Ostankino Palace is a former summer residence and private opera theatre of Sheremetev family. Extant historical Ostankino includes the main wooden palace, built in 1792-1798 around a theater hall, with adjacent Egyptian and Italian pavilions, a 17th-century Trinity church, and fragments of the old Ostankino park with a replica of Milovzor folly.
Ostankino Palace is the real gem of Russian art of the 18th century, where the theatrical room with a stage, auditorium, makeup rooms, architecture, sculpture, painting, graphics and decorative art are in unison. The palace was built according to the plan and order of Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetev - one of the most distinguished and wealthy people of his time. Sheremetev was passionate about the theater, had a magnificent troupe of serf actors, so the heart of the summer residence was a theater with a unique theatrical machinery. The interiors of the main halls have preserved the original decor and decoration. Special elegance is attached to the halls of lighting fixtures made of crystal, bronze, gilded carved wood. Construction continued from 1792 to 1795, although the first projects date back to 1790, and the final decoration by 1799.
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.