The long winter is finally over so Peter and I can get out and about a bit more. We are just coming to the end of a long break - 12 days. May 1st Labour day, May 9th Victory Day plus one moved from February have been combined together so we have had a good break. Peter and I have been to Kyiv for five nights but more of that later.
Kuskova is in the south east suburbs of Moscow and was the country seat of the Sheremetevs, one of the wealthiest aristocratic families in country. They owned it for over 200 years until the Revolution and Sheremeteva airport is named from them.
The present palace and gardens were laid out and built in the late 1700s by Count Pyotr (Peter) Sheremetev. The gardens are formal and were described as the Russian Versailles. The palace itself is made of wood which has been plastered and decorated. As with so many estates it fell into disrepair after the Revolution and is only now being restored. The garden has the shapes of the beds made in grass and gravel but no flowerbeds yet.
It was a bit odd as each building had a separate entrance fee so we only went in a couple.
Kuskova is in the south east suburbs of Moscow and was the country seat of the Sheremetevs, one of the wealthiest aristocratic families in country. They owned it for over 200 years until the Revolution and Sheremeteva airport is named from them.
The present palace and gardens were laid out and built in the late 1700s by Count Pyotr (Peter) Sheremetev. The gardens are formal and were described as the Russian Versailles. The palace itself is made of wood which has been plastered and decorated. As with so many estates it fell into disrepair after the Revolution and is only now being restored. The garden has the shapes of the beds made in grass and gravel but no flowerbeds yet.
It was a bit odd as each building had a separate entrance fee so we only went in a couple.
The main entrance with carriage slopes leading to the front door.
This is the tapestry room and is decorated with Flemish tapestries. These rooms are unusual as they have both a ceramic heater and an open fireplace in corners of each room. As the place is made of wood I was surprised at the open fireplace.
This is a bed in the drawing room and not used for sleeping at all.
The decoration is beautiful with fabric stuck on the walls.
A square of fabric has been lifted to show the construciton underneath.
This is a proper bed.
The ballroom
The sideboard set for dinner.
A magnificent confection - made of plaster!!
The banquet
The rooms upstairs are not open which is where I expect the proper bedrooms are. These are the state rooms for show.
Next to the house is the Church of St Michael the archangel with its bell tower.
The kitchens are in a building of their own, not far from the dining room but far enough for the food to get cold!!
In the garden was a grotto - a brick built building decorated inside with patterns made of shells and sparkly stones set in plaster. Sadly much of it has been spoilt with the shells being broken off, but the ceiling still looks pretty and the pictures interesting.
The Dutch house
The Italian Cottage
A building in the menagerie used for song birds.
I'm not sure why all the different houses were built in the grounds, but they are interesting and I will go back to look at the collections inside. At the far end of the garden is an enormous orangery which now has a collection of porcelain. Sadly much of it is closed for restoration.
When we go into some old houses we are asked to wear blue plastic over shoes. Not here. They got us polishing the floor as we walked around!!
It was an interesting place to go and I hope to return to look in more of the museums.
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