Magal St., 23, Apt. 147, Derbent, Republic of Dagestan, Russia, 368600
This house was home to the exiled Decembrist writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky for four years (1830-1834). He quickly mastered the local language, easily connected with the locals, and became a favorite among the townspeople. Based on the ethnographic material he collected, Bestuzhev-Marlinsky wrote novellas and stories describing Derbent, its inhabitants, and its history. The Caucasus became a source of inspiration for the writer: mountains and mountaineers, skirmishes and battles, sieges and raids. Alexander Bestuzhev-Marlinsky’s works were very popular among his contemporaries. In 1941, the building was acquired by Spassky, the director of the city’s local history museum. The building stood empty for a long time, then housed a children’s library, and in 1986 restoration began. On October 12, 1988, the museum was opened. The museum is a complex consisting of a two-story house and a courtyard. This building is a typical example of Derbent architecture from the late 18th to early 19th century. The exhibition of the House-Museum reflects the Derbent period of the life and work of the exiled writer – the Decembrist. The former living rooms have been recreated to reflect the atmosphere of that time, using both authentic items that Bestuzhev used (a wooden sofa, chairs, a piano, a writing desk) and household items and utensils that recreate the interior and furnishings of a wealthy Derbent resident’s home in the 19th century. A unique item exhibited in the museum is the tombstone from the grave of Olga Nestertseva, a 19-year-old girl whom Bestuzhev loved. Olga died as a result of an accident in Bestuzhev’s house, which negatively affected the further fate of the exiled Decembrist.
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