History of Ahtyrki Manor Complex Formation

Abstract

The article concerns the formation of the manor complex of Akhtyrka in the context of the development of Russian estate culture of the early XIX century. Based on textual and graphic materials, the author makes an attempt to clarify the features of the planning structure and the figurative and artistic originality of the estate, formed in the 1820s. The new manor complex was located on the picturesque steep slope of the left bank of the river Vorya, that was specially blocked to create very vast ponds, effectively edged with landscape and regular parts of the park. All elements of manor buildings corresponded to the style of late Moscow classicism, in particular, the architectural work of D. Gilardi. The central elevated part of the palace was crowned with a dome, and its garden façade was accented by a semi-secular terrace located in the center. Its northern facade was accented by a six-columned portico with a pediment decorated with the stucco coat of arms of the Princes Trubetskoy. On the north side, an extensive front yard was approaching the building, which in plan was close to the shape of a square. In its central part there was a pool with a fountain, around which roses and many other no less bright colors grew along symmetrically laid paths. The formation of the park fully met the general planning plan developed by one of the outstanding masters of landscape gardening art. On the lithographs dated 1st half of the XIX century by an unknown artist called “View of the village of Akhtyrki, owned by Prince Ivan Nikolaevich Trubetskoy. From Moscow - 60, and from Khotkovo in 3 versts ” this newly created complex is represented by picturesque ponds. Here we find their asymmetric shores, elegantly drawn, the bridge, the vast landscape park, the alleys and the very long volume of the main manor house, which rises spectacularly over the entire surrounding area. In front of the southern facade of the main house, a vast meadow was built on the relief smoothly lowering to the ponds. Near the building itself, birch trees flanked it, and from the east and west there were straight avenues planted only with lindens. At the coastline, we notice asymmetrically planted cypress trees together with shrubs. In 1924, the manor house burned down, which entailed the complete liquidation of the estate complex.