Bolshiye Vyazemy

In our family became a tradition to open season of week-ends trips by Carnival Sanday. Winter of 2012 was snowy and in the beginning of March only longer light day told us about spring.

We decided to walk in a villa Bolshiye Vyazemy (or Big Vyazyemy). It is a part of Pushkin conservation (like Zakharovo). Today Bolshiye Vyazemy is a huge town-like village with 12.000 population. It joins with town Golitsyno (18.000).

The village known from 16 century. It was owned to Boris Godunov. There was a last post station before Moscow. In Trouble Time the village was a residency of False Dmitriy. Marina Mniszech stood here. Probably, just here she surprised Moscow society by european wonder – a table fork. Finally, in the times of Peter the Great, the emperor presented this estate to Golitsins.

Golitsyns actively transformed the villa. There was builded a palace.

By the way, Napoleon Bonaparte spent the night here when his army retreat from Moscow. Field marshal Kutuzov also spent the night here when Russian army retreat to Moscow some time before.

Golitsyns was relatives to Pushkins. At this time the villa was owned by Natalia Golitsyna. She was a maid of honor of Ekaterina II and first beauty of the court. She became a prototype of The Queen of Spades. By legend grand-nephew loosed all him money in a card game and run to his very rich grandma. The grandmother didn’t lend money to him but give him a hint: beat on 3, 7 and Ace. The grand-nephew win back his money on next day.

Future poet often visit here with his parents, brothers and sister. He attend a temple too. The temple of Transfiguration of Jesus deserve to take a look itself. It was builded by order of Boris Godunov in 598. Its architecture is very unusual for Podmoskovye.

Niklay Pushkin, a brother of the poet, died when he was 6 years old. The inscription of the stone said: “Nikolay Pushkin rest under this stone”.

Bell tower in Pskov’s style was built in the times of Godunov, also.

A Sunday school is a most modern building in the complex.

Stables also renovated. Interestingly, what will be inside of this house?
On the foreground there is a small cafe&shop, but prices are expensive and food isn’t fresh here. So it would better to take sandwiches and a thermos with yourself.

Bank vault of a pond on river Vyazemka is a very good hill. Kids will like to toboggan here.

The view on the estate from other side of the pond. In 16 century threre stood a high ramparts.

The house of Love.

Also this places famous because Alexey Navalny born here. And his parent still live here and own a family shop and factory of rod weaving.