Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy is a writer, without whose work it is impossible to imagine world fiction. Today, any admirer of the recognized genius can visit the place where he was born and lived most of his life. The family estate of the Tolstoy "Yasnaya Polyana" is located in the Tula region. The atmosphere of 1910 has been preserved in the old estate and a memorial museum of the great writer has been opened.
History of Yasnaya Polyana
In historical documents, the first mention of the estate, located 14 km from the modern borders of the city of Tula, dates back to 1652. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the estate became the property of the Volkonsky family, the maternal ancestors of the famous writer. Several generations of bearers of the princely family were diligently engaged in the improvement of the estate. It was under the Volkonskys that gardens were laid out on the territory of Yasnaya Polyana, ponds were dug, and many architectural buildings were erected.
In 1828Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born in the family estate. Local nature and measured provincial life inspired the future writer from an early age. The Tolstoy Manor Yasnaya Polyana is the place where Lev Nikolaevich lived for about 50 years of his life. He never hid his love for the estate and often mentioned his native place in his works.
Life of L. N. Tolstoy in the family estate
The oldest building of modern Yasnaya Polyana is Volkonsky's house. During the time of Lev Nikolaevich, this building (formerly the main manor house) was used for household purposes. The Tolstoy family rebuilt one of the outbuildings for their own living. The writer's manor house is relatively small in area, but at the same time incredibly cozy. Inside, it is distinguished by simple decoration, and the main value in it is the extensive library of Lev Nikolayevich.
Even during his lifetime, Tolstoy became famous not only for his intelligence and talent, but also for his incredible philanthropy. A school for peasant children was opened at the estate. The estate of Tolstoy "Yasnaya Polyana" is a unique place where the owner was close to the common people like no other. Leo Tolstoy died in 1910. In his will, the writer indicated that he should be buried without any honors in the forest on the edge of the ravine. The last will of Lev Nikolayevich was fulfilled.
Yasnaya Polyana during the Great Patriotic War
After the death of Leo Nikolayevich, the Tolstoy estate was not plundered, as the peasants from the surrounding villages treated the writer and his family with respect. In 1921 in YasnayaPolyana opened a museum. To a large extent, this is the merit of the daughter of Lev Nikolaevich Alexandra Lvovna, who became the first director of the memorial and cultural center. Despite the state status, the museum has always been directly involved in the descendants of the great writer.
At the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War, a significant part of the exhibits was evacuated to Tomsk. The ancient estate was occupied by enemy troops for 45 days. The Nazis caused significant damage to the museum, stole and spoiled many ancient items. Restoration work began immediately after liberation. Remarkably, the museum-estate of Tolstoy was opened before the end of the war, already in 1942.
Modern history of the museum
In 1986, Yasnaya Polyana received the status of the State Memorial Museum Reserve. In the house of L. N. Tolstoy, the furnishings of the 1910 model have been preserved and a lot of genuine personal belongings of the writer and his relatives are exhibited. The museum collection is included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Today Yasnaya Polyana is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
During a visit to the museum complex, you can walk around the landscaped area of the estate and visit Tolstoy's house and Volkonsky's house. Various exhibitions, festivals, festive festivities and other events are regularly held in Yasnaya Polyana. Many newlyweds from Tula and the region come here for a wedding photo shoot.
What does Tolstoy's estate museum look like: photo and description of the main house
The main and most interesting building of Yasnaya Polyana is the house-museum of L. N. Tolstoy. The interior environment is fully consistent with the time when the writer lived here with his family. The manor is decorated atypically for its period; inside, guests can expect a minimum amount of luxury items. In most rooms, the walls are light-colored, and the furniture has simple shapes. The pride of the museum (and once the owner of the house) is the writer's chic library. In addition to working and reception rooms, museum visitors will see the living rooms of Lev Nikolayevich and members of his family.
Architectural ensemble and sights of the estate
L. Tolstoy's estate "Yasnaya Polyana" is a whole complex of historical buildings surrounded by a picturesque park. The Volkonsky House is today the main administrative building of the museum. Tours for tourists are held in one part of it. The Kuzminsky wing was once a school building, and later turned into a guest house. Today it hosts temporary exhibitions.
More than a century after the death of its famous owner, Yasnaya Polyana continues to live as usual. On the territory of the museum complex, greenhouses and old stables have been preserved and are functioning, next to which there is a carriage house building. Other outbuildings look no less atmospheric: a coachman's, a carpenter's, a blacksmith's shop, a barn, a barn, and a garden house. Birch bridges, the writer's favorite bench, and a swimming pool complement the park landscapes. Preserved inhistorical manor is the grave of a famous writer. For the convenience of tourists, the park has signs to all local attractions.
Museum opening hours and tour prices
Excursions around the territory of Yasnaya Polyana with visits to museums are held daily (except Mondays and Tuesdays) from 10.00 to 15.30. The ticket price is 200-300 rubles, depending on the chosen program. For those who just want to walk around the territory of the historical park, the entrance costs about 50 rubles. Tickets of all kinds are sold at the box office at the entrance. The time of the walk is unlimited, which is especially nice - in the manor park you can take pictures for free.
The situation is quite different when visiting indoor expositions. The Museum-Estate of Tolstoy, the photo of which is presented in the article, stores many exhibits. Tourists are not allowed to take photos inside the writers' house and Volkonsky's house. It is also forbidden to touch most of the exhibits with your hands. Despite these rules, the Tolstoy estate is a great place to visit. Visiting this unique museum will be interesting not only for admirers of Lev Nikolayevich’s work, but also for everyone who loves picturesque natural places.
