Kuskovo, the Sheremetyevs' Estate: history, photo

The Russian capital is a city with a rich cultural and historical heritage. In Moscow, despite life's vicissitudes, many unique corners have been preserved. Russian estates, built by titled families, allow connoisseurs of history to plunge into the depths of past eras.

The Moscow estate of Count Sheremetyev, which has the status of a "European pearl", has been transformed into a museum. It is recognized as a unique architectural monument, a magnificent example of summer residences of noblemen.

Location Kuskovo

A clan estate with a huge architectural and artistic ensemble stretches in the east of Moscow, capturing a picturesque piece of the historic town of Veshnyaki. Once there was located the ancient village of Kuskovo, handed over to AA Pushkin Boyar VA Sheremetiev. Vasily Andreevich marked the beginning of the foundation of a luxurious estate, became his first known owner.

The origin of the estate

The history of the Sheremetyevs' estate in Kuskovo since the 18th century and to this day is inextricably linked with one noble family - representatives of the Sheremetyev family. In 1715, the estate passes to the ownership of Count Boris Petrovich Sheremetyev. He bought it from his brother, Vladimir.

From this moment, a serious arrangement of Kuskovo begins. The Sheremetyevs' Estate acquires the status of a permanent residence of a noble family. Its interior is filled with generic relics. According to the order of the field marshal in the halls they find a place for a collection of rare weapons and a collection of portraits with Russian tsars and statesmen.

The heyday of the estate

His son, enlightened grandee Petr Borisovich, is engaged in organizing entertainments. With him, the estate becomes a widely known summer residence, where lavish receptions, crowded theatrical festivities and festivities take place.

More than half a century, Peter Borisovich is working on creating a brilliant ensemble in the manner of royal suburban residences. To the development of the estate they are attracted by famous architects and painters, talented serf masters.

Exquisite elements of the manor architecture, the French park, the cascade of ponds, Kuskovo is being settled. The Sheremetiev Manor with magnificent examples of garden art, acting as excellent scenery, becomes an impressive outdoor theater venue.

Here, grandiose theatrical festivities timed to the birthdays of the owners are played out, as well as important state and church dates. All representatives of secular society of Moscow aspire to get here. In particularly solemn receptions the Sheremetyevs' manor welcomed up to 30,000 guests.

Theater in Kuskovo

Air theater is the main feature of the estate. A loud glory about him went far beyond the count's residence. Hired singers, musicians and dancers in it a small part. The basis of the cast is local peasants, trained by the theater masters of foreign countries.

Parasha Kovaleva, claimed in the programs under the stage name (Praskovya Zhemchugova), is recognized as an outstanding actress of the Sheremetyev Theater. Catherine II, who once visited the estate, admired the ability of actors to play skillfully. She emphasized the performance of P. Zhemchugova. One day the actress received a diamond ring from the Empress.

Sunset of a noble residence

The love of the Sheremetyevs to the ancestral nest was great. The grandson of Peter Borisovich, Sergey Dmitrievich, the last owner of the chic residence, made considerable efforts to preserve the estate created by his ancestors.

They were saved from the ruin of Kuskovo. The Sheremetevs' estate with the cultural values accumulated in it was scrupulously described by Sergei Dmitrievich before the official transfer to the Soviet government. He purposefully turned the estate into a museum.

Thanks to Sergey Dmitrievich, the architectural and park ensemble with the richest collections collected by the owners was destined to become a major center of Russian culture and education. In 1918 the Sheremetyevs' Estate was recognized as a historical monument and transformed into a museum.

Moscow's Versailles

Since the owners intended to spend here magnificent lavish receptions and pompous celebrations, the estate was ennobled with dwellings and hunting lodges, park gazebos, menageries. It built even the Kunstkamera and created a small flotilla of ships on the ponds.

In the architectural and park complex it was possible to save more than 20 unique monuments of Russian architecture, surrounded by magnificent elements of the garden landscape. The museum-estate includes a palace, houses with elements of Italian, Dutch and Swiss architecture, pavilions, greenhouses, churches and other buildings of the boyar and serfs.

A Moscow suburb of Versailles is called Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs' Manor, whose photo shows how beautiful she is, deserves such a high title. In the ancient estate there is a museum of ceramics. It contains the world's largest collection of ceramic and glass products. Expositions are items created by craftsmen in different parts of the world, from antiquity to the present time.

Sheremetevsky Palace

The magnificent palace is the compositional center of the Baroque-Rockay complex in Kuskovo. The Sheremetyevs' Manor is decorated with a huge French park, where mirror pans glisten with mirrored saucers with elegant gazebos and marble sculptures.

In the two-storeyed palace the fashionable in XVIII century layout is observed. It has an enfilade arrangement of rooms. The doors of the premises are on the same axis, the halls are opened sequentially, one after the other. The palace halls were intended for solemn receptions of guests. Wine cellars and utility rooms found a place in the socle of the so-called Big House.

Guest houses

The names of the houses are not accidental in Kuskovo. Sheremetievs' homestead united buildings of different styles, invented by Dutch, Italian and Swiss architects. At the latest construction - a wooden Swiss house, decorated with elegant "wooden lace", the first floor is painted "under a brick." This allows the original chalet to echo the Dutch pavilion.

The two-story pavilion, built in 1749, is called the Dutch house. The construction is the epitome of the era of Peter I. Its functional purpose is clearly delineated. The first floor is occupied by the kitchen, and on the second there is a beautiful living room.

In the Italian house, belonging to the number of federal architectural monuments, since 1755 organized "small" receptions. In the palace-pavilion the splendor of the rooms, deprived of the solemn suite, is emphasized by a variety of architectural and decorative finishes.

Halls for small receptions are decorated with oak panels, gilded carvings, set parquet and decorative painting. Thanks to the exquisite luxury of miniature decor, the interiors of the Italian house are adorable.

Pavilions

The pavilion "Hermitage" resting the owners of the residence and people close to them. The grotto is recognized as a unique pavilion. Its interior, decorated with shells, is striking. It is made of stone in the style of luxurious baroque.

Becoming a museum, the manor of Count Sheremetyev continues to live. Kuskovo preserves the ancient traditions of Russian estates. Here they continue to receive guests, organize concerts, exhibitions, excursions, festivities and festivities for them.