The Pakhra-Yakovlevskoye estate, a cultural monument near Moscow, faces severe disrepair despite its protected status. The once-grand noble residence, located in Balashikha, stands as a reminder of its former glory, attracting those interested in history and photography.

The estate, founded in 1770, has endured multiple fires and housed various entities throughout its history, including a princely family, a homeless children’s colony, and ultimately, the Russian State Agrarian Correspondence University. The main building, although rebuilt after a 1924 fire, now shows significant damage, with a boarded-up entrance, broken windows, and fire-damaged rooms. A portion of a wall in a neighboring building has also collapsed.

While the paired outbuildings remain connected to the main structure by colonnades, the surrounding area hints at its noble past with sculptures of lions and sphinxes guarding the staircase to the fountain, although these have suffered from time and vandalism. Inside, the remnants of the university are visible, with abandoned classrooms containing scattered faculty signs, posters of farm animals, and a term paper dating back to 2009. The interior reveals extensive damage, seemingly caused by both natural decay and vandalism, including inscriptions on the walls and traces of occult rituals.

The estate has been vacant for several years and recent fires have further damaged the structure, including incidents in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The university’s former garage now stands empty, with traces of fuel oil and equipment documentation in the courtyard, while the Soviet extension, located behind the main building, adds to the overall scene of abandonment.