One philosopher, whose name history has not preserved, said that buildings are somewhat similar to people. They are also born, live brightly and richly, then grow old and die. These words can be fully attributed to the Ostashevo estate (in some sources it is called Ostashevo). Once one of the most prestigious and famous in the Moscow region, now it is quite suitable for filming horror films, where the shadows of forgotten ancestors silently wander among the surviving ruins and look out of the empty eye sockets of rickety window openings. The Ostashevo estate has a particularly gloomy look in late autumn, when the wind howls over the dying remains of buildings, entangled in the bare branches of centuries-old trees, and the feet of a traveler who accidentally wandered here get stuck in impassable mud.
An unattractive picture comes to life a little only in spring. The trees are covered with delicate greenery, dandelions bloom in the grass, thousands of bird trills deafen the area. If you do not pay attention to the ruins, and look only at the surviving tower of the horse yard, it seems that everyone is here,as before.
We invite you to take a virtual tour in time and look at the estate in different periods of its existence.
Location, how to get there
The village of Ostashevo, which gave the estate its name, is located just 21 km from Volokolamsk, located northwest of Moscow. From the capital to this beautiful old town is 98 km. From the Rizhsky railway station in Moscow to Volokolamsk, the train takes about 2 hours. You can also get there by bus, which departs from the Tushinskaya metro station. Travel time is also about two hours. A regular bus runs from Volokolamsk to the village. He stops near the Magnit supermarket. Then you have to walk. The landmark is the monument to the partisans.
The estate can be found at: with. Ostashevo, Microdistrict, 1. It is very close (literally a couple of tens of meters) from the Ruza reservoir. Dokuchaeva street passes nearby. On it you can get to the linden alley.
Start
The village of Ostashevo has its own interesting history. It was founded on the banks of the Ruza River (mentioned in the chronicles of the hostilities of 1812, as well as in the novel "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy) by the Tatar prince Fedor Malikdairovich. It was in 1510. And in the documents the village was first mentioned in 1636 under the name Astashevo. It was then owned by Fyodor Likhachev, a duma clerk and nobleman, a very famous person. He made the village of Dolgie Lyady (since the beginning of the 18th century, it has been called Uspensky) the center of his possessions. Ostashevo changed owners many times. They ownedPrinces Tyumensky, Prozorovsky, Fyodor Ivanovich Golitsyn, and then his son Pyotr Fedorovich. He sold his possessions to Countess S altykova, and her son in 1777 resold these lands to Prince Alexander Urusov. It was from him that the history of the estate began.
New owner
Alexander Urusov was a representative of a noble family, but did not receive a significant inheritance. He earned his fortune by playing card games. There is no documentary evidence that Alexander Vasilyevich cheated. But many do not believe that it was only thanks to blind fortune that he was able to get himself several thousand serfs, buy an excellent house on the banks of the Neva and an estate in the Volokolamsk district.
Urusov made two villages, Ostashevo and Aleksandrovskoe, the center of his suburban possessions, so the estate he began to build there was named Aleksandrovskoye - Ostashevo, but the first word was soon removed.
Construction
It is assumed that the estate was designed by Russian masters of pseudo-Gothic, which combined elements of classical Gothic, Moscow Baroque and Byzantine architecture. There is an opinion of historians that among the developers was the architect Rodion Kazakov, famous at that time. The estate was erected on the right bank of the Ruza. A wide alley lined with linden trees led from the road to the house. At its beginning, two white stone obelisks were installed on both sides (one of them has been preserved). In honor of Alexander Nevsky, Urusov decided to build a late Baroque church. Work began in 1776. This is the official year of the foundation of the estate,named Aleksandrovskaya in honor of Nevsky (some historians believe that in honor of Alexander Urusov himself).
On its territory was erected a two-story mansion of the prince, decorated with four columns, a belvedere (superstructure) and a portico. In front of the house, a front yard was equipped, against which the linden alley mentioned above rested. The Urusov built two turrets in the Gothic style in the courtyard.
The master's house was connected by galleries to outbuildings crowned with plank belvederes and spiers. In addition, the manager's house and numerous outbuildings were erected on the estate. The Ostashev estate under Urusov was surrounded by a linden garden with shady alleys and several ponds. Under the canopy of trees, pentagonal gazebos-pavilions were installed for walking. A miraculously preserved old photo shows what the estate looked like at that time.
Ostashevo stepson inherited
A. V. Urusov moved to a new property with his wife Anna Andreevna Muravieva. This was her second marriage. She married the prince after the death of Muravyov's first husband. From him she already had a son, Nikolai. They say that the master was not distinguished by a good disposition, often scandalized, but he helped his relatives financially, however, before that he scolded them well. Alexander Vasilyevich had his only natural daughter Sophia, to whom he bequeathed the estate, but the young woman died almost immediately after the birth of her daughter. The baby outlived her mother by only a few days. Thus, Urusov had no direct heirs. Therefore, he made his stepson Nikolai the owner of the estateMuravyova.
Ostashevo - a haven for the Decembrists
Nikolai Nikolayevich from a young age demonstrated a perspicacious mind and craving for various sciences, which was strongly encouraged. After graduating from his native land, he was sent to the University of Strasbourg to receive additional knowledge. N. N. Muravyov chose a military career (he was a naval officer).
Being a lieutenant, Nikolai Nikolayevich showed courage and courage in battles with the Swedes. He rose to the rank of major general, but even such a man had financial difficulties. Because of them, and also because of his he alth undermined in battles, he retired and retired to his estate, which he inherited from Urusov.
In Ostashevo, N. N. Muravyov not only built a dairy plant, but also created a school for column drivers. Now few people can answer what it is, but at the beginning of the 19th century this educational institution was very prestigious. Junkers were trained here, who planned to become officers at the General Staff. 22 of its graduates became Decembrists. They often gathered in Ostashevo, where they discussed plans for the restructuring of Russia and the overthrow of the autocracy.
Among the guests of the estate are Ivan Yakushkin, Matvey Muravyov-Apostol, Nikolai Fonvizin (the nephew of the very Fonvizin who wrote "Undergrowth"). The son of the owner of the estate, A. N. Muravyov, was also a Decembrist. There is an opinion of historians that he drafted a new constitution, but was afraid of the repressions that had just begun, and buried this document in the ground on one of the hills of the estate.
Moreone sale
After the death of the illustrious father, Alexander Muravyov became the owner of Ostashevo. By that time, his revolutionary spirit had somewhat subsided. Once he was involved in the case of the Decembrists. Recalling this in his mature years, he said that he does not belong to those who are hanged, but to those who hang themselves. Alexander tried to improve the shaky affairs of the estate, even erected a horse yard here, the decoration of which was a clock tower, decorated with architraves and lancet windows. It is she who has survived to this day. To many, this tower resembles London's Big Ben. The younger Muravyov tried to breed thoroughbred horses here, but things did not work out. The estate had to be sold to pay off debts.
The state of affairs under Shipov
Ostashevo was purchased at auction by Nikolai Pavlovich Shipov, who had a reputation as an innovative landowner. He was a Full State Councilor, a member of the Imperial Academy of Arts. He got his new possessions in a deplorable state, but Shipov did not lose heart. He began the modernization of the Ostashevo estate at his own expense. A description of the changes that took place here literally in a year can be started with the fact that he demolished the old bell tower, changed the appearance of the temple and rebuilt the Alexander Church, arranging a family burial vault in it. By the way, he and his wife were buried there.
In addition, Shipov zealously undertook to revive the horse farm, built a cheese factory, invited masters from Switzerland to work in it, drained wetlands, organized the ten-field crop rotation method that was advanced at that time, built avillage mechanical plant and even a veterinary clinic. The plant produced agricultural tools, the cheese factory worked on the milk of 200 cows of the best dairy breeds, which Shipov purchased specifically for the production of cheese. Soon, the unprofitable estate became one of the exemplary in the Moscow region. For such merits, the Society of Agriculture awarded Shipov a gold medal.
After the death of the glorious landowner, the Ostashevo estate passed into the hands of his son Philip.
Romanov family owners
Philip Nikolaevich got not only land and an estate near Volokolamsk, but also four large plants, two of which had a metallurgical profile. Perhaps, it was precisely for the reason that the rich industrialist had no time to engage in both metal production and agriculture, he sold the estate. General Nepokochitsky, philanthropist Kuznetsov, millionaires Ushkovs became its owners in turn. In 1903, Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov (grandson of Nicholas I) liked the Ostashevo estate. The prince was tired of capital life, full of hypocrisy. An exemplary and large estate, surrounded by nature of amazing beauty, was ideal for his subtle creative nature. Having bought it from the Ushkovs, he moved here with the whole family. The prince wrote poetry. Here is a fragment of one of them, dedicated to his new possession:
In Ostashevo in 1906 his daughter Vera was born. She spent her childhood in this estate, about which she always wrote enthusiastically in her memoirs, but with a slight sadness about what was irretrievably lost. Familyengaged in horseback riding, walks in Ruza and in a wonderful park, which gradually fell into disrepair. While the estate was owned by the Romanovs, no innovations were carried out here.
Let's say a few more words about Vera Konstantinovna. She lived a very long life, she died at the age of 95. It was she who was the last representative of the Romanov family.
Her childhood was cloudless and happy for a short time. In 1914, her brother Oleg Konstantinovich died in the war. The funeral took place at the estate. The body of a 21-year-old boy was buried on a hill called Vasyutkina Gorka. The church of Oleg Bryansky was erected over the grave. Now it is called the Church of Seraphim of Sarov. It is located in the Volokolamsky district of the Moscow region in the village of Ostashevo. Unfortunately, there were rumors that relatives put jewelry (in particular, a golden checker) in the coffin of Oleg Konstantinovich. Therefore, greedy people broke the grave, and desecrated the body, leaving it right on the road. Vandal raids on the unfortunate grave continued until it was moved to the village cemetery in 1969. Of course, there were no more jewels in it.
The troubles in the Ostashevo estate did not end with the heroic death of a young officer. In 1915, right in front of little Vera, her father Konstantin Konstantinovich died of asthma. After that, the family left their beloved estate and moved to St. Petersburg, where they lived in the Marble Palace before the revolution.
After the revolution
It so happened that the Ostashevo estate in the Volokolamsk region did notinterested in local authorities. Therefore, it was not converted into either a sanatorium, or a children's camp, or any other significant organization in Soviet times, which would help preserve the buildings. Therefore, immediately after the revolution, it was plundered by local residents. However, in 1922 a museum was created within its walls, which existed until 1925.
The new era of change also affected the Ruza River, on which a hydroelectric power station and the Ruza Reservoir were built. Its shores have changed significantly. Now they are located not only the village of Ostashevo, but also pioneer camps, rest houses, walking areas. When the reservoir was being filled, part of the park with ponds had to be flooded.
The Alexander Church was demolished in 1930, the two-storey house built by Urusov was demolished in 1940. In the same year, the forged fence and four pavilion pavilions were dismantled. The Second World War did not spare other buildings either. There were fierce battles in the Volokolamsk direction, shelling was constantly carried out, as a result of which large-scale destruction occurred in the estate.
Today
For a long time (until 1957) the village of Ostashevo in the Volokolamsk region was a regional center. They even set up a teacher training school. In 1950, on the foundations of the demolished manor house, a new building was erected in the style of Stalinist neoclassicism. Today it is also destroyed.
Some tours of the Moscow region include a visit to this dilapidated estate. If you visit here, you will seethe tower of the horse yard, the same one that was built by Alexander Muravyov. The clock face is painted on it, but no one knows where the real one, installed in the year of construction, has gone. You can also climb Vasyutkina Gorka, where the church-tomb of Oleg Bryansky has been preserved so far. It was built according to the project of M. M. Peryatkovich and S. M. Deshevov. Once these people were famous architects. Adjacent to the church is a belfry built in the style of Pskov architecture.
All other buildings are in a very poor condition. However, there are hopes for the restoration of the estate. They are connected mainly with the increased interest in the fate of the Romanov family among the current generation. The history of the Ostashevo estate is also related to their ancient family, so it is likely that there will be a philanthropist who will agree to invest in the restoration of this once wonderful corner.
Museum
Now in one of the preserved buildings of the estate there is a branch of Sberbank, as well as a local history museum. It has several rooms. The expositions tell about the history of the region from ancient times to the modern era. There are even mammoth bones among the exhibits. A large place in the exposition is occupied by photos and personal belongings of the former owners of the estate - the Muravyovs, the Romanovs, the Shipovs. Also among the exhibits there are Russian samovars, clothes of peasants of the epoch of the 17th-19th centuries, tools, dishes, chests, and other household utensils. The museum is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive. Opening hours from 10:00 to 17:00. Can you get hereon one's own. To do this, you need to go from Moscow to Volokolamsk by train, and then take a regular bus going to the village. Ostashevo. Where the museum is located, every resident knows. In addition, you can visit the estate with a tour group.
