Manor Nikolo-Zupan: an unsuccessful romance between the authorities and the investor. Manor Mirkovichi in Odoev: To be or not to be

Generations later, interest in the old Russian estates appeared, but their revival is sometimes only a continuation of the dramatic history of the beginning of the last century. An example of this is the participant's estate Patriotic War 1812, St. George Cavalier General Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich in the village of Nikolo-Zhupan near Odoev in the Tula region.

Mansion - for potatoes

House of General Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich - historical monument federal significance. This is a manor of amazing beauty and harmony, located on the high bank of the Upa River, an architectural monument of the middle of the 19th century. The history of the mansion is typical in many respects. After the revolution, the Bolsheviks forced the general's heirs to leave the house, and a school for peasant youth was opened in the vacated premises. In the 1930s, they decided to close the school and organize a rest home for writers. Serafimovich, Lavrenev, Trenev were here, in 1934 Boris Pasternak lived.

After the war, the estate was given to an orphanage. When a new building was built for the children, old house turned into a hostel for employees. In the 1990s, the district authorities registered refugees there, and a vegetable store and a boiler room were set up in the basement. The rest of the fuel was dumped into the courtyard. Half a century later, the heirs had to take out 27 KamAZ trucks with coal chips from here.

How it all began

The fact that her ancestor in the fifth generation is a general, a participant in the Battle of Borodino and foreign trips of the Russian army, Olga Troitskaya-Mirkovich found out unexpectedly for herself when she worked in the archives, finding out the fate of her grandfather, who was shot in the years Stalinist repressions. It then took eight years to collect and sign all the papers confirming her rights to the estate.

In the summer of 2005, a decision was made to transfer the house to descendants for gratuitous use for a period of 49 years (then it was impossible to privatize the monuments). To do this, the Mirkovichs were asked to create entity, on the balance of which the dilapidated economy could be transferred. This is how the non-profit organization "Cultural Center "General Mirkovich's Estate" appeared.

In a year, they made cosmetic repairs and opened the first exhibition dedicated to the history of the general's family, which reflects the history of Russia like in a mirror: among the names present on the stands are the Demidovs, Chicherens, Sukhovo-Kobylin, Muravyov-Amursky. In the memory book of the nascent museum there is an entry by Yevgeny Borisovich Pasternak: “It is very good that there are such people who find the strength in themselves to revive what was lost in terrible years timelessness, erasing historical roots from the face of the earth. I mean the family of Olga Serafimovna Mirkovich, who decided to raise the house of her ancestors from the ruins."

All these years, Troitskaya-Mirkovich has been collecting and studying historical materials and various items associated with the estate, writes articles, publishes books, she is invited to give lectures at various forums and conferences. Now this museum has more than three thousand exhibits, there is even a luxurious white piano. The house of Mirkovich today has become one of the brands of the Tula region, it was included in the Russian Estates project.

That's how you support it!

Ten years ago, the regional authorities promised all kinds of assistance. District officials remained silent. The oblasts made some noise and forgot, and the Mirkoviches finally found out what this silence of the municipalities means. The fact is that the contract for gratuitous use was concluded with an encumbrance: people lived in the house, and the tenants "should not interfere with the residents' residence until they are legally evicted." True, as the prosecutor's office found out, this house never belonged to the housing stock, and the local administration had no right to register people in it. Despite all the promises and illegality, people have not been resettled so far. Only this year a woman with a baby was discharged, and the man who returned from prison is still registered at this address.

Today, regional cultural officials say that the presence of tenants did not interfere with the restoration of the building. Only now the residents themselves constantly threatened that they would privatize their rooms. And what sponsor would agree in such a situation to invest in the restoration of funds? Moreover, despite the fact that the territory of the monument was never formalized - all attempts to lease land were boycotted by the local authorities.

Mirkovich's mansion has become one of the brands of the Tula region today

We did not take the estate as a dacha, but collected exhibits to make a museum, - Olga Serafimovna explains. - There was a circle of people who were ready to finance the restoration project. They still exist, but subject to the registration of the land under the building. federal law No. 73-FZ, it was established that land plots within the boundaries of objects cultural heritage are lands of historical and cultural purpose. We do not need areas and buildings leased to a children's boarding school for an indefinite period. But why aren't we allowed to issue the rest? The regeneration of the preserved outbuildings will allow potential investors to create infrastructure for the development of the tourist complex in parallel with the cultural and historical project "General Mirkovich's Estate".

Mirkovichi on your own the basements were cleaned out, the sewerage and the boiler room were restored. But the pipe was dumped again and handed over to scrap metal. The ladder to the river was dismantled. To top it off, the director of the orphanage decided to make a stadium five meters from the western wing of the building - his land. By the time they managed to stop it, they managed to fill the site with sand and cut down relic balsamic poplars, which in the last century by Nikitsky specialists botanical garden were recognized as natural monuments. What can I say, on the day when we arrived at the estate, we had to drag huge logs (remains of those very poplars) from the doors - they were rolled up so that the woman could not leave the house. Okay, she left to meet us.

The struggle for this house, primitive in meanness, is going on so much,” says Tamara Lepeshova, a resident of Odoev. - All historical buildings in Odoev are sold out. Of all, only this estate remained unsold. There are so many examples when people buy houses for the sake of a plot of land: the developer is waiting for them to fall apart in order to build something of their own.

Do you expect help?

A new round of struggle against the descendants of the owner of the estate, but already at the regional level, began recently - after she entered the Russian Estates project. Troitskaya-Mirkovich was charged with her failure to restore the house. There was a trial, she was fined 300 thousand rubles. Then the regional ministers of culture and property relations suggested that she "leave on good terms." Otherwise, the contract is terminated by the court.

Security obligations and obligations to restore the estate were prescribed, - explained Tatyana Rybkina, Minister of Culture of the Tula Region. - Within five years, a restoration project must be submitted, within ten years - obligations to bring the estate in order must be fulfilled. All deadlines have passed. In the last two years, the estate began to simply physically collapse. We supported Olga Serafimovna, we always invited her to exhibitions. I'll give it her due when it comes to promoting the brand, she does it very well. Thanks to her, the estate is part of the cultural heritage of the region. But no matter what was said, the estate began to collapse.

According to Olga Troitskaya-Mirkovich, she was told that with the help of the "people's budget" 50 million rubles could be allocated for the restoration of the estate. Half of the amount - the funds of the regional treasury, 30 percent will give the municipality, five million - she. But for this, the estate must become municipal property.

Local activists are sure that the reason for everything is the opportunity to "pull up" big money, and officials do not need heirs here. They are skeptical about talking about the "people's budget": in the village the water tower is collapsing, there is no lighting, there is a problem with sewage, and people will vote for the restoration of the estate?

She is simply physically unable to lift all this - not a philanthropist, not a rich person. At the same time, this is a person who knows the history of the family very well, has collected many interesting exhibits, - explains Tatyana Rybkina. - I would not want this estate to be entirely some kind of investment project that would be given to an investor, for example, for a hotel. Certainly part of it must be museumified. But the financial situation is such that the region, especially the municipality, has no funds for the full restoration of the estate. It will probably be a joint project. There may be private business involved.

In this scheme, Olga Troitskaya-Mirkovich in best case the role of the gatekeeper at the museum collected by her is assigned. No wonder she is outraged by this. After all, there is a creative project already developed, there are potential investors, but the authorities seem to have their own preferences.

Manor of General A.Ya. Mirkovich

The project to create a cultural center "The estate of General A.Ya. Mirkovich" in the Odoevsky district of the Tula region was supported at a meeting of the Public Council for the Promotion State Commission in preparation for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 (see: A protocol of a meeting March 2, 2011). The initiator of the project OS Troitskaya-Mirkovich was included in the Public Council.

Information about the estate of General Mirkovich

In the Odoevsky district of the Tula region, in the village of Nikolo-Zhupan, there is an old Russian estate, which went down in the history of the Tula region as the estate of General Mirkovich.

By decision of the regional executive committee No. 6-294 of April 9, 1969, the estate was recognized as a monument of history and culture local importance, and since 1995 by decree of the President Russian Federation(No. 176 of February 20, 1995) - a monument of history and culture of federal significance.

During the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the village was the patrimony of the Streshnev boyars. At the end of the 18th century, it passed to the Chicherin family: Major General Alexander Nikolaevich and his wife Elizaveta Petrovna, nee Demidova, granddaughter of Grigory Akinfievich Demidov, one of the largest producers of iron and copper, creator of the first scientific botanical garden in Russia near Solikamsk. Her father, Pyotr Grigoryevich Demidov (1740 - 1826), from 1800 for five years served as chief director of the St. Petersburg Commercial School.

Elizaveta Petrovna herself is known as a translator and writer. This name was included in the dictionary of Russian writers of the XVIII century. Her daughter, Ekaterina Alexandrovna Chicherina, married Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich (1792 - 1888) in 1822. From this marriage in 1828 a son, Alexander, was born. Ekaterina Alexandrovna died in 1848 at the age of 58.

In 1851, Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich completed the construction of the main manor house.

Some representatives of the Chicherin-Mirkovich family found their resting place in the aisle of the St. Nicholas Church in the name of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, which has survived to this day, the organizers of which they were.

Until 1917, the estate was owned by the descendants of this family.

Then the estate housed a school for peasant youth, and since 1932 - the Rest House of the Writers' Union. B. L. Pasternak and many other famous writers rested here.

In the "House of Mirkovich" from 1953 to 1974 housed Orphanage. Later, the memorial building was used as a hostel for employees of the orphanage.

Since August 2005, a monument of history and culture of federal significance has been transferred for gratuitous use for 49 years to the ANO "Cultural Center" General Mirkovich's Estate "to create memorial museum Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, participant in foreign campaigns of 1813–1814, participant in the Battle of Borodino, Major General, Knight of St. George Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich. The founders of the cultural center are its direct descendants.

In 2001, a memorial plaque was installed on the monument building with the following content: “A monument to the history and culture of the federal (all-Russian) nineteenth century "Estate of General Mirkovich A.Ya." (02/02/1792 - 06/22/1888), hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, participant in the Battle of Borodino and foreign campaigns of Russian troops (1813-1814), Knight of St. George. Here from 1932 to 1936. the Writers' Rest House was located, where the writers A. Serafimovich, N. Trenev, the poet B. Pasternak lived and worked. Protected by the state. The memorial plaque was erected on July 4, 2001 by the grateful descendants of General A.Ya. Mirkovich.”

In the estate, complex measures were taken to preserve the house and protect it from the penetration of unauthorized persons. Anti-emergency work was carried out to stop further destruction of the building. Currently, the restoration project of the monument and the coordination of the project of the boundaries of the territory and zones of protection of the monument are under development. In one of the halls of the main house of the estate, a preliminary exposition has been created, telling about the history of the estate and its owners.

Since 2005, on the Day of the city of Odoev, the estate has been holding the “Day open doors". For schoolchildren of the district, visiting the estate has also become a tradition: in May - at the end of school year, in September - at the beginning of the training season for the Day of the Battle of Borodino, in which the owner of the estate, Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich, was a participant.

In May 2008, the founders of the Cultural Center were awarded National Prize"Cultural heritage" for merits in the preservation, revival and promotion architectural heritage Russia, and in 2009 - with gratitude from the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation.

Grade: 4,00 (votes: 4 )

The village of Nikolo-Zhupan, Odoevsky district, is known to many lovers of antiquity, thanks to the palace located there, which went down in the history of the Tula region under the name "General Mirkovich's Estate". Today this estate is a monument of history and culture of federal significance.

The estate became a monument of history of federal significance back in 1995, in 2001 a memorial plaque was installed on the building with the following content: “A monument of history and culture of federal (all-Russian) significance of the 19th century “The estate of General Mirkovich A.Ya.” (02/02/1792 - 06/22/1888), hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, participant in the Battle of Borodino and foreign campaigns of Russian troops (1813-1814), Knight of St. George. Here from 1932 to 1936. the Writers' Rest House was located, where the writers A. Serafimovich, N. Trenev, the poet B. Pasternak lived and worked. Protected by the state. The memorial plaque was erected on July 4, 2001 by the grateful descendants of General A.Ya. Mirkovich.” And this board is the only whole exhibit on the monument of history. Time mercilessly destroys the building itself.

The building of the main manor house was built in 1851, although due to the very successful and picturesque location, the village was known much earlier - since the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Then the village was the patrimony of the Streshnev boyars, but at the end of the 18th century it passed to the Chicherin family: Major General Alexander Nikolaevich and his wife Elizaveta Petrovna, nee Demidova, granddaughter of Grigory Akinfievich Demidov, one of the largest producers of iron and copper, creator of the first scientific botanical garden in Russia near Solikamsk. Her father, Pyotr Grigoryevich Demidov (1740 - 1826), from 1800 for five years served as chief director of the St. Petersburg Commercial School.

Elizaveta Petrovna herself is known as a translator and writer. This name was included in the dictionary of Russian writers of the XVIII century. Her daughter, Ekaterina Alexandrovna Chicherina, married Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich (1792-1888) in 1822. From this marriage in 1828 a son, Alexander, was born. Ekaterina Alexandrovna died in 1848, not having lived to see the completion of the construction of the estate for 3 years.

Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich - a descendant of the Serbian nobles, Private trader of the war of 1812 (passed Vitebsk, Smolensk, Borodino) and foreign campaigns (Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Kulm, Leipzig, Fer-Champenoise). For all these trips awarded the Order St. Anne 4th class, Kulm cross and golden weapon for bravery. Mirković retired in 1854 with the rank of major general. The main concern of Alexander Yakovlevich was to perpetuate the exploits of the Russian people in World War II, he wrote the history of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, but, unfortunately, it was never printed. Mirkovich died in Kaluga, where he was buried.

The building was in the possession of the descendants of the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812 until 1917. As usual, after October revolution all the estates were expropriated by the new government, therefore, until 1932, the estate housed a school for peasant youth, and then - the Rest House of the Writers' Union.

Since August 2005, a monument of history and culture of federal significance has been transferred for gratuitous use for 49 years to create a memorial museum of the Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, a participant in foreign campaigns of 1813-1814, a participant in the Battle of Borodino, major general, Georgievsky cavalier Alexander Yakovlevich Mirkovich . The founders of the cultural center are its direct descendants.

It is a pity, but the estate is in a very deplorable state and with such an attitude it will not last another 40 years. To get inside you need to call in advance (we did not do this). The entrance to one half of the basement is completely open - there is nothing interesting there, just a large layer of debris and dampness. The estate requires capital investments and repairs, and urgent.

What the estate was before one can only guess. The photo above shows the pond and the poplars that surround it. The pond is gone, and so are the poplars. On the high bank reverse side the estate still has the remains of a staircase, but it is very difficult to go down them. Most likely there used to be a gazebo (or maybe more than one - the view is very good). A panorama opens from the high bank of the Upa, the center of which is the white walls of the Anastasov Monastery.

I really hope that the issue of preserving such a monument will be raised, and the building will be put in order.

And in Nikolo-Zupani there is a brick Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, built around 1701 by the landowners Streshnevs. To the church in 1918 at the expense of A.Ya. Mirkovich, in the spirit of the old temple, a refectory with Vladimir and Alexander Nevsky aisles and a bell tower were added. To date, the temple has been destroyed, leaving only the refectory.

Well, as usual: if there are mistakes - poke your nose and do not judge strictly)))

Very close to the city of Odoev is the village of Nikolo-Zupan. Many who have ever traveled from Tula to Belev noticed from the road interesting house, rising in the thickets above the bank of the Upa. I wanted to visit this place for a long time, but, as usual, everything happened quite by accident. And so, we are waiting for a short walk around the estate of General Mirkovich.

First, let's dive into the history of this place.

When did it appear modern name Nikolo-Zhupan is not known, but even during the time of Ivan the Terrible, the boyars Streshnevs owned this place. The name "Selco Zupan" was first mentioned in documents from 1566. At the end of the 18th century, Major General Chicherin, whose wife was from the famous Demidov family, became the owner. At the beginning of the 19th century, their daughter married General Alexander Mirkovich, who was a Decembrist and a hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. It was he who in 1851 completed the construction of the main house of his estate in the style of classicism.

The estate in Nikolo-Župani was in the possession of the Mirkovićs until the revolution of 1917, when most of noble houses in Russia have become a national treasure. Later, a school for peasant youth was located in the main house.

Source: odoevng.ucoz.ru

It is interesting that during these times noble furniture and interior remained inside.

Source: odoevng.ucoz.ru

Later, someone decided that it was too "fat" for peasant children to walk on expensive parquet and study in luxurious classrooms, so in 1932 the Writers' Union Rest House was opened here. At this time, many rested here. famous writers, including Nobel Laureate- Boris Pasternak.

Source: myslo.ru

A short period of time before the war, Metalist was here before the rest.

Source: myslo.ru

During the war, the Germans set up a stable in the estate, and a huge old library was also burned down. In the early 50s, the estate was restored and an orphanage was located there.

From 1953 to 1974, the estate housed an orphanage. Later, the memorial building was used as a hostel for employees of the orphanage, when the orphanage itself received a new building.

Source: bergamotblog.blogspot.ru

Source: www.geraldika.org

In 1998, it housed an Internet house for employees, and the basement was used as a vegetable store. Now, although the estate is considered an architectural monument of federal significance, its condition is very deplorable.

They tried to preserve the building from destruction:

It is already too late to preserve most of the facade:

It is sad to see how such a beautiful building crumbles, literally, in pieces:

Wooden extension:

In 2001, a memorial plaque was hung on the estate:

Facade facing Upa:

If you wish, you can visit the basement, but this time I didn’t want to get dirty, especially in the basements there is little that is interesting:

The building is already full of trees:

The remains of a wooden staircase leading to the shore have been preserved:

Someone equipped a bench there:

The estate of General Mirkovich seemed to me great place, where you can conduct a combat test of my new quadcopter screen:

A few photos from above:

Left modern building Internet house, fenced with fences together in an apple orchard, and at the end of the road leaving between the fences, the remains of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are visible, but about it a little later:

Opposite the estate there is another building that could well belong to the estate, but most likely it is something more modern:

Let's look at it from all sides:

The inscription on the door reads - "State stationary institution of social service of the system social protection population":

The temple in Nikolo Zupani was erected at the beginning of the 18th century, and it was a quadrangle, above which rose a tall octagon with a lantern carrying an onion dome. In the 1820s Mirkovichi built two chapels on the sides of the refectory:

"The driving motive here is not the bright future of the federal monument. Otherwise, through our joint efforts with government agencies, the estate would have been restored long ago"

Evgenia Tvardovskaya

Recently, the Tula Region Inspectorate for the State Protection of Cultural Heritage Objects raised at a meeting of the regional government question about the deplorable state of the estate hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, General Mirkovich in the village of Nikolo-Zhupan, Odoevsky district. The monument of federal significance was handed over in 2005 under a contract for free use to the descendants of a glorious family. This was the first case of "soft" restitution in the Tula region. The story was widely circulated in the media. Soon a small private museum was opened in the house, a commemorative plaque appeared, the estate became known far beyond the region.

Then, in the mid-2000s, a rare interview or review on the topic of public-private partnership in the restoration of architectural monuments did not mention Nikolo-Župani as a positive and promising example.

Ten years later, it turns out that the restoration has not started at all, its deadline - 2014 - has passed, and frequent visitors to Nikolo-Župani are law enforcement and other regulatory authorities.

“Why did we take 500 thousand and rejoice?”

Inspectorate of the Tula region for the protection of monuments in September 2015 made an inspection visit to the site and came to the conclusion “about the deterioration of the technical condition during the period the building was owned by the user. On the this moment"Mirkovich's house" is in an emergency condition, which is recorded by the inspection certificates.

The Moscow Magistrate's Court, to which the regional state body submits applications, has already fined the owner of Nikolo-Zupani a total of 500 thousand rubles. BUT Prosecutor of the Tula Region Alexander Kozlov noted at the aforementioned meeting that, in relation to the user, his department began an investigation - upon the appeal of a resident of the village, who also indicated the destruction of the estate.

Chairman of the regional government Yuri Andrianov criticized the report of the security state agency, stating that the Inspectorate, for its part, did not finalize the issue: “So you have to go to court again. If the monument is important to us, then we must force her to repair it. Why did we take 500 thousand and are glad that we brought them to the budget? And the monument is being destroyed at this time,” he said, suggesting the Inspectorate, together with the Ministry of Culture of the region, to restore the estate.

"It should be recognized obvious fact: the heirs alone will not cope"

The photo report about the destruction in Nikolo-Zhupani, attached to the report of the Tula Inspectorate, as they say, speaks for itself. It would seem that everything is extremely clear, logical and fair: they promised - they did not. If they didn't, they were punished.

But a number of questions arise: why, in fact, do new-old owners need such a story? Are they themselves interested in the ruins, and not in the restoration of the family nest?

Why did they install memorial plaques– at the “house of Mirkovich” in Nikolo-Zupani and at the burial place of other representatives of their family in St. Petersburg, why do they work in archives and make presentations on the history of the family at conferences from Moscow to Yekaterinburg and abroad?

Why, finally, did they carry out cosmetic repairs in the house, why did they arrange an exposition in it, the items of which are often presented at various exhibitions in Tula and Moscow, in particular, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior? Why their activities are marked by the gratitude of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation and many others thank you letters and awards?

There can be many answers, but somehow it doesn’t look like the actions of investors who are waiting for the house to finally collapse in order to build, for example, a spa hotel in its place.

It would also be very interesting to understand what role the regional state body for the protection of monuments and local authorities? Really in one only control measures and fines? After all, back in 2013, say, it was clear to visiting Tula journalists that “the obvious fact should be recognized: the heirs alone will not cope. The amount of work is huge, a lot of money is needed. According to conservative estimates, the restoration of the main manor house alone will cost $1.5 million.”

“No sane person would invest in a house and land around which there are endless lawsuits”

It is noteworthy that in open sources a lot has been written about the "sabotage" of the current owners, but nowhere is their speech, as they say, in the first person. Legacy Guardians decided to fill this gap. So, the history of the yet failed restoration of Nikolo-Župani - through the eyes of Director of the ANO "Cultural Center" Estate of General Mirkovich " Olga Troitskaya-Mirkovich:

“Yes, formally, the truth is on the side of the plaintiff. The restoration, which, according to the agreement on security obligations, "KC" Manor of General Mirkovich "was supposed to be carried out in 2014, has not been carried out. A stream of accusations pours on us from the local media - that we allegedly receive grants for the estate, that we use them for personal enrichment; that the local administration allocates us land next to the house, which we either take or refuse because of “exorbitant appetites”; that because of us, tenants who were once registered in the estate turned out to be on the street, etc. etc.

Alas, over the 15 years that our family has devoted entirely to the family estate, we have not only scientific work, not only began to understand the field of monument protection, but also learned what it means to endlessly beat up the thresholds of offices and go to court.

I am glad that today the estate of General Mirkovich is a recognizable brand. Along with Yasnaya Polyana and Polenov, it is supposed to be included in the pilot project "Russian Estates", which is being developed with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Already today it is included in the route "Ancient Odoev and its environs."

There is a temporary exhibition in Mirkovich's house, which presents the history of the estate and its owners, created entirely by our family. On Odoev's Day, we hold an "Open Doors Day" at the estate. The Mirkovich House is always open for schoolchildren of the district and children from the neighboring Nikolo-Zhupansky orphanage. Tourists from other cities also began to come to us.

No one helps us in this activity of ours. Yes, we do not ask, if only not to interfere. But that's just with this from the very beginning of the problem.

They could not conclude an agreement for gratuitous use with us for five (!) years. And all because the local administration, having learned about the planned transfer of the monument, immediately registered 24 tenants in the house. As will be established later by the prosecutor's office of the Odoevsky district – illegal, because The house has never been a residential building. Odoevskaya administration in 2005 gave a written commitment to resettle people, which has not been fulfilled so far. Moreover, despite the prosecutor's submissions, a baby and a citizen who returned from places of detention were recently registered in the memorial building.

Tell me, how can you carry out and finance the restoration of a house if, in fact, you are not the owner of the house?

The Mirkovichi estate is not only a house, but also land, outbuildings, in particular, the now ruined barn and outbuilding, the St. Nicholas Church, which is used by the balance holder as a warehouse.

It is clear that in order to create a full-fledged tourist complex, they must be reanimated, for development, land around the house is needed. This was exactly what was provided for by the agreement on the transfer of the estate to us for free use.

But in fact, we received only the main house. All our attempts to get nearby sites are met with passive or active resistance, or even outright sabotage. This is the only way I can assess the case of 2013, when literally five meters from the western facade of Mirkovich’s house, old relic poplars were cut down, or another case when a foundation pit was dug on the manor land, allegedly for the construction of a swimming pool. The consequences, as you might guess, we eliminated at our own expense.

We are not given land plots with ruined buildings for rent, but we were offered a land plot with permitted use for individual housing construction (!), although any construction on the estate is strictly prohibited.

I had investors who were ready to "invest" in the estate, to develop a museum and tourist complex, but not a single sane person will invest in a house and land around which there are endless courts, the status of which is vague and the property rights are not formalized. This is the answer to the question why restoration and improvement are not being carried out.

On April 10, 2014, the governor of the Tula region V.S. came to the Odoevsky orphanage. Gruzdev. We are with local residents just stood on his path with the banner of the House of Mirkovich to attract his attention. We managed to talk to him and tell him about our troubles. Local officials then "reacted" quickly. A few months later, for example, housing was provided for a young mother with a baby, registered in the monument.

Thus, the administration of the Odoevsky district has not given us the opportunity to fulfill our obligations under the contract for many years. And at the same time, he writes complaints against us to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Tula Region that we are not doing enough to preserve the monument, after which a protocol was drawn up on an administrative offense for the failure of our Center to fulfill security obligations.

All this cannot but suggest that the local administration is striving to break our contract and does not want us to be users of the estate. Apparently, it has become famous place they just want to pass it on to someone else - for further promotion and development. It's obvious to me that driving motive here is not the bright future of a federal monument as an object of culture. Otherwise, through our joint efforts with government agencies, the Mirkovichi estate would have been restored and landscaped long ago.”

Vera Sterlina, head of the Russian Estate non-profit partnership, laureate of the 2015 All-Russian Heritage Keepers Award, comments on the situation for our site:

“Certainly, it is a pity that the restoration of this interesting and valuable complex cannot get off the ground. There is, of course, no reason not to trust the conclusions of the regional body for the protection of cultural heritage about the failure to fulfill protective obligations in deadlines. But it is impossible not to take into account that if it were not for the current users, who tried, as best they could, to breathe into manor house new life, it, most likely, simply would not exist already - it would be pulled apart brick by brick.