Ostankino

The manor Ostankino - unique monument of Russian architecture of XVIII century, located in the northern part of Moscow. Once situated near Moscow, this manor settles down now in 20 minutes of driving from the Kremlin and attracts fanciers by strict forms of classicistic architecture, refined beauty of interiors of a palace and lonely silence of an ancient park. The manor ensemble assembled throughout several centuries. The first notice about Ostankino concerns to the middle of XVI century.

The oldest monument saved on the territory of the manor - the church of Zhivonachalnoj Trinity of the end of XVII century with a nine-staged carved iconostasis. Two of its bottom stages concern the time of construction of the church, the others - the end of XVIII century. The five-domed temple was erected from a red brick chiselled by a white carved stone and полихромными by polychrome tiles.

The church was constructed by princes Cherkassk, the owners of the manor from the first quarter of XVI to the middle of XVIII century. Ostankino represented a rich princely residence with a beautiful temple, a big mansion and an extensive garden. The manor was so good and well arranged at that times, that  empress Elizabeth Petrovna was received here for four times successively.

The Ostankinsky palace was constructed by one of the richest and famous man of that times, count Nikolay Petrovich Sheremetev in last decade of the XVIII-th century. Ostankino passed to the Sheremetevs family in 1743. Nikolay Petrovicha's parents selected the manor Kuskovo as a residence  situated near Moscow and that is why Ostankino had mainly economic value till the end of XVIII-th century. Such known Russian architects as F.Kamporezi, V.Brenna and I.Starov worked over the project of this unusual palace. Building works lasted since 1792 till 1798. The palace was build entirely from a tree, but its plastered walls seem stone. The embodiment of an uncommon idea was appreciated.