The Venevitinov Estate in Novozhivotinnoye is the ancestral home of the Venevitinov family, a prominent Voronezh resident. They lived in Troitskaya Sloboda. The governor paid them for their service in the Voronezh fortress and granted them land plots. He also allowed them to engage in duty-free trade. Dmitry Vladimirovich Venevitinov, a Russian poet and critic and heir to a noble family, spent his childhood here. He received a classical education at home, studying Latin, German, and literature. He was a third cousin of the poet Alexander Pushkin, interacted with him, and became the inspiration for Lensky, the hero of "Eugene Onegin." Pushkin visited the Venevitinovs as a relative and befriended the younger generation. This contact and friendship greatly influenced Dmitry's work. However, the young poet did not live long, never even reaching his 22nd birthday. He caught a cold after leaving a ball in light clothing. A common cold developed into pneumonia, which doctors were unable to treat. On March 15, 1827, he died surrounded by his friends and family.
From then on, the estate gradually changed. Initially, wooden buildings were erected, later replaced by a single-story stone structure. A park was laid out next to it. The Archangel Church was built nearby. The estate expanded. In 1826, outbuildings, an icehouse and cellar, outbuildings, and a stable were added. A viewing platform with a brick gazebo was built separately, near the Don River. The area was surrounded by a solid stone fence. A second floor was added a little later. The interior layout changed many times depending on who lived there and what they were used for.
One of the most touching stories concerns Dmitry Venevitinov's love for Zinaida Volkonskaya. When they parted in November 1826, she gave him a ring found during excavations in Pompeii. He treasured this ring as a token of his love. Four months later, he was struck down by pneumonia. He requested that the ring be worn at the hour of his death. His wishes were fulfilled. When his remains were reburied in another cemetery, this jewel was removed. It is now on display in the State Literary Museum.