The Maltsov Crystal Museum in Gus-Khrustalny

The Maltsov Crystal Museum in Gus-Khrustalny

In the distant past, the owner of the Gusev crystal factory, Nechaev-Maltsov, was often asked why he did not spare colossal funds to decorate the factory and village churches in the wilderness of the Vladimir province. "And why is the city of Orvieto in Italy? Foreigners travel from afar for its cathedral. There will be a time when artists and connoisseurs of Russian art will come to visit our Gus ..." - answered Nechaev-Maltsov, after centuries his predictions came true, perhaps now tourists come to look not so much at the temple as at the Crystal Museum located in this temple.

The most striking attraction of the city of Gus-Khrustalny is the Crystal Museum, which is located in the majestic architectural monument of the late XIX - early XX centuries - St. George's Cathedral. The cathedral was built in 1892-1895 according to the project of Leonty Nikolaevich Benois in the pseudo-Russian style. The architect himself wrote: "I have put everything I could into this temple, and maybe it will remain the best of my works." The building was designed as a three-nave basilica - a high middle nave and low side naves. The bell tower was crowned with a light and elegant tent raised to a height of 45 meters. The middle tent was answered by the smaller side ones. The three-hipped composition echoed the three chapters on the eastern side of the altar. The bell tower has not survived to this day. Unfortunately, the restorers did not restore it either. But the surviving photographs evoke images of Yaroslavl architecture of the 17th century. L.N. Benois created a highly professional, masterful example of the "Russian style".

In his creation, L.N.Benois combined the best traditions of Western European and Russian culture.