Stary Zakaz Forest (Yasnaya Polyana. Tolstoy Estate Museum) | park

 park, forest

Like Chepyzh forest, the Stary Zakaz forest is a part of Zasechnye forests. 'Stary Zakaz' means 'Old Prohibition' or 'Old Ban'. This name of the forest was received because of the ban on the logging of trees here. 'Ban' is a old meaning of russian word 'Zakaz', now it means 'order', so mistranslations is possible.

Logging was banned by Prince Volkonsky, the grandfather of Lev Tolstoy. Thought in 1863-64 the forest was cut down, it was never cut after this. Age of some trees here is 100 years and over.

Leo Tolstoy was buried at the edge of the forest in accordance with his last will. His wish was connected with 'legend of the green wand', important part of his life mythology. The legend of the green wand was heard in childhood from his beloved brother Nicholas. When Nicholas was 12, he announced to the family of the great mystery. Let's expand it, and no one dies, no more wars and diseases, and people will 'ant brothers'. Only need is to find the green wand buried on the edge of the ravine in the forest, mystery is written on the wand.