Other Romanov Crimean estates

[BobAtchison]

The English style was quite fashionable at the time for estates like Harax....  Boris Vladimirovich had an English Tudor-style villa built in Tsarskoe Selo - designed by an architect from the Maples branch in Petersburg and furnished by them.  It still exists.  The ground floor of the Alexander Palace on the right hand side had rooms called "the English Suite" that were decorated by Boris's designer.

When I mentioned the demolishing of the old palace of Livadia I should have mentioned that buildeings had to be demolished in winter -spring to avoid dust.

The palace was demolished because it was dark and dreary - but also because it was terribly unhealthy.  Nicholas became very sick there.  Everyone became ill there because of the drains and plumbing.  The children were always getting sick when they stayed there.  Also the plumbing smelled.

The plumbing could not be brought up par and court officials did not want to take responsibility for what might happen to the Tsar's family - so they urged the Tsar to tear it down.

The family avoided the Winter Palace for similar reasons.  Tatiana got sick there in 1913.

Bob

[Jane]

Bob, thank you for the information about Boris V. et al.  I was not aware that the "neo" Tudor and Jacobean architectural styles really had any level of popularity in pre-Revolutionary Russia (beyond AF's devotion to the "English" look in her homes).  It's interesting to me, because it seems so incongruous to think of that style of building in Russia.

Best,

Jane

[Janet Whitcomb]

I've read conflicting reports about how much of the old palace at Livadia was demolished.  Were any of the buildings retained?  My visit 13 years ago was all too short--and we were taken around to so many other places as well--but I do remember a wax museum adjacent the main palace, with representations of the Romanovs, Rasputin, etc. Now I would ask about those buildings, as well as many, many other questions . . . at the time it was so overwhelming!!

[Ammie]

I was wondering if anyone could post a picture of Ai-Todor, I would greatly appreciate it.    
TIA
Ammie

[jfkhaos]

Here is a picture of the Yussopov villa at Koriez:



This picture can be found in Lost Splendor by Felix Yussopov on this website.  

[jfkhaos]

I have not been successful in finding any pictures of Ai-Todor on the internet except for The Swallow's Nest.  If I find anything I will certainly post it.

[jfkhaos]

A picture of Massandra:

[jfkhaos]

Kichkine:

[BobAtchison]

I just reread Tatiana Metternich's great book and she mentions her family stayed at Harax for two years after the revolution.  She says the Dowager Empress granted it to them.  This might be an interesting chapter to put on the site.

Bob

[Mike]

what is the meaning of "Ai-Todor", and "A-Petri"

St. Theodor and St. Peter respectively, from Greek.

[brnbg aka: liljones1968]

Kichkine:

are you sure that's Kichkine?   it looks an awful lot like Djulber.
(did they look that much alike?)

it seems to have the same "fortifications" that were mentioned re: Djulber.   that was one reason why it (Djulber) was chosen as the place to keep the members of the IF....it was defensable.

[BobAtchison]

Yes, you can see the high walls there - a very good and useful shot...

[brnbg aka: liljones1968]

I found this picture, and although small in scope, it shows Grand Duchess Ksenia, Grand Duke Alexander, and some of their children on the verandah of Ai Todor:

i figured since the Hulton Archive shut down, i'd post the image (i hope this is the right one......)  as well as one of Sandro & his sons.

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[Svetabel]

Thank you,Brian! Marvellous pics!

[Janet_W.]

The immediacy of these photos is marvelous. My thanks also, Brian!