-reserve "Izmailovo" can be reached by metro: station "Partizanskaya" Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line. Trolleybuses No. 22, 87, minibuses 322M, 272M will take guests to the Main Alley.
• The museum is located in the eastern district of the capital, around 108 km of the Moscow Ring Road.