Yusupov Palace in Crimea: description and history of occurrence

The Yusupov family is one of the richest and most famous in the history of Russia. This family owned many architectural masterpieces. These include an old manor located on the southern coast of Crimea. Today, the Yusupov Palace opens its doors to guests of the resort area. Everyone can enjoy the view of the perfect building, created in the Neo-Romanesque style, walk through the magnificent park, capture graceful sculptures in photographs. Consider the features of the magnificent palace in more detail.

Yusupov Palace can be called mysterious. This is one of the most interesting sights of Crimea with a rich history. It is located in the village of Koreiz. Once there was located the estate of the well-known Princess Golitsyna. In the 20s of the XIX century, she acquired land in the village and created several impressive buildings on it. It was a luxurious estate with wine cellars and a garden, farm buildings, as well as the Resurrection Church. The latter had a Gothic look in the best traditions of style. As for the apartment building with terraces, it was created in the spirit of traditional Crimean buildings.

In the middle of the XIX century, the estate was sold out. One part went to millionaire Morozov. Another passed from hand to hand. It was in turn owned by Goncharov (brother of the wife of Pushkin), Count Sumarokov-Elston. Years later, the son of the latter (Felix Feliksovich) bought out the remaining possessions and reunited the estate. In 1882, Felix entered the Yusupov family. This happened due to marriage with the daughter of the prince. The man took his wife's name for a reason. She was the last representative of an incredibly wealthy family.To continue the dynasty, Felix was also given the title.

The princely “Pink House” was replaced by a palace with elements of the Italian Renaissance. The new building looked like a horseshoe. Outside, it was facing the sea coast. During construction, gray marbled limestone was used. So the palace acquired a new look and began to be called Yusupovsky. A valuable collection of paintings was transported from the Arkhangelsk region for interior decoration. Among the canvases one could even see a couple of Rembrandt's works. The entrances were decorated with marble lions brought from Venice. These magnificent sculptures are there today.

The Yusupovs often visited the residence and received guests there. Crimean manor was visited even by members of the family of Nicholas II. In the 20s of the twentieth century, the owners of the palace left the country. During the Soviet period, the former residence of the Yusupov princes was nationalized. Initially, it was used as a sanatorium for scientists, later security officers rested in it. Stalin himself did not deprive the palace of attention. He met with Churchill and Roosevelt, other leading figures there. Choosing a venue for important government meetings was no coincidence. The residence has always stood apart. Many locals did not even know about its existence. This guaranteed the observance of the secrets of finding dignitaries and made it possible to create comfortable conditions for them.

The building was equipped with heating, electric lighting, hot water. Refrigerators were delivered to him, a telephone line was drawn. Given the possibility of emergency situations, a hundred meters from the main building, on the orders of Stalin, the builders created a bunker. It was designed to provide protection against possible Nazi raids. The construction took place before the leader arrived in Yalta for important negotiations.

For many years, the entrance to the palace was closed to outsiders. Today it has become a national treasure. The estate is carefully looked after, maintained buildings and green spaces in a decent form. The area is still under guard. But at certain hours (by appointment), you can visit it to enjoy architectural and landscape masterpieces, to touch the history of the ancient dynasty.

First, the members of the excursion group find themselves at the front door. It is located on the north side. Meet their sculptures depicting lions. Once upon a time, their eyes were decorated with precious stones. Today in these areas you can see only empty places. The palace ensemble includes three buildings. This is the Yusupov Palace, the Golitsyn Palace, as well as the Guest House. Buildings are surrounded by rare trees and shrubs. Also on the territory are neat flower beds. Something left of a chic rosary.

The free area is decorated with several figured pools. They are at different levels. Since the palace stands on a slope, height differences form. Ponds adorn the front door and access to the coast. The most beautiful is the pool located in the east. The design of the reservoir is complemented by the figure of a girl from bronze. In the west, the pools are surrounded by lush greenery. The location was thought out so that one of them reflected the building, and the other - Mount Ai-Petri. Amazing fountains taking water from mountain streams complement the landscape design. Artificial water features not only delight the eye, but also give coolness on a hot day.

Once upon a time, numerous waterfalls and ponds were also supplemented with mirrors that visually enlarge the space.The largest basin was inhabited by goldfish. In addition, gentle water lilies grew in the water. One of the pools was located in a separate pavilion. It was intended for swimming. Maintained at a constant level of water temperature allowed to take water procedures at any time of the year. The outbuildings are in the south. It is from this side that they are clearly visible. It also offers stunning views of the sea and the picturesque surroundings.

Unfortunately, little has survived to this day. These are famous lions, griffins and several other figures. From the sea on the road leading to flower beds and artificial ponds, you can notice two columns with busts. Menada and satyr are very mysterious. The fact is that in the features of ancient heroes one can guess the resemblance to Felix and his wife. The sculpture of Minerva makes a strong impression. It is easy to notice its resemblance to the famous American Statue of Liberty.

The interior of the palace has largely changed during the Soviet period. However, something remained the same. The wall decoration is striking in its beauty; many decor items are interesting. Fireplaces made of marble are very exquisite. Elegant vases, antique clocks and figurines from the Yusupov era turn the apartments into an interesting museum building. The interior combines Italian Renaissance and modernism. Here you can see the white enamel shelves for porcelain and bronze objects. Furniture ensembles include Viennese chairs, comfortable corner sofas.

Living room windows overlook the park. This is a very bright and romantic room. Once, festive dinners were held here, conversations were held over evening tea. It was nice to read in the room, enjoying the quiet rustling of trees outside the window. Especially tourists are impressed by the dining room. A laconic, but at the same time very beautifully decorated room has a pleasant meal. Wall decoration is made in a special technique. Patterned surfaces seem to be covered with expensive fabric. Modern visitors are offered drinks (coffee, tea) and light snacks.

Today, anyone is given the opportunity to rent any apartment. This is done by filling out the form on the official website. You can also arrange by phone. Of course, the cost of such a room cannot be compared with a regular hotel, so not everyone can afford such an unusual vacation. Wealthy gentlemen are also offered the idea of ​​organizing events in the Yusupov or Golitsyn Palace. It can be a wedding, anniversary, presentation, graduation party, conference, gala reception or other event. Such a holiday will undoubtedly be remembered for a long time by all participants. Especially spectacular can be a masquerade ball held in a luxurious and mysterious residence.

Interestingly, despite the reconstruction of the residence, the park layout of 1830 has been preserved. She was engaged in the famous German gardener Karl Kebach. In those days, he was able to ennoble many possessions of noble families. As for green spaces, the park was decorated with the director of the Imperial Botanical Garden. Thanks to N. Hartvis, unique trees and shrubs (over 200 varieties) appeared on the territory. Pyramidal and Arizona cypresses, roses, western thuja, ash-leaved maple, white acacia, medlar, chestnut, noble laurel and other cultures can be seen here today.They peacefully coexist with juniper, pistachios, pines. This creates a harmonious and natural green environment, which at the same time can be called an example of landscape gardening art.

The area of ​​the park zone is 16.5 ha. Once upon a time there was also a luxurious orchard. Pears, peaches, apple trees, apricots and other crops delighted the hosts and their guests with juicy sweet fruits. To date, only quince has survived. Centennial tree still regularly produces 100 kg of fruit. The state of the park is being monitored. Bushes and trees are trimmed in a timely manner. In terms of grooming, it can be an example for many state green zones.

The famous palace is located in the Republic of Crimea, in the village of Koreiz. Exact address: Park Descent, 26. You can find it on the map. Getting to the historic site is easy. You can get to the place by public transport. Buses in this direction regularly depart from the Yalta bus station. The reference point is the hotel "1001 Nights." You can also go by car. In this case, you should stick to the H19 highway. It is located just south of the Embankment. Lenin. When the driver sees the sign “Koreiz”, the driver should turn left. The whole journey can take about 20-25 minutes.

As already mentioned, it is impossible to simply come and enter the territory of the Yusupov Palace. Special time is allocated for visits. Most tourists prefer to explore historical sites as part of excursion groups. You can find out the schedule of excursions in advance and join one of them. If you want to act on your own, you need to call one of the numbers listed on the official website of the Yusupov Palace. In this case, you will have an advantage. You will not depend on the group, you will be able to draw up a plan of inspection of the building and its surroundings yourself, linger at the object you like at any time, take photos.

About when and how you can visit the Yusupov Palace, see the next video.