Many of us admire foreign architecture, considering it a masterpiece of world architecture, while overlooking the fact that we once had many beautiful buildings as well. However, not all architectural monuments are in good condition. Many are abandoned or gradually deteriorating, like the estate of the noble Khvostov family in Shatalovka, Lipetsk region.

This beautiful building was constructed in the late 19th century with funds from the chamberlain of the highest court, Alexei Nikolaevich Khvostov. The estate combined eclectic forms with elements of the popular pseudo-Gothic style in Europe and was adorned with a risalit, stained glass and pointed windows, pediments, and crenellated walls. The tranquility of the owners was guarded by bronze griffins with long tails. The estate became a bright decoration not only for the village of Shatalovka but for the entire province.

The interior decoration was also distinguished by elegance and taste, but without excessive luxury. Alexei Khvostov had many creative friends, and tea parties and musical evenings were often held in the living room. Next to the estate, a beautiful park with pines and oaks was laid out, featuring gazebos and benches. However, all of this was destroyed in an instant.

After the February Revolution, Alexei Khvostov was arrested and subsequently fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks. They did not release him and executed him as a hostage in the early days of the Red Terror. By that time, the estate had already been nationalized and was converted into a tuberculosis dispensary, which operated until the late 1980s.

During this time, Shatalovka ceased to exist as a settlement. Left without an owner, the pseudo-Gothic building began to deteriorate rapidly, the bronze griffins were stolen for scrap metal, and in the 1990s, the roof collapsed. Now the estate resembles a set for a post-apocalyptic film. The only thing maintained in order is the Khvostov park, which is protected as a dendrological natural monument.