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To Tarkhany, for Experience Exchange

In the August of 2013, the workers of the National M.A.Sholokhov Museum-Reserve visited the State Lermontov Museum-Reserve “Tarkhany” on the purpose of the working experience exchange. “Tarkhany” is one of the most picturesque places of Russia, where Mikhail Yuriyevich Lermontov spent his childhood. The museum was founded in 1939, experienced many difficulties which it overcame successfully. Since 1960, it has been included in the List of Historical and Cultural Monuments of Republican (the RSFSR) importance. In 1997, the Museum-Reserve “Tarkhany” was listed in the State Code of Particularly Valuable Cultural Heritage Objects of the Peoples of the Russian Federation. The National M.A.Sholokhov Museum-Reserve was awarded the same status in 2006.

The colleagues were hospitable; they had developed an interesting and rich program providing visits to the estate of the Arseniyevs: the manor house, manor church of Mary of Egypt, a servants’ house, a keymaster’s house.

The video excursions held in the servants’ house told about the atmosphere of the life of little Lermontov and about two of his poems – “Borodino” and “A Song about Tsar Ivan Vasiliyevich and Brave Merchant Kalashnikov”. Here old exhibits and modern technologies favourably supplemented each other.

In the keymaster’s house we joined master classes to learn about the old Tarkhan trades of weaving, making amulet dolls, clay modeling and others.

In the church of Mikhail the Archangel there is a family vault of the Arseniyev-Lermontovs with a chapel over it. Here rests M.Y.Lermontov. Next to the chapel is a grave of the poet’s father.

The tourists can visit the museum exhibitions and lectures, have a horse ride in the park, boat about the Barsky Pond and even take part in the theatrical performances. We got into the atmosphere of the balls of Lermontov’s time, learned about the etiquette, ball dances of the first half of the XIX century, saw a reconstruction of the “Tarkhan wedding” ceremony. At the mill we were shown “the world of the Tarkhan peasants” with its working days, holidays, games and amusements.

“Tarkhany” is also a lofty example of park and garden art. There are unique natural riches – parks with lime alleys, terraced slopes and cascades of scenic ponds, orchards and groves…

When on the visit we met with the museum director T.M.Melnikova and the workers from different departments. We exchanged our experience in conducting tours, cultural events and holidays, in the work with children and in the use of modern equipment. Our contact was very fruitful both for us and for our colleagues from the Museum-Reserve “Tarkhany”.

Galina Smirnova