Stalin`s Summer cottage in Matsesta was built in 1931, but the green building of 1937 has survived to this day. In the following years, the house was constantly being expanded. Now there is a museum where you can see how Joseph Stalin and his family rested at sea.
In the first half of the 20th century, Sochi was not the most popular resort on the Black Sea. However, thanks to the hydrogen sulfide sources of Matsesta, Stalin began to come here, then all the top leadership of the state, and after them ordinary people. In 1933, on behalf of Stalin, a master plan was prepared for the reconstruction of Sochi as resort of All-Union significance. Astronomical funds were allocated for its implementation at that time, 1.4 billion rubles.
During numerous exiles and escapes before 1917, Joseph Stalin undermined his health. He also suffered from dry-sightedness since childhood. At the age of 6, back in Gori, little Soso Dzhugashvili was hit by a horse-drawn phaeton. He miraculously survived, but for the rest of his days his left arm was damaged and did not move.
At the age of 40, he needed medical procedures to maintain his health. In the 1920s, Joseph Stalin went to the Mineral Waters resorts, to Essentuki and Kislovodsk. Later, Anastas Mikoyan advised him to go to Matsesta to treat his hand in the Matsesta hydrogen sulfide waters. This treatment helped Stalin, and he decided to build himself a summer cottage in the immediate vicinity of the Matsesta Balneary.
Stalin chose the place for the summer cottage (Dacha) on a hill between the rivers Matsesta and Agura. Here was the Mikhailovskoye estate, which before the revolution belonged to the industrialist Mikhail Zenzinov. There was a beautiful garden around the estate. The distance from the estate to the Balneary is only 5 kilometers, besides there is a beautiful view of the sea from here.
The construction of Stalin`s summer cottage was entrusted to the architect Miron Merzhanov. He built many houses for Stalin, including a Nearby Cottage in Kuntsevo (Moscow). The layout of all the houses was similar, since Stalin did not like the variety of the layout. All the houses were green. A huge garden with an area of 55 hectares was laid out around the cottage in Matsesta.
Stalin`s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, in her letter recalled a trip to the sea in 1931 and described a "small hut". In 1937, it was significantly expanded and acquired the appearance that has survived to this day. In 1949, two one-story wings were added to the sides of the main house. In 1953, the second floors were built over them, where rooms for people especially close to Stalin were located. On the other side of the courtyard there is an economic building.
The decoration of the rooms has been preserved in its original form. The materials used here were so durable that there was no point in changing anything. For example, in the windows, instead of glass, rock crystal is installed, which does not let sound and ultraviolet light through, the frames in the windows are made of precious wood. The walls are also decorated with precious wood.
On the ground floor there is a swimming pool and a recreation room where Stalin liked to relax after bathing. Nearby there was the room of the head of the guard Nikolai Vlasik and the room of the duty officer. Next to it was Stalin`s study with access to the terrace. On the second floor, most of the house is occupied by a fireplace room. Nearby is the room of Stalin`s son Vasily, the room of his wife Nadezhda Alliluyeva and a huge terrace where the whole family liked to gather.
After Stalin`s death, the Sanatorium Green Grove was built on the hillside, and Stalin`s dacha became part of it. Later a museum was created here. Go to the central building, where the private rooms of Joseph Stalin and his family members were located. Then go out into the courtyard and go to the right wing. There is a museum where you will see a wax figure of Joseph Stalin at his desk. There is a bed and a sofa nearby. This furniture was personally used by Joseph Stalin. On the table are his personal belongings, which were also preserved at the Summer cottage in Matsesta. Opposite Stalin`s desk is the desk of his secretary Alexander Poskrebyshev. Stalin was very fond of billiards, so all the cottages had billiard rooms.
If you travel by car, it is very convenient to stop at the Matsesta Hydrotherapy Balneary from Stalin`s Dacha, where Stalin took procedures on hydrogen sulfide springs. Nearby is Mount Akhun, where the Tower on top was built in 1935, on Stalin`s initiative. If there is a desire for long walks, then there are Agur waterfalls nearby, as well as Eagle Rocks. A walk through them will take all day.
