Wine tasting and birthday celebrations at Stalin’s dacha

Today (according to other sources, December 18) marks the 143rd anniversary of the birth of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR, the attitude towards which people have is diametrically opposed: from fierce hatred to adoration. There are those who know very little about the leader of the Soviet people, especially since his biography is still shrouded in mystery. Take, for example, this fact: according to various sources, Joseph Stalin had at his disposal about 20 dachas scattered throughout the Soviet Union.

One of these residences in 1936 was the two-story mansion of the traditional dark green color – “New Matsesta”, which the author of these lines visited recently. Unique geolocation – Stalin’s dacha seems to be located at the junction of mountain and sea winds. The green residence is immersed in massifs of vegetation. And on the premises, tea and wine tastings are held.

I spoke with the hospitable Maxim Moiseev Sergeevich, director of the current museum complex “Stalin’s Dacha”, or, as he affectionately calls it, “Dacha”.

— Maxim Sergeevich, please tell us how this residence was created?

– The architect Miron Ivanovich Merzhanov was engaged in the project. And the dacha itself was considered one of the most beloved by the leader of the peoples. Here he spent most of his time. He stayed for three or four months, was treated and worked.

Initially, all 55 hectares of land where the dacha is located belonged to Mikhail Mikhailovich Zenzinov, a gold miner and tea merchant. The estate itself was called “Mikhailovskoye” and was well known to Stalin. Even before the construction of his own residence, the future Generalissimo stopped more than once in Mikhailovskoye to treat ailments with hydrogen sulfide baths.

In 1920, the estate was nationalized, and in the 1930s, sanatoriums for workers began to be built along the entire Black Sea coast. After 6 years, a dacha was erected at an altitude of 160 meters above sea level.

The project was undertaken by Miron Merzhanov, a rising star of architecture in the 1930s. Stalin noticed him, making him a personal architect from 1934 to 1941. It was Merzhanov who was involved in the architecture of most of Stalin’s dachas.

– What features were taken into account during the construction of the leader’s dacha?

– Special services also actively participated in the construction of the dacha. Safety and comfort came first. Therefore, when designing the building, all the needs of the leader were taken into account: the stairs in the dacha were made with low steps, so that it would be convenient for Stalin, who suffered from rheumatism, to climb. Even the door locks were quirky. Thanks to a special shutter on the key, it tightly closed the keyhole, making it impossible to peep or eavesdrop. The snug fit also protected against possible gas poisoning through the keyhole.

Three roads lead to the cottage. This is necessary in order to be able to confuse the pursuers, knock them off the trail. A leather sofa with high backs is not just a spectacular piece of furniture. It’s bulletproof, custom-made densely packed with horsehair.

According to historians, Stalin practically did not sleep in the same place and could change the room even in the middle of the night. All for security reasons. But the catering unit, on the contrary, was equipped at the opposite end of the wing from the bedroom. The leader did not like the smell of food very much, although feasts were held often. Interestingly, during such banquets, Joseph Vissarionovich always came to the table last, somewhere on the edge. He ate everything the same as the rest, but preference, of course, was given to Caucasian cuisine.

– What can the atmosphere of the house tell his guests?

– In general, the situation of the house can tell a lot about its owner. For example, the only place where paintings could be seen was the billiard room. Merzhanov was allowed to hang Aivazovsky and Avilov, but only reproductions. Since, according to Stalin, he did not see the difference between a copy and the original, but the work of great artists should be seen by people, so they belong in a museum, not in a house. And in 1992, these paintings were replaced with portraits of Stalin.

– What happened to one of Stalin’s favorite dachas after his death?

– After the death of the owner, other political leaders were frequent guests of the dacha. From 1958 to 2013, famous people rested here.

Since 2013, the dacha has become available to everyone. The excursion direction began to develop actively. In 2021, the leader’s dacha was in the TOP 10 popular attractions in Sochi. And this is natural, since more and more people want to touch the history and culture of the 30s.

Therefore, in addition to excursions, some rooms are simply rented for various events. Whether it’s a birthday or an evening with a tasting of Georgian wines, an individual tour. Of course, it sounds unusual, but the place is really unique. Nature, view, air do not leave anyone indifferent. In the end, the best was chosen and built for the leader.