Noble estates in Moscow

In Moscow region, you can visit several noble estates. The Kolomenskoye Estate and the Izmailovo Estate are the oldest in Moscow and the tsars still lived there. Then the capital was moved to St. Petersburg, since then the Royal palaces were built in the Northern Capital.

In this review on the online travel guide Geomerid you can read about the most famous noble estates in Moscow and the region:

1.    Kolomenskoye Estate
2.    Izmailovo Estate
3.    Kuskovo Estate
4.    Arkhangelskoe Estate
5.    Tsaritsyno Estate
6.    Dubrovitsy Estate
7.    Ostafevo Estate
8.    Bolshye Vyazemy Estate
9.    Marfino Estate
10.    Muranovo Estate
11.    Abramtsevo Estate
12.    Lenin Hills Estate
13.    Serednikovo Estate

Follow the hyperlinks to read in detail about each estate and see a large number of photos

Kolomenskoye Estate

Kolomenskoye estate may be considered one of the most beautiful landscape parks in Moscow. Its historical and architectural value was marked by UNESCO. Tsar Vasiliy III built the first significant constructions in Kolomenskoye. In 1528-1532 he built the Ascension Church on the bank of the Moscow River.

Most large-scale building was made in the time of tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. During his rule Kolomenskoye was turned into luxurious (by 17th century standards) out-of-town tsar`s residence. In 1657-67 the Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was built in Kolomenskoye. Contemporaries even called it the «eighth world`s wonder», although, of course, it was very big exaggeration.

Izmailovo Estate

Now Izmailovo estate is mainly known for its kremlin and vernissage. If you go along the shore of Serebryany (Silver) pond as far as the Izmailovo island, you can see a quite different Izmailovo. In 17 century Izmailovo was a small village located rather far from Moscow. Izmailovo was the family estate of the Romanov dynasty who had ruled over Russia since 1613.

To our days there survived the buildings of the time of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. It was under that tsar the Serebryanka river was blocked by a dam and the island was created where the summer residence of Izmailovo was located. To our days on the island there remained the Intercession Cathedral (1679), the Gates of the Tsar`s Court (1670) and the Mostovaya (Bridge) Tower (1671). 

Kuskovo Estate

Kuskovo estate is one of the most famous manorial estates in Moscow. From 17 century the estate belonged to the ducal family of Sheremetyev and remained in a wonderful state to our days. The grand palace is on the shore of the Palace pond, which has a right square shape. A beautiful regular park with numerous buildings and sculptures is behind the palace.

The Sheremetyevs had other estates and mansions in Moscow, so Kuskovo was originally created as a place for splendid balls, parties and pleasure events. In 1780 a sumptuous flower ball was held at Kuskovo in honor of a visit of Empress Catherine II.

Tsaritsyno Estate 

In 16th there was an estate of count Kantemir on the site called ‘Black Mud’. Catherine II who once stopped there on the way from Kolomenskoye liked its nature and beautiful landscapes very much. She bought out the estate from their former owners to build on its lands another Moscow tsar residence, which she named «Tsaritsyno estate».

The construction was commissioned to the architect Kazakov who was the pupil of Bazhenov. The construction was commissioned to the architect Kazakov who was the pupil of Bazhenov. He significantly changed the project of the main palace – so then was called today Great Palace in Tsaritsyno. On both sides of the Great Palace there are many other buildings and pavilions: Cavalry Buildings, Middle Palace (Opera House), Small Palace, as well as bridges and conservatories.

Arkhangelskoe Estate

Arkhangelskoye estate is quite rightly considered one of the most beautiful noble estates in the Moscow region.  It became famous in 1703, when it came into possession of Prince Golitsyn. During 1784-1809 Arkhangelskoye acquired its today appearance. However, it became a truly splendid residence only in the time of the Yusupov. 

Here the rivalry with Moscow estates of the Sheremetyev served its purpose: Kuskovo and Ostankino. Sheremetyev had there a theatre where a serf actress Zhemchugova shone. Yusupov created a wonderful art collection at Arkhangelskoye. The collection had the pictures of Rembrandt, Vandyke and many other famous painters.

Dubrovitsy Estate

The picturesque Dubrovitsy estate is not far from Podolsk, 20 kilometers to the south from Moscow. At the place where the Pakhra river joins the Desna river you can stroll at a picturesque park, as well as see the most beautiful Znamenskaya church built in the style of Catholic baroque and decorated with sculptures and stone carving.

It was in the time of the Golitsyn that there was built a palace and laid down a large lime park there. In 1690 Boris Golitsyn, who was then the tutor of the young Tsar Peter I, decided to build there an Orthodox church of the Sign of the Holy Virgin but in the baroque style, which was uncharacteristic of Russia. An Italian architect was invited to build it. Tsar Peter had often been to the Golitsyn’s estate and observed the construction of the church. 

Ostafevo Estate

The noble estate of Ostafyevo is 10 kilometers south of Moscow. In 19 century it belonged to the Vyazemsky princes. Now it houses the State Museum-Estate «Russian Parnassus» and for many years the estate was also considered the Pushkin Museum.

Many famous writers of those times visited Pyotr Vyazemsky in Ostafyevo: Griboyedov, Gogol, Turgenev, Zhukovsky, Batyushkov, Davydov, Mickiewicz. Karamzin lived here for many years, and Pushkin, a close friend of Peter Vyazemsky, has been there many times. There Griboyedov read «The Mischief of Being Clever» and Pushkin read the last, just written, chapters of «Eugene Onegin». It is just for this reason the estate was given the name «Russian Parnas».

Bolshye Vyazemy Estate

The Bolshiye Vyazemy estate is near the old Smolensk road by which the troops of Napoleon moved to Moscow in 19 century. The estate has a very long history. A palace of the Golitsyns was built there in the second half of 18 century. It was near the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour and a palace built by Boris Godunov at the end of 16 century.

In 1684 Peter I gave the estate to his mentor B. А. Golitsyn. But he rarely came to Vyazemy preferring to live at the Dubrovitsy estate (near Podolsk). At the end of 17 century at the estate a palace was built, which was twice visited by Peter I, in 1701 and 1705. It is likely that the palace was wooden and so it didn’t survive to our days. The descendants of Boris Golitsyn permanently lived at the Bolshiye Vyazemy. They built there a big beautiful palace in 1784.

Marfino Estate

Marfino Estate is located 50 km northeast of Moscow. Currently, the territory of the estate houses a sanatorium of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, but visitors can enter the estate for tours to stroll through the beautiful park and admire the 19th-century Gothic palace. The history of Marfino Estate spans several centuries. The first mentions of it date back to the 16th century when these lands belonged to the boyar Vasily Golovin. However, the estate`s heyday began in the 18th century when it came into the possession of the Saltykov family. It was under their ownership that Marfino acquired its beautiful appearance.

In the 19th century, the estate passed to the Panin family. Count Viktor Panin, a prominent statesman, decided to rebuild the estate in the neo-Gothic style. For this purpose, he invited the famous architect Mikhail Bykovsky, who created a design inspired by European Gothic. Thanks to him, the estate acquired its current appearance: pointed windows, towers, arches, and other elements characteristic of the Gothic style.

Muranovo Estate

The Muranovo Estate is a memorial museum dedicated to the life and work of the famous Russian poet Fyodor Tyutchev. The Muranovo Estate was founded in the early 19th century. Initially, it belonged to the Engelhardt family, but in 1816, it passed into the possession of the Boratynsky family. Yevgeny Boratynsky, a renowned Russian poet, became one of the first owners to make a significant contribution to the development of the estate complex. He built the main house of the estate, which has survived to this day and remains the architectural centerpiece of the entire ensemble.

In the 1840s, the estate passed to the Tyutchev family. Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev primarily lived in his estate in Ovstug, Bryansk Oblast, and only visited Muranovo as a guest of his relatives. However, after the poet`s death in 1873, Muranovo became a place where his descendants decided to preserve his legacy. The poet`s daughter, Anna Tyutcheva, and her husband, Ivan Aksakov, played a key role in establishing a museum dedicated to Tyutchev`s life and work.

Abramtsevo Estate

The Abramtsevo estate has been a symbol of inspiration for artists and writers for two centuries. Abramtsevo Estate was built in the 18th century in a picturesque place on the high bank of the Vorya River. It was owned by various noble families until the writer Sergei Aksakov bought Abramtsevo in 1843. A literary society was formed at Aksakov`s estate. Many famous writers, poets, actors, historians often came to visit here. Tyutchev, Turgenev, Shchepkin, Zagoskin, Khomyakov, Shakhovskoy, the Kireevsky brothers and many others visited here. The memorial room of Nikolai Gogol, a close friend of Aksakov, has been preserved in the Main Estate House. 

After Aksakov`s death, his daughter sold Abramtsevo to rich businessman Savva Mamontov. By that time, the estate had fallen into disrepair, but Savva Mamontov bought it as a place of attraction for the creative elite of those years. In the period from 1873 to the end of the 19th century, the golden age of the Abramtsevo Estate came. It became the center of attraction for all famous Russian artists of those years. The Abramtsevo’s society included artists Repin, Vasnetsov, Polenov, Serov, Vrubel, Korovin, Levitan, Matveev, Nesterov and others. Mamontov created workshops here where artists could work. 

Lenin Hills Estate

The estate of Gorki was founded by Zinaida Morozova, a widow of Savva Morozov, one of the richest people in Russia, at the beginning of 20 century. In 1918 V. I. Lenin made it his dacha. Since 1922 and to his death he lived there constantly. Today on the territory of the estate there are several expositions devoted to the first years of Soviet power and Lenin in particular. For 300 years the lands belonged to the ancient noble family of Spasitelev founded by a Byzantine priest Salvator who came to Russia with the suite of Sophia Palaiologina, the bride of Ivan (John) III.

In 19 century the estate fell into decay and often changed hands until at the beginning of 20 century it was bought by Zinaida Morozova. By that time she already married Rheinbott, a Moscow governor. Zinaida Morozova built a beautiful main house outfitted with all the blessings of civilization that only very rich people could then afford, such as: a bathroom and a toilet, centralized steam heating and water supply systems, electricity in all house and the Ericsson telephone for communication with Moscow.

Serednikovo Estate

Serednikovo estate is located a few kilometers Northwest of Moscow, near the city of Zelenograd. Pyotr Stolypin, Prime Minister of the Russian Empire, spent his childhood here. Mikhail Lermontov also came here for the summer 3 years in a row, and life in Serednikovo had a great influence on his work. The beautiful Serednikovo estate complex is located on the top of a hill. In the center is a two-story house with a Belvedere, and a semicircle from it radiates a colonnade with four wings, which are almost the same size as the main house. 

In 1825, the Serednikovo estate was purchased by major General Dmitry Stolypin, the brother of Elizabeth Arsenyeva, the grandmother of Mikhail Lermontov. Mikhail Lermontov visited Serednikovo manor for the first time on July 1, 1829 with his grandmother. Nearby lived the Vereshchagins family, who were also relatives of the Lermontovs. Alexandra Vereshchagina introduced Mikhail to her friend Ekaterina Sushkova. She was already 18 years old, and the young poet fell in love with her. Lermontov came to Serednikovo three years in a row and spent the summer months here. Later researchers of creativity of Lermontov even call these years "Sushkova period."