The picturesque avenue leading from the entrance towers to the Tolstoy House existed as early as the 17th century. In the lifetime of Prince Nikolai Volkonsky the Preshpekt acquired its present-day appearance; two rows of birch-trees were planted on each side of the avenue. In 1903, Tolstoy’s wife Sophia decided to plant fir-trees here instead of the old birches. But in 1965 the firs were again replaced by birches. The Preshpekt was a part of Tolstoy’s habitual walks, which he used to call his «morning prayers». This beautiful birch avenue can be easily recognized in the writer’s works, and in War and Peace it even has the same name.