Kolomenskoye Estate is a former residence of Russian tsars. At the moment it is a state museum of art, history and architecture and a nature preserve located in the southern part of Moscow. The total area of the museum is 390 hectares. It is a part of the united preserve museum Kolomenskoye-Lefortovo-Lublino-Izmailovo.
Kolomesnkoye is situated on the way from Moscow to the town of Kolomna and was founded by the citizens of that town in the middle centuries. It was first mentioned in the testament of Ivan Kalita in 1339. It had been the residence of Moscow princes. Vasily III built a famous tent-like church of Ascension in 1529-1532 to commemorate the birth of his son, future Ivan the Terrible. The church also served as a watchtower during the Mongol and Tatar yoke to inform Moscow about the enemy.

The golden age of Kolomenskoye was under Alexis Mikhailovitch as it was his favourite residence. In 1667 a magnificent wooden palace was constructed. It had 270 rooms and there was a big garden around the palace. Peter the Great also stayed in Kolomesnkoye for several times. He is known to have organized so called "amusing battles" on the fields near the estate. After the death of Alexis Mikhailovitch the estate fell into decay as the capital was moved to St.Petersburg. Only under Catherine II the old palace was reconstructed, and she liked to spend summers in Kolomenskoye. Catherine's Palace was demolished under Nicholas I.

The museum of Kolomesnkoye was founded in 1923. Several wooden structures were transferred to the museum from different parts of Russia. In 1994 Kolomenskoye Estate was included into the UNESCO's World Heritage List.


Opening hours:
Outdoor area - from 09:00 till 21:00
Exhibition halls - from 10:00 till 17:30