The Shakhmatovo estate is now a memorial museum-reserve of D. I. Mendeleev and A. A. Blok. This museum is located in the Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region near the village of Tarakanovo, at a distance of 82 kilometers from Moscow.
Despite the fact that the Shakhmatovo estate is a remote place in the Moscow region, poetry lovers and connoisseurs of Blok's work often come to this picturesque and interesting place.
The history of the estate
In 1874 the Shakhmatovo estate was bought by the poet's grandfather, A. N. Beketov. Andrei Nikolaevich Beketov was a famous botanist, founder of vegetation geography in Russia and rector of the Imperial St. Petersburg University. Beketov acquired the estate on the advice of his old friend and neighbor, chemist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, who lived nearby in the Boblovo estate.
Previously, Shakhmatovo was part of the noble patrimony that appears in the documents of the 18th century. These territories were given as a reward to the military for their services and exploits. Near the estate were the old estates of the eminent families of the Tatishchevs, Fonvizins and Batyushkovs. Many people think that the Shakhmatovo estate is named after a popular analytical game, but this is not so. The name is associated with the name of one of the first owners of this territory - Prince Shah-Ahmad. Andrei Nikolaevich Beketov bought not only the land for construction, but also a whole complex of buildings, with all the economy inherited from the previous landowner. This complex included a house with an outbuilding, a kitchen and a coach house for the crew.
The main building of the estate is a small one-story wooden building with a mezzanine, white shutters and a green roof. The walls in the rooms of the house were unpainted, but waxed, with antique mahogany furniture. Also, the new owners were given an outgoing troika and several working horses, pigs, cows, ducks, geese, chickens and dogs. The Beketovs treasured the landlord situation of the estate very much, but they were poor and unprofitable. The family said that they did not live in the country, but in the village, because country life at that time was a sign of philistinism.
The first time the future poet was brought to the estate in infancy. Alexander Blok did not constantly live in the estate. He came to Shakhmatovo during the warm season, from May to October, for 36 years. The poet was very fond of this piece of paradise, and lived here the best days, hours and minutes. The last time he visited Shakhmatovo was in the summer of 1916. The Russian beauty of this area inspired Blok, he composed about three hundred poems here. The most famous of them: "Heavenly mind is not measurable …", "Lonely, I come to you …", "A full month stood over the meadow …", "I wander in a dark garden in anguish …". At Shakhmatovo, Blok met his love - Lyubov Dmitrievna Mendeleev. She was the daughter of a great chemist and became his wife. They got married in the old church of the Archangel Michael, located three kilometers from the estate (in the village of Tarakanovo).
The main building of the manor was built in the classical style. In 1910, it was rebuilt according to the design of the Blok himself. After that, the house acquired the features of a neoclassical building. In 1918, the estate was left without supervision and was ravaged by local peasants. The main structure of the estate has not survived to this day. In the summer of 1921, the estate burned down. The causes of the fire have remained unclear to this day. Some historians suggest that spontaneous combustion was the cause of the fire, others believe that local peasants in this way decided to hide the traces of the robbery of the master's property. But the magnificent park and garden in the estate is well preserved. In Soviet times, admirers of Blok's work often came to the ruined estate.
Estate "Shakhmatovo" today
Museum-reserve of D. I. Mendeleev and A. A. The block has been operating since 1984. Three buildings are presented for viewing of visitors. In 2001, the estate of the Shakhmatovo Block was restored and a memorial museum-reserve was opened, where excursions and thematic events are now held.
Despite the fact that the Shakhmatovo Estate is now a tourist site, there is a homely atmosphere there. According to the reviews of museum visitors, guests are always welcomed with cordiality and warmth. As with the former owners, the Beketovs, there is a lot of greenery and flowers around the estate. It can be seen that the restoration of the estate was carried out by experts in their field. The building was recreated based on the memoirs of the poet's aunt Maria Beketova. She described in her books all the details of the furnishings of that time: the plan of the main house, the location of the rooms, the arrangement of furniture, the colors of the walls and wallpaper.
Blok's estate is a new building and it is natural that few authentic items have survived, for the most part things of the beginning of the 20th century were selected for the museum. Today the estate looks like it did during the poet's life, after the house was rebuilt by Blok in 1910. In the chess estate they managed to display the ascetic atmosphere of the late 19th century. The old black grand piano in the living room was donated to the museum by the writer Marietta Shahinyan. The great composer Sergei Rachmaninov played music behind him.
Like many years ago, the facade of the house is decorated with a large Italian window with glass of different colors. The view from this window is simply mesmerizing: a transparent curtain, greenery outside the window, a portrait of the poet's wife Lyubov Dmitrievna on the table. All this atmosphere immerses the guest in the world of Blok's poetry. Those who have examined the house can stroll through the park with picturesque linden alleys and relax by the pond. A large number of rare trees and plants grow in the park, which were planted by the poet and his relatives.
It is better to come here in the summer, then the estate is simply buried in greenery and flowers. The estate has a stable with horses, everyone can ride on horseback or in a carriage. From the museum you can write and send a letter to Alexander Blok, for this there is a special mailbox and a desk with writing materials.
Visitor reviews
Most of the guests are satisfied with their visit to the Blok Museum in Shakhmatovo. Many people feel here the real Russian spirit of a noble estate and absolute unity with nature. In the opinion of visitors to the estate, the most picturesque decoration of Shakhmatov is the view from the terrace to the east, from where endless Russian expanses and distances open.
Some consider it a disadvantage that the building of the estate is a remake, and there are few authentic items of that time. Visitors note the professionalism, knowledge of their business and respect for the memory of the Blok from the staff of the memorial museum. Any lover of the beauty of noble estates and all connoisseurs of the work of the great Russian poet Alexander Blok should visit the Shakhmatovo Museum. For all visitors of the Shakhmatovo estate, annual events and memorable dates of the estate museum are held:
- November 28 - the birthday of Alexander Blok
- October 1 - International Day of Music
- March - Shrovetide
- March 21 - World Poetry Day
- August - a poetry holiday dedicated to the poet Alexander Blok
- May 23-25 - lilac festival
- May - "Night at the Museum" event
- September - a folklore festival dedicated to autumn
You can find out about the exact dates and times of the beginning of the events by calling the museum: (965) 252-83-94.
Address of the estate "Shakhmatovo", how to get there
Address: 141500, Moscow region, Solnechnogorsk, st. Embankment, 11
By public transport from Moscow:
- from the Leningradsky railway station by train you should go to the city of Solnechnogorsk, get off at the Podsolnechnaya station;
- from the metro station "Vodny Stadion" by bus # 440 you need to get to the bus station of the city of Solnechnogorsk. Then from the bus station by bus number 24 to the village of Tarakanovo, then about three kilometers on foot, following the signs.
By car from Moscow:
along the Leningradskoe highway to the city of Solnechnogorsk, turn right onto the Tarakanovskoe highway, and then drive 18 kilometers to the village of Tarakanovo. From the village of Tarakanovo, following the signs - 3 kilometers to the village of Shakhmatovo. If you are traveling by private vehicle, please note that there is another village named Shakhmatovo. Specifying information from local residents, say that you are going to the museum-estate of the Shakhmatovo Bloc
Opening hours of the estate museum:
Wednesday - Sunday from 9-00 to 17-30;
Monday and Tuesday are days off;
The last Wednesday of each month is a cleaning day.
