In the Kolpnyansky district lies a castle that combines elements of Gothic, Classicism, and Modernism. In the village of Yakovka, this unusual structure with a tower is called the Hunters' Castle. Although it once made the unofficial list of the Seven Wonders of Oryol Region, its history is little known, and finding information about it has proven difficult.

At first glance, it seems that the building has always been abandoned: yellow leaves have accumulated on the roof, and the wind wanders through the yard. However, the history of the castle is full of events. True passions boiled within its walls as the centuries passed.

The castle got its name from the surname of its owners. In the 19th century, the village of Yakovka was known as the estate of the Okhotnikov family. General Vasily Pavlovich Okhotnikov, the master of the house, was a military man who valued order and discipline. Before moving to Yakovka, he lived in Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof, befriending Misha Lermontov, who was also his comrade. The Okhotnikovs preserved an album with the poet's drawings, which were later transferred to the Lermontov Museum in St. Petersburg.

The Okhotnikov family also maintained a friendship with the Shvartsev family, whose estate was located twenty kilometers from Yakovka. In 1854, with the onset of the Crimean War, Okhotnikov became the commander of the Livny militia. Under him, an amazing manor house resembling a castle was built. The construction was carried out by peasant craftsmen under Okhotnikov's personal supervision. A church dedicated to St. James was also erected, a park was laid out, and a pond was dug. The fertile lands, a butter factory, and other economic facilities brought in income. The Okhotnikovs were very wealthy.

Vasily Pavlovich had no children, and his passion was thoroughbred horses, for which he built a stable. The general died in the early 1900s and was buried in the family crypt in Yakovka, which, like the park with the pond, has not survived.

After his death, the estate passed to his nephew Vladimir, who was wealthy and noble. Marrying Princess Trubetskaya, he entered high society. However, the peasants disliked him for his cruel nature and nostalgically remembered the general. In an effort to gain popularity, Vladimir agreed to become the godfather of the stableman's son. In 1908, a feast was held at the estate where Okhotnikov gifted his godson the village of Alistarovo. The boy's parents were stunned by such a gift.

With the onset of the revolution, Vladimir and his wife disappeared, and nothing more was heard of them. A new life began. The Okhotnikov estate, a rare architectural monument, combines elements of different styles. Gothic predominates in the architecture, while the central entrance resembles a basilica. The courtyard features traits of late Classicism, and the patterned locks and round windows indicate Modernism. The foundation is made of red stone.

The castle has never been empty. During the revolution, it housed a Yakov commune, then a small sugar factory, and later the administration of the Gorky collective farm. Many workers came to Yakovka, who were accommodated in a hotel located in part of the estate. There was also a collective farm cafeteria-cafe. Later, one part of the castle housed the Yakov Cultural House, while the other part remained abandoned for a long time. Despite this, the estate is so well-built that its meter-thick walls will stand for many more years, although it requires major repairs.