Golitsyn's estate: museum, park and church

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

During Tsarist Russia, noble families had huge estates. After the revolution of 1917 and the Second World War, few of them were lucky enough to survive. The Golitsyn estate is one of the estates that survived the most difficult historical events, were restored, became museums and came under the protection of the Federal Program of the Russian Federation. Inside the courtyard, the master's buildings with outbuildings, cattle and horse yards, sculptures, a park, temples have been preserved …

History of the appearance of the estate and its name

The first mention of the area on which the estate of the princes Golitsyn was subsequently located dates back to the 17th century. It belonged to the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery along with a mill. Later, in 1702, it was transferred to the possession of Georgy Stroganov, the son of an industrialist, who came from a noble family. Initially, he received a mill with a pond, and then the surrounding wastelands.

In 1716, the construction of the church began, which was consecrated in honor of the Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God. After the construction was completed, the Kuzminki estate was renamedBlachernae. The name was given so long ago that no one remembers exactly why the mill was named that way: either the previous owner was Kuzma, or the monastery bore the names of Kuzma and Danila. One way or another, in 1740 Georgy Stroganov received Kuzminki for sole use and began to slowly develop it. It was then that the pond was created, which has survived to this day.

The estate has a new owner

In 1757, His Serene Highness Prince Golitsyn Mikhail Mikhailovich became the owner of the estate - the offspring of one of the most distinguished noble families, the brother of the Vice-Chancellor. There were four branches in their family, the descendants of three live to this day. After marrying Anna Stroganova, Golitsyn received her dowry in the form of 518 acres of land and the Blachernae estate itself. It remained in the possession of the princely family until the revolution.

Development of the estate

After the wedding of Stroganov's daughter, the Golitsyn estate in Kuzminki began to change. The old house was rebuilt, much attention was paid to landscape design. Especially noteworthy is the cascade of four ponds, which can be admired even today. The English park served as a role model for the surrounding landowners and nobles. Almost all buildings were rebuilt: settlements, horse and stockyards, a church, a pier.

After the death of Prince Mikhail, his son Sergei Mikhailovich came into possession (according to some statements, his great-nephew). Under him, the Golitsyn estate "Kuzminki" became so famous for itsarchitecture, that it was compared with the cities of Pavlovsk and Peterhof near St. Petersburg.

S. M. Golitsyn was a major industrialist and owned iron foundries. All the masterpieces of park architecture, such as gates, benches and sculptures, were cast on them. To create monuments, lanterns, girandoles and other small architectural forms, the prince invited such masters as Rossi, Compioni, A. G. Grigoriev, A Voronikhin, M. Bykovsky and others. Turned into a masterpiece of construction and landscape design, the Golitsyn estate in Kuzminki was called the Russian Versailles among art lovers.

Further fate of the estate

The estate expanded and grew prettier until the death of Prince Sergei Mikhailovich. After his death, the estate of the princes Golitsyn "Vlakhernskoe-Kuzminki" passed to his nephew Mikhail Alexandrovich, who served as ambassador to Spain. He hardly appeared at the estate.

Later, the Golitsyn estate in Kuzminki went to his son Sergei Mikhailovich. Desolation sets in on the estate … The prince moves to Dubrovitsy, reduces the staff of servants, rents out the premises for summer cottages. A few buildings for vacationers were even completed here.

When the Golitsyn estate went to his son, Sergei Sergeevich, the First World War was going on. Part of the buildings of the estate were given over to the hospital for officers. Due to their negligence, a fire broke out, the Master's House and the West Wing burned down - these buildings remained wooden.

In 1918 the Golitsyn estate became the property of the Instituteexperimental veterinary medicine. Products containing precious metals were confiscated in favor of the new state, cast iron masterpieces were sent for remelting. A rest house was made from an old church. In 1941, despite the constant bombing of the German army, the Golitsyn estate was practically not damaged.

In 1960, the manor, which fell into disrepair, received the status of a monument. Kuzminki Park has become a popular recreational area and a center for various cultural events.

Front Courtyard

Kuzminki (museum-estate) begins with the exposition "The front yard". It includes many elements that deserve special consideration: the Master's House, the West and East Wings, the Entrance Bridge, the Gate of the Front Courtyard, the Fence of the Courtyard and the Egyptian Pavilion (kitchen).

The front yard was designed by the architect Egorov I. V. In order to separate it from the rest of the territory, it was surrounded by a fence and surrounded by a moat, which was filled with water under the Golitsyns. It was possible to get to the Lord's house through the Entrance Bridge with lanterns. As planned, all buildings should have been clearly visible, so the yard was decorated with flower beds and undersized shrubs. The Egyptian pavilion was used as a kitchen.

Kuzminsky Park Ensemble

Today, Kuzminsky Park is a whole complex of natural and architectural monuments. It contains the English and French parks, the cascade of the Kuzminsky ponds, the House on the dam, the Grottoes, the Lion's Quay. parkstoday almost completely open to the public, they host various events. Magnificent ponds are also open to visitors. The only exception is a piece of territory belonging to the institute.

The cascade consists of four ponds: Upper Kuzminsky, Nizhny Kuzminsky, Shibayevsky, Shchuchy. On the first one is the Lion's Quay. It was from her that boat trips used to begin. Between the Upper and Lower Ponds, on the dam, on the site of a former mill, a house was rebuilt. It accommodated guests who stayed overnight.

On one side there was the Musical Pavilion, where pop performances are now held, and on the opposite side there were two grottoes - One-Arch and Three-Arch. In the first under the Golitsyns, theatrical performances were staged by the hosts and guests. On the bank of the Lower Pond there was a poultry house, which was later rebuilt into a smithy.

Temple at the estate

Golitsyn's estate got its second name precisely because of this temple. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich granted the former owner of the estate, Stroganov, a list from the Blachernae icon. To store it, a wooden church was built in 1716-1720.

Golitsyn rebuilt the church - now its walls were made of stone. Napoleon's troops ravaged it, but after the war, the owners of the estate restored the temple, installed marble iconostases, a clock on the bell tower, and re-consecrated it.

After 1929, the 3rd floor was completed, the church was first turned into a hostel, and then into an office building of the institute. After 1990, the temple was transferred to the dioceseRussian Orthodox Church and restored.

How to get to Kuzminki

In fact, the museum, which today is the Golitsyn estate in Kuzminki, is not only the sights we have described. These are gazebos, sculptures, horse and barnyard and much more. One day is simply not enough to explore all the exhibits, so it's better to come here several times.

Getting to the estate museum is not at all difficult. It is enough to get to the Kuzminki metro station and walk for 15-20 minutes. So you can get to the main entrance to the museum. To get to certain exhibitions on the estate faster, you can use a shuttle bus, but since they rarely run, it will be faster to take the metro or take a walk.