Pearls of Russia

Museums and memorial estates

N.K. Rerikh Museum

N.K. Rerikh's House-Museum in Izvara was opened in 1984. It is his parent's estate where he spent his childhood and youth.

Izvara was the Rerikh's family possession from 1872 to 1900. Here N. Rerikh studied nature of the northern land, took a great interest in archeology, admired the magical sky of Izvara with its fantastic clouds and sunsets. The most earliest and memorable impressions of N. Rerikh were connected to his parent's estate. "All the especial, all the lovely and memorable is connected to the summer months in Izvara", - wrote N.K.Rerikh in his diary "The Very First" in 1937.

The estate also has it's own history. According to N. Rerikh the name Izvara came from the Hindu word "Isvara". During the reign of Catherine the Great nearby the estate lived the Hindu rajah. During the XVIII-XIX centuries the Izvara belonged to the famous noble families. Today we have the house, which was built in the first half of the XVIII century and the Trout tower of the end of XIX century. The Trout tower is the second architectural dominant in the estate. After K.F.Rerikh's death the estate was sold to A.P.Verlander the next owner. Having the money from the sale of the estate N.K. Rerikh went to France to study the painting. That was the beginning of a new stage of his life.

In 1984 the museum was opened in two rooms of the house. Now there are 8 halls opened to visitors. These halls display exhibits of Rerikh's Russian period.

The stationary exhibition of the Russian icons of the XIX- XX centuries has a special place in the museum. During his student's years Nikolay Konstantinovich was interested in iconography and spiritual culture of Ancient Russia. In 1903-1904 he visited more than 40 most ancient cities of Russia where he studied iconography, the temple architecture and frescos. N.Rerikh worked as icon painter, the author of temple frescos and mosaics. That was reflected in his art and literary works.

The 120-anniversary exhibition shows the main events in N.K. Rerikh's life. The exhibition "The Indian Way" dedicated to the Indian period of N.K. Rerikh's life and includes exhibits both from the private and museum collections, including a collection of the rare book and collection of the Indian musical instruments.

Business Hours: 10.30 AM - 5 PM. Days off: Monday, Tuesday

Address: Izvara settlement, Volosovsky district, Leningradskaya Oblast, Russia