Ghosts, Pompey and Aivazovsky: what attracts Sheremetev Castle
Mari El is rich in natural and architectural attractions. Tourists from all over Russia come to the republic to see with their own eyes the Yoshkar-Ola embankment of Bruges, the “Mari Switzerland” in the village of Vizimbir and, of course, the pearl of the Volga region - Sheremetev Castle.****
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The brick castle is located in the village of Yurino, on the shore of the Cheboksary reservoir. Its owners were descendants of the famous Sheremetev family - Vasily Petrovich and Olga Dmitrievna. The owner’s brother was General Mikhail Skobelev, a general who took part in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, liberator and national hero of Bulgaria. Olga Dmitrievna studied with the famous opera singer Polina Viardot and was one of the richest women in Russia. Her husband, Vasily Petrovich, was the nephew of Nikolai Martynov, Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov’s rival in the poet’s last duel. ****
****Famous European architects and Russian artists took part in the development of the castle project. For example, Ivan Aivazovsky was involved in the selection of paintings for interiors. Antique sculptures for the castle's furnishings were brought from the excavations of Pompeii. The mosaic floors were made by Italian master Erme Cristofoli. Thanks to Vasily Petrovich, who was interested in history, architecture, art and agriculture, fish ponds, kennels, a smoking room, a large glacier, and wine cellars were installed on the estate, where drinks prepared there were stored. ****
****The architecture of the Sheremetev castle combines neo-Gothic, Gothic, Oriental, Romanesque and Old Russian styles. The color scheme - a combination of red and black bricks with white stone details - fascinates everyone who has ever seen the majestic ensemble of the Sheremetev estate. A striking feature of the castle is the glass dome on the roof of the winter garden. ****
****Each room had its own purpose. One served as an office for General Skobelev and was decorated with a rich collection of weapons, the other was decorated in an oriental style, reminiscent of Persian. It preserves colored marble columns brought from Italy, and on the mosaic – also marble – floor you can see Arabic paintings. The castle also has an Art Gallery and the Oak Room. All the former rooms of the masters were connected by special passages with spiral staircases. On the territory of the estate, which covers an area of more than 60 hectares, a stone fence, service buildings, ground floor and landscape parks with ponds have been preserved. ****
****The castle has hosted famous guests on several occasions. Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko, the author of the book “Children of the Dungeon,” visited here and described local attractions. The great artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky also came to Yurino. ****
****After the October Revolution of 1917, the castle suffered the fate of many noble estates: first a sanatorium was located here, and later a rest home. During the Great Patriotic War, the stone walls served as a hospital and a place of residence for relatives of senior officials evacuated from Moscow. ****
****In the 1990s, the interior fell into complete disrepair: a few visitors wandered among the peeling walls of empty rooms. Restoration of the historical building continues to this day. Every year Yurino hosts the Skobelev Readings, dedicated to the famous commander. Also, part of the premises is given over to a hotel complex - the idea of spending at least one night in a 19th-century castle attracts many guests and residents of Mari El. ****
****Every year the pearl of the Volga region receives about 20 thousand visitors. In August 2022, the 30,000th tourist visited Sheremetev Castle since the beginning of the year. ****
****The attraction is attractive not only for its rich history and elegance of architecture. Like any decent castle, according to legend, a real ghost lives here. There are several versions about his appearance. According to the first, Count Sheremetev, distinguished by his harsh, almost tyrannical character, often cruelly punished serfs. One day he invited a girl to the palace, but she refused to share his bed. Then the count, flaring up with disobedience, ordered her to be walled up alive in one of the underground rooms. It is believed that the spirit of the girl still wanders the corridors of the castle. According to the second version, the ghost is the count himself, who hid his wealth here and is still guarding it. ****
****Sheremetev Castle is a unique monument of history and architecture. Walking among its rooms, you can feel the spirit of history and for a couple of hours immerse yourself in the life and way of life of the nobility of the late 19th century. ****