Estate Podmoklovo

The estate Podmoklovo is located about two kilometers south of Serpukhov. The pearl of the architectural complex of the estate is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Built in 1714-1722 on the initiative of the owner of the estate, Prince Grigory Fedorovich Dolgorukov, it became a bright example of Italian Baroque.

The uniqueness of this temple is that it is made in the form of a so-called double-light dome rotunda. The lower tier is an arched gallery, which on the second tier plays the role of a balcony decorated with sculptures. Lush architectural decoration complements the Ionic order of the gallery supports, as well as the neat relief of cornices and other elements. The presence of sculptures of angels and evangelists is an amazing example in Russian architecture of that time, because when the temple was built, the Synod categorically prohibited the use of such elements. And the rotundal form of the temple was quite rare in Russia.

At the beginning of the XIX century, a bell tower and a stone fence were built near the temple, but to this day these buildings, like the manor house, have not survived. The only exception was the ruins of one of the wings. In 1970, some of the sculptures were removed from the gallery for restoration, but never returned to their former place - they became part of the collection of the Serpukhov Art Museum. In 1993, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin was returned to the faithful.