Photo: architectural monuments, parks and recreation, castles, fortresses and palaces, Landgut Archangelskoje, Moscow

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Arkhangelskoye: Versailles in the Near Moscow Suburb

Architectural Monuments • Parks and recreation • Castles, Fortresses and Palaces

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Arkhangelskoye estate, located in the Moscow suburbs, is a unique architectural and park ensemble in the style of classicism created at the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries. At different times its owners were members of the famous Russian princes: Odoyevsky, Golitsyn, and Yusupov. The French and Italian architects had a hand in the planning of the estate's territory, the erection of its main palace and spectacular terraces with marble balustrades.

Luxury statues and a rich collection of works of art of Prince Nikolai Yusupov, who bought the estate Arkhangelskoye in 1810, suffered in 1812 because of the war against Napoleon, although they managed to take the collection of paintings to Astrakhan. In 1820 a fire broke out in a looted manor. After that they started to gradually restore the former beauty in Arkhangelskoye, to paint the walls in the mansion, install the statues and reconstruct the furniture. A magnificent addition to the manor house was the park surrounding it. With its arrangement the estate was called “Versailles near Moscow”. The interiors of the house and the park attracted outstanding people of their time. A.S. Pushkin, the artist V.A. Serov, musician I.F. Stravinsky as well as members of the imperial family: Alexander I and Nicholas I, Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II used to visit this estate. After the revolution of 1917 the estate was turned into a museum. And in 1937 the pavilions of the military sanatorium were erected on its territory. Nowadays the territory of the estate Arkhangelskoye is divided into two parts. One of them (the one where the palace is located) can only be visited by buying a ticket. Here one can see the main halls of the palace and look at the collection of the West-European paintings of the XVIII century. The entrance to the other part of the estate is free.

The Arkhangelskoye estate is a very much Russian story. People are fascinated by the wonderful alleys of the park, sculptures among the trees and magnificent landscapes at any time of the year. Moscow residents like to come here on weekends to take a walk with their family or friends and relax from the noise of the capital. In the warm season they adore photo shoots of the newlyweds. Arkhangelskoye is also known for the fact that since 2004 the International Usadba Jazz Festival has been held here every summer.

Arkhangelskoye: Versailles in the Near Moscow Suburb

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