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Firstly, the Glinka estate is one of the oldest and well-preserved estates near Moscow. And secondly, many mystical stories and stories are associated with this place, thanks to the personality of the most famous owner - Peter the Great's comrade-in-arms, Yakov Vilimovich Bruce, whom local peasants called "sorcerer".
History paragraph
Glinka's estate is one of the oldest in the Moscow region, its architectural ensemble was created from 1727 to 1735 and is associated with the most mysterious associate of Peter the Great - a native of Scotland, Yakov Vilimovich Bruce, who was popularly nicknamed "sorcerer" or even "warlock".
Yakov Villimovich participated in almost all significant campaigns of the era of Peter the Great, was a great connoisseur of military and engineering affairs, founded the Navigation School (which was located in the Sukharev Tower), was distinguished by great erudition and erudition, knew several European languages, and his famous "office of curious things" added to the collection of the Kunstkamera. After the death of the first Russian emperor, Count Bruce did not find any use in the service of his successors, he honorably retired with the rank of Field Marshal and retired to Glinka's estate near Moscow. During his life in the estate, Yakov Vilimovich could completely devote himself to his favorite activities. For example, he spent a lot of time watching the starry sky, and the local peasants passing by, catching him doing this and not understanding the meaning, composed all sorts of fables about the “sorcerer Bruce”.
Many stories are connected with the Glinka estate and its owner, for example, they say that after his death, the count frightened the new owners of the estate, appearing to them in a dream.
What to see
One of the distinguishing features of the Glinka estate is that Count Bruce, who was engaged in many sciences, converted almost all the rooms into offices in which research activities were carried out. All these cabinets were made public with the latest devices for those times, for which Yakov Villimovich spared no expense.
The interior of the estate ensemble was made in the Baroque style.
Outbuildings were located absolutely symmetrically to the main house, and opposite the main entrance there was a park with ponds, gazebos and pavilions. The ceremonial and economic complexes have survived to this day.
The parade complex is actually the main manor house with two outbuildings. The economic complex was rebuilt in the 18th century, and now it has no architectural value. The main house is distinguished by restrained solemnity. The window casings with demonic masks on the ground floor are interesting. These masks added fuel to the fire of rumors circulating among the peasants about their master.
A small house, called "Bruce's Laboratory" or "Peter's House", is a one-story park pavilion that has preserved the interiors of Peter the Great's times.
Nowadays, the estate is occupied by the Monino sanatorium, and in the western wing there is a museum dedicated to Count Bruce.
Coordinates
Address: Moscow region, Schelkovsky district, Losino-Petrovsky.
The distance from Moscow is approximately 50 kilometers, without taking into account traffic jams, the road will take a little more than an hour (along the Gorky Highway). By bus or fixed-route taxi No. 506, you can get from the Shchelkovsky bus station to Losino-Petrovsky, and then take a taxi to the Monino sanatorium.
April 12, Shchelkovsky districtYakov Vilimovich Bruce (1670-1735) - Feldzeugmeister General, later Count and Field Marshal, Peter's inseparable companion in his campaigns, and in some travels, settled in Glinka in 1726, where he lived until the end of his life, occasionally visiting Moscow and indulging in exclusively scientific pursuits.
Bruce received an excellent home education and was especially addicted to the sciences of mathematics and natural sciences. Yakov Vilimovich Bruce was, undoubtedly, the most enlightened of all the associates of Peter. Engaged in compiling and translating essays, Bruce oversaw the course of the entire typographical business in Russia, but most of all his name is known as the author of the calendar, which first appeared in print in 1709 by the "invention" of Vasily Kipriyanov, and "under the supervision" of Yakov Vilimovich . Although he subsequently did not publish calendars himself, nevertheless he can rightly be considered the founder of the calendar business in Rus', since he took the main part in compiling them, imitating mainly German calendars. From him remained, as a monument to his studies, a library and an office of various "curious things", which at that time was revered as the only one in Russia. Before his death, he bequeathed them to the Kunst Chamber of the Academy of Sciences. The composition of both is the most diverse: there are books, and maps, about 735 in number, and manuscripts, and tools, and all kinds of rare items (about 100).
Glinki is the oldest stone noble estate in the Moscow region. The architectural ensemble of Glinka began to form in 1727-1735, when Bruce retired and moved to Glinka, granted to him in 1721 for the Aland peace with Sweden.
The estate was built in the 20s of the 18th century by a master, unfortunately unknown to us, in the style of palace and park architecture, with features of European baroque. The estate is a symmetrically planned residential complex with a utility yard, a regular park with ponds and a garden pavilion. The main courtyard, which has survived to our time, is a strictly sustained rectangular ensemble of buildings oriented to the cardinal points, the main house and three outbuildings. No less interesting than the architecture is the park in Glinka with its regular shaped paths, which form interesting complex figures in plan, in which one can see Masonic signs. Now the territory of the estate is occupied by the sanatorium "Monino". You can enter the territory completely freely through the main entrance. A few years ago, the Bruce Museum was opened in the western wing through the efforts of local historians. Unfortunately, the museum is now going through hard times associated with the redistribution of property and does not work.
Main manor house. The loggia in the central part of the facade is magnificent, the lower tier of which is formed by a rusticated arcade, and the upper tier by slender paired columns. The center of the building is marked by a tower lantern, where, apparently, Bruce's astronomical observatory was located.
The windows of the lower floor rest on shelves supported by brackets and are surrounded on both sides and on top with rusticated stone with triangles protruding at the top.
The platbands of the first floor windows are endowed with spectacular mascarons. According to legend, the masks represent caricature images of the nobles of that time, opposed to Bruce.
The garden side of the house was planned in general terms similarly to the yard side. The columns of the upper loggia collapsed, leaving an open terrace instead.
The architectural style of the house is continued by other buildings of the estate.
This wing houses the Bruce Museum, now closed.
Homestead entrance
"Bruce's Laboratory" or "Peter's House" is a one-story park pavilion, a typical example of the Petrine era.
Pilasters with Corinthian capitals
Semicircular arched niches with shells on the facade, where statues were previously placed
Wing and guardhouse
Second floor added
park alley
Manor pond. According to one of the legends, Bruce froze the water and skated in the summer on a small pond, and in the winter, on the contrary, he swam in a boat.
In the distance, the ruined building of one of the former buildings of the sanatorium is visible. It is hard to imagine that this is the Church of St. John the Evangelist in the mid-18th century. There will be a separate post about it.
Directions: from the Yaroslavsky railway station to the station. Monino, then bus number 32 or minibus to the stop. "Sanatorium Monino" - 15 minutes.
The Glinka estate is located where the land between the Vorey and Klyazma rivers formed a peninsula, protected on all sides by forests and swamps. The area was carved with ancient dungeons. According to Yuri Ivanov, a dowsing specialist, the Glinkas are located at the "place of power" - the place where the energy of the earth comes to the surface. In our time, the sanatorium "Monino" is located here.
Yakov Vilimovich Bruce is called the Russian Faust, but I must say that he left much more mysteries for us than his German colleague, the warlock, sung by poets. Although it would probably be more correct to call him the Russian da Vinci for his extensive interest in various fields of knowledge and invention. It is curious that the date of his birth falls on the holiday "Day of all secrets" - April 11, and coincides with the date of birth of the great freemason and sorcerer Saint-Germain.
Perhaps the greatest fame for Bruce the astrologer was brought by his famous Bruce Calendar. It was more than just a calendar, rather a real encyclopedia. It seemed that it was written for absolutely all occasions, indicating various events, signs, predictions and advice for many years to come. The divinatory nature of this astrological calendar predetermined its tremendous popularity and strengthened the rumors about Bruce as a soothsayer.
This "eternal" calendar contained predictions for every day for 112 years ahead! Therefore, it is not surprising that the Bryusov Calendar became the most popular in Russia and remained so for more than two centuries - it was known even in Soviet times. According to contemporaries, it contained surprisingly accurate predictions, and although initially these predictions covered time frames only up to 1821, in subsequent reprints they were supplemented up to the 20th century. Even in our time, some healers use this calendar to calculate destinies.
Long before the death of Tsar Peter the Great, Bruce, having compiled his astrological horoscope, warned the tsar against water, but how could such a wayward person like Peter I listen to anyone? Years later, Peter climbed into the icy water, rescuing a stranded boat with soldiers, shortly after this incident, he fell ill with pneumonia and died. However, Bruce himself did not believe that banal pneumonia was to blame, believing that they intervened in Peter's fate and helped him die, simply put, they poisoned him. The count also predicted his own death.
On January 28, 1725, Bruce acts as the chief steward at the funeral of Peter I. Immediately after the death of the tsar, the struggle for power in the country and localities begins, Bruce's interests are hurt, he is Peter's closest ally, he understands that he has become dangerous and undesirable for the new government, too he knows a lot of palace secrets. Catherine I recently established the Supreme Privy Council, which includes the gray cardinals of Russia, headed by Menshikov. In fact, this council, and not Catherine I, governs the country and decides the most important state affairs. Bruce is not included in the council and thus eloquently makes it clear that he is not needed by the new government.
A year after Peter's death, Bruce retires with the rank of Field Marshal. Together with his wife Margarita von Manteuffel, he hastily left the capital, moved to Moscow, and on April 24, 1727, bought the village of Glinkovo, located 42 versts from Moscow, from Prince Dolgorukov.
Having equipped the Glinka estate, Bruce equipped an observatory there and, moving away from state affairs, devoted himself entirely to his favorite pastime - science. Bruce was also engaged in medicine, assisted local residents, made medicines from herbs. All this gave rise to new rumors about the count, they say, he knows everything about herbs and can turn stones into gold, he received living water and now death itself has no power over him.
The scientific research and inventions of the count, his reclusiveness and isolation in the last years of his life, aroused curiosity and superstitious fear among the surrounding residents, they began to say that a dragon had been brought to Bruce from somewhere overseas, but one day Jacob got angry with him and turned him into stone. Indeed, in the park of the count's estate Glinka there was a stone sculpture of a mythical creature covered with scales, but, unfortunately, today the traces of the dragon, like many other sculptures from the count's estate, could not be found - in the 30s they were destroyed, and the materials were used for construction dams.
The peasants said that the owner of the village was the royal “arihmetchik”, he knew how many stars there were in the sky and how many times the wheel would turn until the wagon reached Kiev. Looking at the peas scattered in front of him, he could immediately name the exact number of peas.
There were a lot of legends about his stay in Glinka. So, they say that the guests who arrived at the estate rode boats on the pond during the day, and in the evening, after the fireworks, the pond turned into a skating rink, and everyone got on skates. It was also said that Bruce could cause a storm and thunder from a clear sky, fly on an iron bird. Even a simple gazebo, Bruce turned out to be a mystery: in it, at the wave of his hand, the sounds of a harp were heard. No matter how many guests examined it, they could not find the source of the music.
Bruce tried to unravel the mystery of life and created an artificial man without a soul. Such a maid served the count in his observatory, freely walked around the estate and flirted with the peasants. The serf count, seeing the doll, at first scattered, but then they got used to it, and among themselves they called "Yashka's woman." After Bruce's death, among his papers, historians found a diagram of a mechanical robot.
Bruce not only preserved the ancient underground galleries (having exits several kilometers from the estate), but also laid several new ones, connecting all the buildings of the estate with them. After his death, the laboratory, astronomical instruments, part of the books and other things disappeared. According to one version, the scientist managed to hide them in the dungeons of the estate. Dowsing reconnaissance shows that there are metal, wooden, glass objects underground, and in some places their density is quite high. Sometimes the frame begins to rotate rapidly, stating anomalous deviations - powerful energy barriers, the impact of which, unabated for centuries, is dangerous for the health of scouts.
Several attempts to find Bruce's treasures are known. Professor of Moscow University Kovalev in 1857 carried out excavations in Glinka and searches in the Sukharev Tower, but to no avail. At the beginning of the 20th century, under the patronage of Nicholas II, archaeologist Alexei Kuzmin tried to look for them. The funds were large, but the archaeologist, only confessing to his friends that he finally understood something in Bryusov's secrets, suddenly died.
Yakov Bruce lived in Glinka for about ten years. All this time, he was afraid that Menshikov and Catherine I would not just leave him alone, because he, being close to Peter I, knew a lot and now became dangerous for them. The count, being a man versed in medicine, did not believe that the king died due to illness and believed that there was a conspiracy against Peter.
Soon after Peter's death, some mysterious events began to occur around Bruce - all the count's close associates died in a completely mysterious way. Before his death, Peter I did not have time to name a successor, he wrote only “I leave everything” and died. There is an assumption that Bruce was the only person among the close associates of the sovereign who knew the name of the heir.
Bruce died under very mysterious circumstances. They say that for the experiment he killed his old footman, then cut his body into pieces, poured them with "dead" water - and the body grew together. Then Bruce sprinkled the body with "living" water, and the old man came to life and became young. Then Bruce ordered the servant to do the same with him. The servant accidentally broke a bottle of "living" water and the owner never resurrected. Only a small amount of liquid got into Bruce's palm. According to eyewitnesses, when Bruce's grave was opened, the palm of his right hand was absolutely intact, like that of a living person.
At present, little remains of the former splendor of the manor house in Glinka. FUIMUS ("We were") - this is the motto on Bruce's family coat of arms, which is the best way to comment on the current life of an abandoned estate. The French park is overgrown, marble sculptures and a musical pavilion are not visible, the Bryus family tomb is lost. Only the stone masks on the window casings still grimace. According to legend, one of them is a portrait of the owner of the estate.
Those who wish can see the ghost of Bruce on Radio Street, where he is trying to find his grave, but more often at the place where the Sukharev Tower stood. Although the probability of meeting him in the Glinka estate is even higher. He appears on the days of the solstices, as well as on those nights that are somehow remarkable from an astrological point of view.
“After the destruction of the tower, the spirit of the count moved to his estate in Glinka, where he was repeatedly seen by patients of the military sanatorium Monino,” says Angela Skubelko, master of black and white magic in the capital. - I often enter into astral communication with Bruce, and the last time he told me that he was moving to Moscow, he would wait until the tower was restored. Until this happens, he walks the streets, and you can meet him. But you should not be afraid of him, during his lifetime the Scot was a kind person.
We went to the Bruce Museum, but it turned out.. it hasn't been open for a long time. At the entrance I was surprised ... anyone can enter the territory, take a walk and "catch" their feelings.
Cosmopoisk lists this place as anomalous... We were met by a huge crow, busily walking along the path and willingly posing in front of the cameras. He was "checking" backpacks, trying to find something interesting for him. I thought that ravens and cats were always present next to powerful sorcerers...
They say that in the days of Yakov Vilimovich, many curious and inexplicable events took place. They saw him on a flying, iron dragon... in the summer he entertained Peter's court by skating on a frozen pond... a mechanical servant served Yakov, in the form of a real girl.
The count also created a calendar of nature, predicting the weather for several years ahead.
There were many legends about his death - from the fact that he came up with a certain drug that splices pieces of the body and another drug - reviving and rejuvenating ... Only the student was afraid to resurrect the count, that's why he died. There is another legend that speaks of the transmigration of a mortal spirit into the image of a tower, and then completely moved to live on Sukharevskaya Square after the tower was dismantled. There are other versions... but they are so exotic that it's not even worth mentioning...
STRANGE BIOGRAPHY: The direct heir to the Scottish throne (his ancestors fled Britain from the Cromwellian terror) Count Yakov Vilimovich Bruce was an engineer, mathematician, astronomer, topographer, military man, politician, diplomat. And, according to contemporaries - a sorcerer. There are no records of when the offspring of the royal family was born in Moscow. Two dates are given: 1669 or 1670. At the age of 14, he spoke three languages, knew mathematics and astronomy. At the age of 16, Bruce signed up for the amusing troops that Peter the Great created. The young sovereign, eager for knowledge, singled out an enlightened Scot. Having entered the service of Peter, Bruce rapidly climbed the career ladder. He led the entire Russian artillery, at the age of thirty he received the rank of Feldzeugmeister General, participated in all the military campaigns of the tsar. Peter took an enlightened foreigner to important diplomatic negotiations. Jacob Bruce became the first holder of the main award of the empire - the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
"Sanatorium "Monino""
BRUCE'S BOOK: In gratitude for royal honors, Peter asked the count to let him read his magic book, which, according to rumors, once belonged to King Solomon himself.
“Bruce had such a book that revealed all the secrets to him, and through this book he could find out what was in any place in the earth, he could tell who had what where…
This book cannot be obtained: it is not given to anyone and is located in a mysterious room in the Sukharev Tower, where no one dares to enter, ”the novelist Bogatyrev described one of the main mysteries of Yakov Bruce.
Bruce replied that he did not have any mysterious books, except for the Philosophy of Mysticism.
In 1735, the sorcerer died, and the heirs of Catherine I tried to find the book. They searched the observatory and turned over his scientific archive, which was stored in the Academy of Sciences. But the magic book was nowhere to be found. They believed in the existence of the book, so that no one else could find it, they put guards at the tower. At first, even the Bolsheviks did not dare to remove this guard. Only in 1924, the post at the Sukharev Tower was disbanded, and a museum of public services was opened in the Bruce Observatory.
The Sukharev Tower, unlike other architectural monuments, was destroyed for a long time and painstakingly. Stalin was fond of mysticism and wanted to find Bruce's book. He ordered the tower to be dismantled brick by brick under strict control. But the book was never found. Lazar Kaganovich, who was present at the destruction of the tower, later told Stalin that he saw a tall, thin man in a wig in the crowd, who shook his finger at him, and then disappeared. But many of the works of Bruce Stalin found and used them in the construction of modern Moscow. 
THE SPIRIT OF BRUCE: After Bruce's death, when the body was already buried in the crypt at the Lutheran church of St. Michael in the German Quarter, the light was still on every night in the observatory. Muscovites said that it was the spirit of the sorcerer guarding his magic book. After the demolition of the tower, the spirit was seen in Bruce's estate near Moscow. 
ELIXIR OF IMMORTALITY: Like any warlock, Bruce tried to solve the mystery of life. There is a legend that Bruce died as unusually as he lived. The sorcerer died during experiments at his estate in Glinka. To rejuvenate, he ordered the servant to cut himself into pieces, and then pour the elixir eternal youth made according to the recipe of the same book. The experiment was almost a success, but when the parts of the body began to grow together, the servant was prevented from completing the experiment. The restless spirit, along with the book, moved to the Sukharev Tower.
ROBOT BRUCE: The same Pavel Bogatyrev recorded the impressions of Bruce's contemporaries that the sorcerer acquired "a mechanical doll that can talk and walk, but has no soul." The iron maid served the count in his observatory. When Jacob Bruce resigned and left the city, he took her to his Glinka estate near Moscow. The serf count, seeing the doll, at first scattered, but then they got used to it, and among themselves they called "Yashka's woman." After Bruce's death, a diagram of a mechanical robot was found among his papers. According to legend, Bruce gave the robot the appearance of a girl of extraordinary beauty. She knew how to do all the housework: she cleaned the rooms, cooked food, served coffee.
BRUCE'S GRAVE: Bruce's grave was destroyed during the reconstruction of old Moscow. In the thirties, they began to dismantle the church on Radio Street and found the coffin with the count's body in the crypt. He was identified by his family ring. The remains of the sorcerer were transferred to the laboratory of the anthropologist and sculptor Gerasimov. But the remains disappeared without a trace - only the ring, caftan and Bruce's camisole remained. Clothes are now in the funds of the State Historical Museum. And the warlock's ring was lost in time. Interesting fact- the church of St. Michael in the German settlement - the only church destroyed by the Bolsheviks in Moscow. An aircraft factory tower was built on its foundation.
THE SCIENCE: Jacob Bruce himself had a skeptical rather than a mystical mindset. According to one of his contemporaries, Bruce did not believe in anything supernatural. When Peter showed him the incorruptible relics of the saints in Sophia of Novgorod, Bruce "attributed this to the climate, to the property of the land in which they had previously been buried, to the embalming of bodies and to temperate life."
BRUCE'S MAP: One of the count's scientific achievements was the first map of the Russian territory from Moscow to Asia Minor. He also compiled astrological and geological-ethnographic maps of the city.
Bruce argued that Moscow should be built on the principle of circles - this is the most reliable geometric figure. There is a version that the Bolsheviks, laying roads on the site of gardens and along the boulevards, used his astrological testament. The geological and ethnographic map has not been preserved. It disappeared in the middle of the last century, but there are descriptions of it in the Academy of Sciences.
Back in the 18th century, Bruce argued that it was impossible to build dense buildings on Dmitrovka, because. there are many voids underground, and houses have already collapsed here. There is no need to build tall houses on the embankment of the Moscow River in the Vorobyovy Gory area, because landslides are possible, and the new building of the Academy of Sciences built here began to be strengthened immediately after construction, trying to stop the threat of collapse.
But on the other hand, Bruce marked this place as the most suitable for study, and under Stalin began to build a new building of Moscow State University on Sparrow Hills. It is best to live in Kuzminki, Bruce argued, and to have fun in Presnya. Black spots on the map of Moscow - Perovo and the beginning of Kutuzovsky Prospekt ... this is confirmed by the statistics of the traffic police.
One of the most visited places in the Moscow region by tourists is the Glinka estate, one of the oldest of the 18th century. In addition, this place is older than other estates in the Moscow region. These places belonged to the nobles by the name of Bryus, who descended from Yakov Vilimovich, an associate of Peter the Great, a military and statesman, scientist and diplomat. All the architectural splendor that amazes the sophisticated traveler even today was created around the thirties of the 18th century, when the ancestor of the dynasty was forced to retire. He was an outstanding person, he loved art, and was also fond of science. The peasants called him the sorcerer.
Jacob Bruce
Almost every contemporary knew this man. He came from an ancient Scottish family, but fate threw him into distant Russia, where, however, he made a very good career. He began his service at the court of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, being very young. He continued to serve under the Dual Power, and then swore allegiance to the young and active Peter. By the way, it was he who rushed to the tsar to help during the Streltsy rebellion, which won the future emperor over to him. Peter considered Bruce one of his closest associates, together they took part in many battles of the Russian army.
Jacob Bruce was famous at court for his craving for scientific knowledge, he could rightly be called a polymath, since he was interested in almost all scientific disciplines, in many of them he achieved considerable success. For example, he was well versed in tactics and strategy, mastered the cannon business, and during his life he received the honorary title of Feldtsmeister General (that is, the head of artillery). It was he who had the honor of heading the Berg and Manufactory Collegium, and he also founded the well-known Navigation School. And, of course, he is known to many people for having created his own “Bryusov calendar”, which many people were guided by, adjusting their way of life to it. And this is only a small fraction of what was done by Count Bruce for Imperial Russia.
Manor of Jacob Bruce
It is a pity, but under the followers of Peter the count did not get a place at court, although no one insisted on his resignation. Nevertheless, Yakov Bruce withdraws from politics, submits his resignation and moves to an estate near Moscow, dear to his heart, which he acquired while still young. This estate bore the pleasant name of the Glinka estate. It was not a pity for Bruce to leave dank Petersburg, because the estate was located in the very center natural beauties, and also very close to the ancient Russian capital.
Only this is strange: according to the stories of the local population, as well as directly from the inhabitants of the nearby village of Glinkovo, unusual things began to happen in these places. The master's house itself surprised the peasants with its outlandish appearance; it was built in the very fashion style- Italian Baroque. Stucco, golden monograms, symmetry and grace seemed very strange against the backdrop of the Russian birch forest and rickety peasant houses.
Legends and secrets
And besides, the count himself was a weirdo, according to the peasants. For example, many of them marveled at his habit of climbing out onto the roof of his own house at night, choosing the highest place and looking at something in the sky for a long time with the help of a bulky pipe. Of course, it is now obvious that the count was just fond of astronomy, but this was incomprehensible to the peasants.
And therefore, if a drought or thunderstorms suddenly began, then the people believed that this count-sorcerer was doing something wrong. What kind of legends did not arise associated with the name of Jacob Bruce, what kind of tales did not add up local residents. By the way, these same tales sounded a little later at the court, because, as you know, the earth is full of rumors. Either eyewitnesses shared their impressions that Bruce saddled an iron dragon and soared on it under the clouds, then heavenly music began to play in the park according to the clap of his palms, and it also subsided at his command.
And even when Bruce passed away, the fame of him buzzed for a long time. According to some sources, the restless sorcerer count, even after his death, wandered around his estate for a long time and frightened the new owners or the local population. It is strange, but those owners who got the estate of Bruce "Glinka", subsequently, either imbued with these legends, or really seeing something strange, ordered to destroy all the sculptural groups on the estate. But the manor park was once famous for its exquisite antique statues. At the same time, the sculptures were not sold or destroyed, they were disposed of very sophisticatedly. Some were immured in the walls, some were sunk to the bottom of the pond. Isn't it strange? According to some legends that go around in abundance in these places, the new owners were very frightened by the fact that the statues had the ability to come to life at night.
And again, people say so, but since then Bruce began to take great revenge on the new owners of his land. Appeared to them at night in the form of a disembodied spirit, creaks and groans were heard in the corridors, all in the tradition of English ghost stories. The new owner and the hostess had to move to live in the farthest corner of the house.
To date, lovers of mysticism still flock to the building of the estate, some vacationers on the territory of the sanatorium, which is now located there, say that the count can still be seen now. But it is difficult to judge how true these stories are. The estate of Yakov Bruce in Glinka still keeps many secrets and secrets.
"Cabinet of Curious Things"
Jacob Bruce, the "warlock", was also a polyglot, not without reason he was listed at the court and performed diplomatic functions there. He was fluent in six foreign languages. And in Russian (Russian was not his native language), he spoke without any accent.
At the end of the 17th century, Peter the Great, as is known, organized the Great Embassy in European countries. More than two hundred people took part in this trip, mostly young people who were supposed to comprehend sciences and crafts, especially maritime affairs. In addition, the king ordered the purchase of equipment and the hiring of various craftsmen and craftsmen. Count Bruce, young Peter personally summons, while in Holland. He needed an earl for his upcoming trip to England, because Bruce knew languages \u200b\u200band was very well aware of the rules of etiquette at the English court. But Bruce arrives very late, besides, he looks extremely painful, his hand was covered in burns, and the phalanges of his fingers were fused after numerous fractures. The reason for this was a quarrel at court with the head of the secret order. It was he who ordered to torture the talented scientist Bruce with a red-hot iron. Peter became so angry that, according to the descriptions of his contemporaries, it was impossible to appease his anger. He wrote to Romodanovsky, in a letter he was openly angry with the head of the secret order. This proves how much he appreciated the work and personality of Yakov Vilimovich.
His brainchild was the “curious things cabinet”, which had no equal in the whole country. It was a real museum of all kinds of rarities at home. After the count died, it was decided to transfer his “office” to the most famous museum in Russia of that time - the Kunstkamera.
Architectural features of the estate
This estate can rightfully be called the oldest in the entire suburbs. area is generally an interesting sight, but this place is truly special. The building of Bruce's house has been preserved in excellent condition, so it will be very interesting for a tourist to visit those places. Outside, the Glinka estate is very typical of its time, it is an elegant and luxurious baroque (although there were also unusual features for such a style). But the interior design will surprise even an experienced traveler. The fact is that Yakov Bruce (the Glinka estate and its maintenance did not interest him too much) always considered himself not so much a landowner as a man of science. Almost every room of the huge house was turned into a laboratory or an office for scientific work. It was there that he did research in the field of physics, chemistry, mathematics, natural science, astronomy, and so on. All his money, and the earl had a decent salary, he preferred to spend on equipment, books, research instruments and the like. This, perhaps, explains why at that time everyone considered the master to be abnormal, and some even attributed magical abilities to him. Behind his eyes, he received many nicknames, but the Unsociable nobleman most of all took root.
Of course, sorcerer! And who else will be able to take and freeze all the ponds on one summer day, when according to all signs there should have been sweltering heat? And then put on outlandish devices on your feet and ride on frozen water? And the view of the main building, perhaps, only reinforced the opinion of the peasants on this matter. Bruce was originally from Scotland, perhaps because the first floor of his house is very reminiscent of a Scottish medieval castle, it is all trimmed with gray hewn stones. This gave the building a slightly ominous air, and to some, the hewn cobblestones in the dark looked like the terrible muzzles of demonic creatures.
In general, the Glinka estate was created in the baroque style, the richest and most luxurious, which came to Russia from hot Italy. Absolute symmetry, even in the appearance and arrangement of outbuildings, a magnificent park area with a pond in the center and ancient statues that met those walking along the paved paths. They resembled heroes from ancient Greek legends, Bruce was very fond of art in all its manifestations. But what happened to the statues, you already know.
True, the building itself was also very seriously damaged. The fact is that in those places there was a strong fire in the 19th century, it was not possible to completely save the building, only Bruce's pantry and laboratory were preserved in their original form. Everything else you can see only in the form of reconstruction.
Count's house
The estate "Glinka" belongs to the palace and park type of architectural art. Walking along it, you can see two stone complexes that have survived to this day. One can be called front, and the other - economic. The front complex includes three outbuildings, as well as the main building - the count's house. The economic territory is not so interesting, as it underwent many reconstructions in its time.
The house can hardly be called big. For a noble estate, it has very modest dimensions; it has a rectangular shape at the base. The house, although elegant in design, is very restrained in decoration for the classical baroque. Of the decorations, there are only arched portals, pilasters, drawings on the architraves. In addition, you can see the demon-like shapes carved on the stones of the first floor. On the second floor there are open loggias, where the count liked to breathe the air and admire the starry sky at night. The roof seems to be supported by rows of slender columns, and all this beauty is crowned by a small wooden tower, where the count made his astronomical discoveries.
"Bruce's Lab"
From what has come down to us in its original form, the so-called Bruce's Laboratory obviously stands out, it is still customary to call it Petrovsky's house. This is exactly where the tourist needs to go first of all, since the spectacle is very entertaining. In fact, this is a small pavilion that complements the manor space. With decorativeness, it is very reminiscent of what you could see in Peterhof. Arched niches along the perimeter of the outer walls have preserved space for statues, snow-white pilasters and capitals.
They are not allowed inside now, and it is not worth striving to go there, perhaps, since everything valuable from this laboratory, as mentioned earlier, was taken to St. Petersburg, to the Kunstkamera museum complex.
Sanatorium "Monino"
To date, the entire territory occupied by the Glinka estate in Monino belongs to the sanatorium. Here is a magnificent nature, the institution perfectly organized recreation and medical procedures. Therefore, you can visit the estate not only as a tourist, thirsting for new knowledge and impressions, but also as a vacationer. The places here are truly amazing.
The western wing of the complex is now given over to a museum dedicated to the life and work of Count Bruce J.V. It functions only one day a week, on Sunday, from ten o'clock in the morning.
Location
From the capital it is not so far to go, only fifty kilometers. Finding the estate is very simple: just turn to Monino, driving along the Gorky highway, then drive through Losino-Petrovsky, and then follow the signs specially placed by the administration of the sanatorium. You definitely won't get lost.
Coordinates
Address: Glinki Estate, Moscow Region, Schelkovsky District, Losino-Petrovsky.
It will only take about an hour to drive from Moscow, if you do not stand in a traffic jam. A fixed-route taxi runs to the village of Losino-Petrovsky. From there, getting to the territory of the sanatorium is not at all difficult.