Brasovo and Ostrov, estates of GD Mikhail Alexandrovitch

In April I started working on a book about Russians in Poland. Although Russians started living in Poland in the 15th century the most intersting period was 1815-1915 when Polish Kingdom belonged to Russia. The book will have separate chapters on e.g. culture, military men, Orthodox church etc. and ,of vourse, one chapter will be devoted to the Imperial family nd their palaces. Yesterday I was in Wrsaw, working at the State Archives containing materilas before 1918. the majority of the files connected with 1815-1915 were evacuated to St Petersburg before the Germans entered Warsaw in August 1915. Some of the files were returned after WWI but the majority  still remains in Russia so I managed to find too little info on the palaces in Poland though I already have a lot of info. They have some files on the palaces in Spala and Skierniewice though they contain info only on the economic and household matters  e.g. necessity to employ additional servants or send some servants from Lazienki palace  to  Spala or to fix telephoes etc. One of the files contained some notes concerning the mansion OSTROV ( sometimes it was called OSTROVY) owned by GD Mikhail Alexandrovich. It was about sending some home utensils from Warsaw to this palace during the GDuke`s stay there. Today I learned that the palace built in 1795-1800 is situated in a small town of Klobuck in Silesia. Here is the picture 



<a href="http://s719.photobucket.com/albums/ww199/vitavioletta/OSTROV/?action=view&current=245px-Palac_w_Klobucku-ZagorzuFront.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww199/vitavioletta/OSTROV/245px-Palac_w_Klobucku-ZagorzuFront.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>



I know nothing about this palace. It hasn`t been mentioned in this forum. As this info is necessry for my book I `ll keep you informed and go there and take pictures

FASCINATING - I HAVE JUST FINISHED READING THE WONDERFUL BOOK 'MICHAEL & NATASHA' AND I'M SURE IT DOESN'T MENTION ANOTHER HOME IN POLAND OWNED BY GD MIKHAIL. THERE IS THE ESTATE THAT HE INHERITED FROM HIS BROTHER GEORGE IN THE CAUCASUS BUT THAT IS DIFFERENT ALTOGETHER.
IT IS GEORGE THAT I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN, BUT HAVE BECOME VERY FOND OF MICHAEL'S STORY ALONG THE WAY SO I WILL WATCH YOUR THREAD WITH INTEREST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

so far i haven`t been there but i`m planning to go there and get as much info as possible

I went back to check in the book (Michael and Natasha) for any references to Poland and it does make one reference which states that  - 'In Poland, Michael had owned land, estimated by the 1930's to be worth £600,000'. After Michaels murder, his wife was left without means of support and she made an unsuccessful attempt to claim his assets outside of Bolshevik Russia including this estate in Poland, which, I presume to be Ostrov.

Good Luck with the research.

yes, it is ostrov. the state archives in czestochowa contains files on the issue i e brasova`s attempt to claim her husband`s assets...i`m planning to read those files...

Prince Nicholas of Greece mentions his hunts with GD Mikhail in the latter's Ostrovo estate. They hunted there once or twice in the end of 1890s.

i have to apologize for misinforming you concerning OSTROV residence. it was the grand duke`s house in czestochowa (poland) that countess brasova wanted to claim in the 1920-s NOT OSTROV RESIDENCE. the state archives in czestochowa contain files on the trial.i `m palnning to go yhere one day to have a look at them...

It would be great to see any photographs of this estate, as there are none in " Michael and Natasha".
Does anyone have any ?

Brasovo (Briansk district) belonged to Apraksins, but then became the palace of Michail Alexandrovich "http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu120/bednayaliza/191-1.jpg"

I think in the photo we can see not a main mansion but some secondary/service building.

This is where the Brasovo Estate was: http://bazz-linser.livejournal.com/155793.html .
First picture is what rests of the fountain.

Brasovo painted in 1916 by Polish impressionist Stanisław Żukowski