Palaces and Estates Worth Seeing: 7 Historical and Architectural Sites in the Kyiv Region
Osten-Sacken Palace
In the village of Nemishaeve, on Biokhimichna Street, you can see the ruins of the Osten-Sacken Palace — one of the most fascinating noble estates in the Kyiv region. The estate’s history began in 1805, when the Mykulytska estate was gifted to Count Karl Saken. It later passed to Ivan von der Osten-Sacken and then to his son Karl, during whose time, in the first half of the 19th century, a brick palace with a corner tower and a park was built.
In 1873, the new owner became Yevdokia Astakhova, the wife of a Kyiv merchant. By the end of the century, the estate belonged to the Vorontsov-Dashkov family, and in 1904 it was purchased by a peasant named Andriy Kulyk. By 1917, the estate included the palace, wooden houses, a pond, a bridge, and greenhouses. After the revolution, it was nationalized, and in the 20th century, it housed a club for a local biochemistry factory.
In 2000, the palace was heavily damaged by fire and has not been restored since. Today, only the front wall and part of the tower remain. In 2016, the Osten-Sacken off-stage festival was held here in the open air.
Shtamm Estate
On Kyiv-Mirotska Street in Bucha stands a building locals often refer to as a castle. The estate was built in the early 20th century for engineer Shtamm, a board advisor of the Kyiv-Kovel railway. The architecture, with two towers, is in Neo-Romanesque style, and it was once surrounded by a well-kept park.
Shtamm lived in the house until 1917. The estate was later converted into an orphanage, and after World War II, it became the Druzhny Sanatorium, which provided rehabilitation for children with neurological conditions. In 2004, a fire completely gutted the building. Since then, the estate has been abandoned and is deteriorating.
In 2019, the building was added to the List of Cultural Heritage Sites of the Kyiv Region as a newly discovered monument. Despite its abandonment, it still impresses with its architectural beauty and atmosphere.
Paton Dacha
Since 1904, the family of renowned engineer Yevhen Paton vacationed in Bucha. Their dacha has survived to this day, though it is in a neglected state.
The building, made of brick and wood, was damaged by a fire in 2017, but some parts remain intact — including a decorative stove and the original wooden porch.
There were plans to create a museum dedicated to the Paton family, but the idea never came to fruition. Today, the dacha stands abandoned, awaiting renovation.
Ruins of the Zaleski Palace
In the village of Rude Selo in the Kyiv region, the ruins of a late 18th-century palace built for nobleman Stanislaw Zaleisky still remain. Its architecture is a rare Ukrainian example of Palladian style, inspired by the villas of Italian architect Andrea Palladio. The two-story brick palace featured molded decorations, Ionic columns, loggias, and enfilade planning.
In the mid-19th century, the palace was rebuilt. After Stanislaw Zaleisky’s childless marriage, the estate passed to his niece, and later to her descendants from the Zhevussky family. The last owner, Sofia Zhevusska, died in 1974.
Contrary to some literary sources, this estate had no connection to the Branicki family. In Soviet times, it was nationalized and used as a collective farm office. Later, the building was damaged by fire and abandoned. Part of the roof and facade collapsed, and the historic interiors were destroyed.
Today, the palace stands in ruins, but the facade, some decorations, remains of an outbuilding, and the entrance gate still survive, hinting at its former architectural grandeur.
The Ruins of the Zaleisky Palace
Rude Selo, Kiev region
Von Meck Estate
In the village of Kopyliv, on the banks of the Buchanka River, lies the historic estate of Baron Mykola von Meck.
The first wooden house in “summer cottage Art Nouveau” style was built in 1888. After a fire in 1898, a new two-story house with an attic, turrets, a terrace, and wooden facade ornaments was constructed.
The estate included not only the house but also an 8-hectare landscaped park with alleys, gazebos, ponds, and pavilions. Baron von Meck established a water tower, a mill, a farm, a horse breeding center, and even organized a school for local children. He also built a road to the Brest-Litovsk highway and planted poplar trees for natural drainage.
In 1910, the baron sold the estate, and after the revolution, it was nationalized. During the Soviet era, it housed an agronomic school, hospital, village council, school, and music department. Today, the complex is in a very neglected state — the buildings require restoration, and the park needs care. Despite this, the estate retains architectural expression and is worth visiting for those interested in the region’s history.
"Uvarov House"
The Uvarova House — one of the first villas in Vorzel — was built in 1902, just two years after the village was founded. Vorzel emerged due to the construction of the Kyiv–Kovel railway and soon became a popular retreat thanks to its clean air and forest microclimate.
The mansion was initially built by Kyiv industrialist Septer and later purchased by Countess Natalia Uvarova, daughter of philanthropist Fedir Tereshchenko. The Uvarovs spent their summers here. After 1917, they emigrated from Ukraine.
In the interwar period, the house served as a school, and in the 1960s, it became the "Kosmos" school cinema, which even won first place in a USSR-wide competition.
In the 2000s, the villa was in disrepair, but in 2007 it was restored. Today, the building houses the Vorzel Museum of History and Culture — the "Uvarova House." It features a permanent exhibition and hosts exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events.
The house has preserved its picturesque architecture — with a turret, decorative elements, and a well-kept park area around it. It is recognized as a monument of local architectural significance.
Khoetsky Palace
The Khoetsky Palace in the village of Tomashivka was built between 1903 and 1910 in the Art Nouveau style. The project was created by Valerian Kulykovsky — the architect behind the Koziatyn train station and the Southwestern Railway House in Kyiv.
The palace features a complex layout, balconies, a veranda with wood carvings, asymmetrical volumes, and a mix of stone and wood — all hallmarks of Art Nouveau. A landscaped park with paths and decorative elements was created around the building, adapted to the local terrain.
In the early 20th century, the Khoetsky family moved their residence from Didivshchyna to Tomashivka. After the revolution, the estate was nationalized. During Soviet times, a school operated here until 1986, when it was relocated, leaving the palace to fall into disrepair.
In 2000, the site was handed over to a monastery. Today, it houses the Rizopolozhensky Skete of the Svyato-Vvedensky Monastery. The monks restored the palace and landscaped the grounds: a bell tower, church, bridge over the Irpin River, fountain, flowerbeds, statues, and a small petting zoo were added.
The estate is a nationally significant architectural monument.
Cossack churches of the Kyiv region are not merely examples of ancient architecture, but true bearers of the spiritual heritage and cultural identity of the Ukrainian people. They embody centuries of struggle, faith, and tradition that have developed in these lands from the time of the Ruin to the present day. The article "The Spiritual Heritage of the Cossacks: Churches of Kyiv Region Worth Seeing" explores wooden churches that, with their unique features, refined ornamentation, and unusual architectural forms, have become an integral part of national consciousness and continue to serve as centers of culture and spirituality.
