←Ostashevo Estate

Ostashevo Estate

Photo of route “Ostashevo Estate”
Photo of route “Ostashevo Estate” — 2
Photo of route “Ostashevo Estate” — 3
9 points2 km3 hours

A village with a rich history. Learn about the fate of the Romanov estate wrecked by the Bolsheviks, the partisan raids carried out by schoolchildren and the battles of World War II. See the half-ruined estate side by side with the houses of local residents. Try to find the Decembrists' hidden constitution — or simply relax on the bank of the Ruza.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

  • 📜 Learn the city's history
  • 🏞️ Enjoy the view
  • 🌲🦋 Enjoy nature

Route points (9)

  1. Monument to the Young Partisans — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Monument to the Young Partisans

    🗿 Monument

  2. Settlement of Military Valor — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Settlement of Military Valor

    🗿 Sculptures

  3. Mass Grave — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Mass Grave

    🗿 Monument · 📜 Historic site

  4. Estate Entrance Tower — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Estate Entrance Tower

    🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site

  5. Fire Watchtower — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Fire Watchtower

    🏟️ Architectural landmark · ⚙️ Industrial site · 🕵️ Urban legend

  6. Entrance Tower Attached to a House — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Entrance Tower Attached to a House

    🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site

  7. Entrance Gate Tower — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Entrance Gate Tower

    🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site

  8. Main Estate Building — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Main Estate Building

    📜 Historic site · 🏟️ Architectural landmark · 🕵️ Urban legend

  9. Church of Sts. Oleg of Bryansk, Seraphim of Sarov and Igor of Chernigov — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

    Church of Sts. Oleg of Bryansk, Seraphim of Sarov and Igor of Chernigov

    🕍 Place of worship · 📜 Historic site · 🕵️ Urban legend

Main Estate Building in Volokolamsk

Point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

Main Estate Building — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”
Main Estate Building — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”
Main Estate Building — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”
Main Estate Building — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”
Main Estate Building — point on route “Ostashevo Estate”

Point 8

Main Estate Building

📜 Historic site • 🏟️ Architectural landmark • 🕵️ Urban legend

Historical Background

This abandoned house on the shore of the Ruza Reservoir is not the estate's main house, although it looks a lot like it. It is about as ruined as the other buildings but much newer, dating from the 1950s. Decembrists, My Decembrists The estate's architectural ensemble was created in the 1790s by Prince Alexander Urusov: the main house with columns and a belvedere, single-story brick wings, the manager's house, white-stone obelisks and paired Gothic turrets. The estate later passed to his stepson, N. N. Muravyov. Nikolai Nikolaevich is known for founding a school for column leaders (staff officers) at Ostashevo; 22 future Decembrists graduated from it, including Muravyov's son Alexander. The future Decembrists often held their meetings right here in Ostashevo. Alexander opposed serfdom and autocracy. In 1826 he was arrested on suspicion of organizing the uprising and sent into exile.

The “Trampoline Center”

From the 1950s the Ostashevo Young Pioneer camp (also called Solnyshko, or the I. V. Frunze camp) operated on the site of the main building. Today it is a very atmospheric place in a dangerous state of disrepair, mixing Stalinist Empire style with nods to the estate's style. Today it is a favorite spot for teenagers who come to stay at their families' dachas in Ostashevo. Locals also call these ruins the “Trampoline Center”. Susanin strongly advises you not to enter unsafe buildings.

Myths and Legends

Legend has it that the handwritten text of the constitution drafted by Alexander Muravyov is buried on one of the knolls on the estate grounds.