7 most beautiful Moscow estates for walks and photo shoots

It is quite realistic to plunge into the fabulous atmosphere of antiquity. Princely mansions, manor houses and estates of the richest people, some of them still preserved in pristine condition in Moscow and its environs, are available for visits and walks. Just imagine the views from the spacious estates and what it is like to plunge into the world of history and aristocracy. We have chosen places for weekend walks.

Museum-estate “Kuskovo”

Address: Moscow, 2, Yunosti St.

Entrance: from 50 to 700 rubles.

Kuskovo Estate is a huge work of art. The complex includes a majestic palace, several parks with sculptural compositions and pavilions, a church and the Museum of Ceramics. The center of the entire estate is the palace, built in the second half of the XVIII century in the style of classicism. The layout and decor of the building have been preserved almost in pristine condition, and the walls are decorated with portraits of Russian rulers and owners of the estate – Counts Sheremetevs.

By the way, it was the Sheremetevs who owned the estate on a permanent basis. After Count Peter Borisovich married Prince Alexei Mikhailovich’s daughter Varvara, the lands of Kuskovo village were united together, and a huge estate was created, even for that time. Gradually, settling in a new place, the couple began to complete their dream estate. So, in the period from 1750 to 1770 in Kuskovo appeared parks, greenhouses, hunting lodge. And the pond in the estate turned into a real flotilla of ships.

The Sheremetevs were great fans of the theater, so the estate built its own amphitheater, where they liked to gather guests. But happiness for the owners of the estate did not last long: in 1812 Moscow was occupied by the French, who liked the luxurious estate very much. It was there that soldiers of one of their units were housed. Twenty years later, the theater was dismantled, and then some gazebos. The only thing that did not suffer was the central part of the estate, which became used for summer houses.

Since 1918, the estate acquired the status of a museum, and later merged with the Museum of Ceramics. By the way, during the Great Patriotic War cadets-students of sniper schools lived on the territory of the estate. Now the museum-estate contains rare copies of paintings from the personal archives of the Sheremetevs and their personal books. And the courtyards of the estate are decorated with ancient sculptures.

“Kuskovo”

Museum-estate “Arkhangelskoye”

Address: Moscow region, urban district Krasnogorsk, settlement Arkhangelskoye.

Entrance: from 50 to 700 rubles.

One of the most beautiful estates has survived to this day in pristine condition. The manor owes its elegance and aristocratic appearance to its owner – Count Yusupov. He, being a true nobleman, was an admirer of everything beautiful and turned his estate into a work of art.

The Count’s library alone contained more than 20 thousand books. And the lord’s house itself was famous for its size and decoration. What to say about the huge alleys of the park, drowning in vegetation and magnificent sculptures.

“Arkhangelskoye”

The estate “Arkhangelskoye” has a rich history. Before there was a luxurious noble farm, there was a simple village Upolozi. In the XVII century it was there that a stone church in honor of Archangel Michael was erected. Later the village of Upolozi was smoothly renamed into Archangelskoye. At first, several owners lived on the territory of the estate. At different times Odoevsky princes lived here, then the estate belonged to Prince Cherkassky, and then to the Golitsyn family. After the death of the last of the Golitsyns, the estate was sold to Count Nikolai Yusupov.

The prosperity of the estate is connected with the name of Yusupov. The count spared neither effort nor money for the improvement of his brainchild. He hired Italian architects, thanks to whose decision in the estate are located three parks with terraces – Italian, English and Ruin Arch, as well as the lord’s house, built in the style of classicism.

In the best years here they held unprecedented balls, social receptions, and met emperors. Now the museum hosts classical music concerts and exhibitions.

Museum-estate “Ostankino”

Address: Moscow, 1-ya Ostankinskaya St., 5, p. 1. 1

Entrance: from 50 to 700 rubles.

The estate is located in a picturesque place, closest to the Kremlin. The estate once belonged to the family of Count Nikolai Sheremetev, and now it is free for everyone to visit. The estate is located on the territory of the modern Ostankino Park and is a huge park complex.

The architecture and interior decoration were fully formed at the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries under the sensitive leadership of the Count. Already after the revolution the estate received the status of a museum, and since 1938 it was called “Museum of serfs’ creativity”. However, since 1992, the estate returned the name “Moscow Museum-Estate “Ostankino”. By the way, “Ostankino” and “Kuskovo” have already two years ago merged into a single museum-reserve “Ostankino and Kuskovo”.

The history of the future museum-reserve is very rich. For the first time the small village of Ostashkino was mentioned in the ancient historical chronicles of 1558. The estate itself at first belonged to the clerk Vasily Shchelkalov, under whom the boyar house was built and a wooden church was laid. Unfortunately, the buildings have not survived until now: during the Troubles they were all destroyed. Now there is only a pond, which is all that remains of the first owner of the estate.

Ostankino Estate

Later, the estate, the church and the boyar house will be restored by Prince Ivan Cherkassky, whose family will become the second owner of the estate for 120 years. Thanks to the prince’s family, the territory of the estate will be expanded and equipped with hunting grounds, a grove and a stone church.

The estate passed to the Sheremetevs quite trivially: after the marriage of Count Peter Sheremetev to the only daughter of Alexei Cherkassky, who had the honorary title of Chancellor of the Russian Empire. So two rich and respected families were twinned. After the wedding “Ostankino” went into sole possession of the newlyweds.

But the heyday of the estate falls on the time of residence in it the family of Nikolai Sheremetev. He turned “Ostankino” into his summer residence, laid out there a huge garden and recruited 300 people for the theater troupe.

Being an intellectual and educated man, Count Nicholas burned with the desire to turn the dwelling into a luxurious abode, imbued with the spirit of enlightenment. In the residence appeared a rich library, art gallery and theater. By the way, the theater played an important role in the life of the count. In the estate staged magnificent performances, which enjoyed great success with the nobility. And one of the actresses of the troupe, former serf Praskovya Zhemchugova became Sheremetev’s wife.

All personal belongings of the Sheremetevs, a collection of paintings and books are still preserved in the estate. In addition, “Ostankino” contains the richest antique furniture and porcelain of the past centuries. The territory of the estate was and still is huge, it is a pleasure to walk through it leisurely and enjoy the spirit of antiquity and history.

Ostankino Estate

Izmailovo estate

Address: Bauman Town, 2 bld. 14

Entrance: from 50 to 350 rubles.

Izmailovo estate is a magnificent building, which got its name thanks to the first owners – the boyars Izmailov. The estate was built in the XIV century, and in the XVI century Tsar Ivan the Terrible gave the huge estate to the brother of his wife. The property nomadically passed from heir to heir, and then passed under the control of the state.

With the name of Grand Duke Alexei Romanov in the estate is connected a lot. Even as a child, he was very fond of spending time in spacious estates. Having grown up, Romanov planted in the Izmailovo gardens not only traditional Russian fruits and vegetables, but also exotic ones. For example, the garden was rich in the harvest of watermelons, almonds and grapes. The prince did not forget about his main hobby – hunting. Especially for this purpose in the estate bred animals, on which, later Romanov hunted in the company of friends. “Izmailovo” often visited guests – important and noble people of the empire, who always admired the estate and considered it the main competitor to European residences.

The year 1812 was associated with the collapse of the estate. Barracks were erected here, which in Soviet times turned into communal houses, and then into a school and a garden. And only in the 1980s began a large-scale reconstruction of the estate.

Now the estate has preserved the Sovereign’s Court, the Bridge Tower, the cathedral, the Nicholas Almshouse, the Front and Back Gates. To date, “Izmailovo” hosts exhibitions, excursions, classical music concerts. By the way, you can even go boating on the pond or take photos in the Bridge Tower.

Izmailovo Estate

Vorontsovo Estate

Address: 7 Vorontsovsky Park, Moscow.

Entrance: from 200 rubles.

The ancient Russian manor dates back to 1504. It was then that the complex of marvelous buildings and parks was first mentioned in historical documents. In the XIV century, the land on which the estate later grew, belonged to Princess Sophia Vitovtovna – the wife of Grand Duke Vasily of Moscow. In those times this land was a fiefdom with the center in the village of Vorobyovo.

According to some documents, the first owner was a rich man named Yuri Vorobyov. But the other part of the village, which refers to Vorontsov, belonged to another boyar – Fyodor Voronts. The future estate, which he began to build, has a name – derived from his surname. Further “Vorontsovo” began to pass from one owner’s hands to another. According to historical documents, the fiefdom was owned by all those who led the state during the Troubles. During the Time of Troubles, the buildings were completely destroyed, which is typical for all estates near Moscow.

The land was later given to Prince Boris Repnin, thanks to whom the estate began to acquire the appearance familiar to contemporaries. Gradually, the main buildings appeared in “Vorontsovo” are Gothic towers, residential wings in the courtyard. Repnin completely transformed the mansion house from ordinary wood into a brick structure.

Vorontsovo estate

After Repnin’s death, “Vorontsovo” passed into the possession of his daughter Alexandra Volkonskaya. And then again changed heirs, until it stopped at Sergei Mukhanov. The heyday of the estate is associated with his name. Mukhanov laid out a huge orchard, reconstructed the park, ruined during the Patriotic War, and erected several new buildings, which, unfortunately, have not survived for contemporaries.

Another owner of the estate, the sworn attorney Eugene Grunbaum, started a truly large-scale construction on the estate. An icehouse, storerooms and cellars, a greenhouse and a barracks for workers were built there. In those years the estate was used as a summer house, and there were about 14 dwellings there.

Since 1917 the manor has been going through its worst times. Instead of buildings, a state farm appeared here, where Red Army soldiers lived. The cottages and household items were looted or burned. And only in 1960 the estate “Vorontsovo” became an architectural monument. Now it is open to the public, in its walls there are exhibitions, quests and other entertainment events.

Tsaritsyno Estate

Address: Moscow, Dolskaya St., 1

Entrance: from 80 to 1080 rubles.

Initially, on the territory of the future estate there was a settlement of the Bronze Age. About 4 thousand years ago, people took a fancy to the surrounding land and mainly engaged in cattle breeding. They were replaced by the Iron Age settlement, and then by the Vyatichi. The latter left behind many household items and utensils. Some burials of Vyatichi can still be found on the territory of “Tsaritsyno” – this is a tribute to the memory of our ancestors.

Since the XVII century the lands of the future estate were called Chyornaya Gryaz and were in the power of Russian tsars and their assistants. The first buildings are associated with the name of Boyar Streshnev, who was the son-in-law of Tsar Mikhail Romanov. Then the management passed into the hands of Vasily Golitsyn, who enjoyed great sympathy of Tsarevna Sophia. It was Golitsyn who began large-scale construction on the estate, creating three-tiered choromes and galleries. He also laid out a huge garden and a birch grove.

Tsaritsyno estate

However, Golitsyn did not have to rejoice in his chalets for a long time. Immediately after the coup d’état the estate passed into the hands of the Moldavian ruler Dmitry Kantemir. He, in turn, completely rebuilt the estate in his own manner, paying tribute to Chinese architecture.

An unexpected walk of Catherine II around the estate changed the usual course of life of the estate. The empress was so enchanted by the picturesque landscapes that she immediately bought the estate and the surrounding villages from Kantemir’s sons. The village of Chyornaya Gryaz was renamed Tsaritsyno, and immediately started a series of long construction works. The works were not completed until the death of Catherine II.

At the beginning of the XIX century, the Tsaritsyno estate was a large park with picturesque ponds and stone pavilions. With the order of Emperor Alexander II began the mass building of the estate territory with dachas, most of which were rented out to writers and artists. The October Revolution and the beginning of the war turned the estate into a kind of ruins. But everything changed in 1984, when “Tsaritsyno” with all the surviving buildings was transferred to the museum, after which work began on the restoration and reconstruction of buildings.

Now the museum-reserve “Tsaritsyno” is a luxurious palace and park ensemble with magnificent landscapes. On the territory there are a pond and secluded pavilions, all kinds of exhibitions and master classes are held.

Tsaritsyno Estate

Altufievo Estate

Address: Moscow, 149 Altufievskoe sh.

Entrance: free of charge

The territory of the estate used to be called “Oltufyevo” from the name of its first owners – the Oltufyevs. It received its familiar name only in the XIX century.

The first mention of the estate dates back to 1585. According to historical documents, at that time the land belonged to Myakishev, the keyholder of the Bread Court.

After the Troubles, not a single building remained on the territory of the estate. The bare wasteland subsequently passed from one family to another and was gradually enlarged by a lord’s house, a church and other buildings.

In 1759 the Baroque church was rebuilt on the estate, the park with ponds and a new spacious lord’s house were reconstructed. Passing from hand to hand, Altufievo was gradually supplemented with new architectural elements. The pond was filled with fish, the second floor of the main house was completed. In addition, a mill appeared.

Altufievo estate

By 1800, the estate had 20 peasant yards and was a place where writers and painters visited. By 1888 Altufievo was transformed into a dacha settlement, then into a boarding house. And in 1917 a hospital was located here. Since Soviet times in the estate began multi-storey building with houses, the dachas were demolished, only the park remained.

Today “Altufievo” is a complex of monuments of manor architecture of the XVIII-XIX centuries. The main building, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a brewery, a stable and a pond are still preserved in the estate.