| In Brailov village of Zmerinskij
district every stone breathes with life. The Orthodox Sviatoshunskij
women monastery, P.I. Chajkovskij museum, an ancient park will impress
every tourist.
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Troitsky monastery |
The first written data of Brailov dates back
to the ÕVcentury. The archeological dig though gives evidence of
earlier settlements of Paleolithic period. In the XVI-XVII centuries
Brailov went through a lot of plundering raids of Polish and Turkish
armies. During the period of Khmelnitchina Brailov became the town
of Brazlavskij regiment, through which the border of the Kozak Republic
lied. The government was changing constantly, so was the look of
the town.
In 1740 the construction of the monastery- the
highest building of Old Brailov began. The monastery consists of
the Roman-Catholic church, connected with the gallery of cells.
The belfry in baroque style looks like a beautiful tower of a palace.
Even bells there sounded unusually due to oval niches.
In 1787 King Stanislav August visited Brailov
to admire wall paintings of the monastery, created by artist and
monk Iosif Prahtl. Unfortunately Brailov wall paintings have badly
preserved. Partly restored frescos decorate the recently renewed
Troitskij women Oriental Monastery.
Still the most outstanding period in the history
of Brailov was the XIX century. In 1868 Karl von Mekk, an engineer
and constructor of railways, took the possession of the estate.
The family paid much attention to the accomplishment of the town.
The development of economy was at high level; the goods of talented
Brailov craftspeople were a success. At the same time military sick
quarters were organized, a small church was built. Nadezda Filaretovna
von Mekk hired gardeners for the creation of a large park and for
looking after it. Three artificial lakes harmonically blended with
the town scenery.
Palace of von Mekk
N.F. von Mekk honored and valued the talent
of the famous composer P.I. Tchajkovskij and offered him an annual
grant. Their correspondence was the beginning of a big friendship.
In spring, 1878 Tchajkovskij accepted the invitation
of a rich patron to come to Brailov. The visit impressed him greatly.
A beautiful palace, a wonderful park and lakes with swans- a real
paradise. Servants and steward were informed about the composer’s
habits and likes. The surroundings evoked creativity. Here the first
orchestra suite, the opera «Orleans Made», pieces for the violin,
7 romances, among them «Among the noisy ball», «It was in early
spring», and the Don Juan serenade were created. Here two composers
P.I. Tchajkovskij and young Clod de Byssi met for the first time.
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Museum of P.I. Tchajkovskij |
Later Petr Iliich will write: «While in Brailov
I want to devote myself to my love to nature. There is no other
place in the world that would give me so much space in this respect.
Trips to Brailov remain in my memory as vivid recollections of the
most poetic days of my life.»
The composer’s museum is opened in the restored
palace. The exposition gets the tourists acquainted with the creative
activity of Tchajkovskij.
The park with magnificent limes and hornbeams
invites you to have a rest under the trees, where the composer used
to walk, creating his masterpieces.
We are inviting
you on an exciting excursion to Brailov! |
