Kuskovo was the Sheremetev family's 18th-century summer estate, built for receptions, theatre, and formal display rather than everyday living. The wooden neoclassical palace still looks out over a court of honour, a church, a lake, and a formal garden laid out with straight alleys and clipped greenery.
Inside, the rooms show the taste of Russia's old aristocracy, from mirrored halls and Flemish tapestries to tiled stoves and imported furniture. It is a strong half-day trip if you want a palace setting without leaving Moscow.