(Source: http://www.votpusk.ru/gallery)

Znamenskoye-Rayok, the estate of Glebovs-Streshnevs is called the pearl of creative works of Nikolai Lvov, a masterpiece of Russian Palladian architecture, one of the most romantic and mysterious Russian estates. The most accurate impression of the estate is conveyed in its name – Rayok (“Little Paradise”).

The traveler who is not lazy and will turn at the corresponding sign from the highway Moscow - St. Petersburg will come to see a paradise landscape that suddenly emerged among the forests of Central Russia on a hill above the Logovezh River. The General of the Empress Catherine Fyodor Glebov created it as a gift to his young wife Elizaveta Petrovna Streshneva. It is better to look at the perfectly symmetrical layout of the estate complex on the draft: a pergola looking like a huge necklace connects the main house of the estate with the four outbuildings and gates resembling a triumphal arch. Architectural harmony is felt physically in the large closed honor court.

The special decoration of the main house is the paintings on the vaults of the hall and the imperial portrait series. These paintings highlight the fact that the owners were somehow related to the Romanov dynasty. Rayok was created as an estate of palace level, where one could welcome the royal guests on their way between the two capitals.

In addition to Nikolai Lvov, the works on the ensemble of Znamenskoe-Rayok involved the architects Karl Bucci and Andrei Trofimov, as well as the Englishman Walter Irven and the Italian Franz Ruska. Glazed tile stoves, parquet flooring, interior design items and utensils were created by the sketches of Lvov.

A park behind the house was continuing the clear axial composition and was an integral part of the surrounding landscape. The main alley leads to the Logovezh River, picturesque corners are marked with pavilions and grottoes. Two systems with cascading ponds are designed in the southern and northern parts.

Znamenskaya Church - the oldest building of the complex – is located near the main house. It was built in 1766 on the Raysky graveyard by Ivan Glebov, the father of Fyodor Ivanovich.

According to legend, the “paradise” name comes from the words of the Empress Catherine II who came to visit Glebov and exclaimed: “This place looks like paradise!” There is another version: the Raysky graveyard means an echoing place with the sounds of “paradise” being an echo, a reflection of thunder or of some voice. A large meadow in the middle of the Tver forest is exactly a place of this kind. But it has become a paradise everyway.

A visit to the estate possible by prior request. Adults and children are taught horse-riding lessons at the Stable Yard. Or you can as well just take a horse and safely ride through the woods accompanied by an experienced instructor. You can rent a specially prepared horse harness on special occasion. Contact details: (903) 034-93-70 (Lyubov Pavlovna). Tours for individual travelers and groups, as well as workshops are organized. A very popular offer is the arrangement of palace weddings with theatrical marriage registration in the ballroom. The newlyweds can rent apartments in the guest house. Visits and tours. Tours must be reserved in advance, at least one day prior to visit, by the phone: 8 (903) 075-48-65. An excursion lasts 1 hour, the cost is 1,500 roubles for a group from 1 to 10 people. A visit without a tour is free (except for the days off - Monday and Tuesday), the cost is 50 roubles.