In Bobrovytsia there is a building that looks unexpected for a small town in Chernihiv region.
A tower with a cone-shaped dome. Brick ornaments. Metal grilles on the porch. And on each brick is the family seal of the owner.
Katerynych Palace of 1895 – a place where Taras Shevchenko and Maria Zankovetska visited.
General information
| What? | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Katerynych family palace |
| Address | Franka St., 1, Bobrovytsia, Nizhyn district, Chernihiv region |
| Coordinates | 50.7527° N. N., 31.4076° E. d. |
| Year of construction | 1895 |
| Architect | Semen Lazarev-Stanishchev |
| Customer | Petro Petrovych Katerynych (1856–1916) |
| Style | brick eclecticism |
| Status | architectural monument; partially used |
Two Katerynychs and one estate
The Katerynych family appeared in Bobrovytsia in the first half of the 19th century.
Petro Andriyovych Katerynych is the first of the family members known to us. In 1838, he contributed funds to the redemption of Taras Shevchenko from serfdom. As a sign of gratitude, in 1846 Shevchenko visited the Katerynych estates in Bobrovytsia and neighboring Markivka – and painted 8 portraits of family members (5 have survived). At the same time – a watercolor portrait of Katerynych’s mother.
The palace itself was built by a descendant – Petro Petrovych Katerynych (1856–1916): leader of the Kozeletsk district nobility, founder of sugar and brick factories, treasurer of the Taras Shevchenko Society in St. Petersburg.
Architect and Named Brick
The project was developed by Semen Lazarev-Stanishchev, an architect. The entire palace is built of named bricks with the Katerynych family brand: each brick still has a personal stamp. It is not a decoration, but a production mark of the brick factory itself.
Architectural details:
- corner tower with a conical dome is the main dominant
- walls with volumetric symmetrical brick figures
- metal columns and lattices with patterns on the porch
Guests of the estate
Balls and musical evenings were held in the palace. Among the guests:
- Taras Shevchenko — connected to the family through redemption from serfdom
- Mariya Zankovetska — the most prominent Ukrainian actress of the time
The fate of the building
After the revolution and the death of Pyotr Petrovich (1916), the estate became state-owned. The interiors were simplified, the park was neglected.
Since 2024, architect Oksana Khoroshavina has gathered a group of interested people. Locals organize “toloki” – cleaning and cosmetic repairs. The palace has already hosted tour groups and exhibitions. Work on the protection status and restoration is ongoing.
What to see nearby
- Nizhyn (~30 km) — Cossack town, university, baroque churches
- Kozelec (~40 km) — Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, a masterpiece of Ukrainian baroque
- Baturyn (~80 km) — Hetman’s capital, Razumovsky Palace
Practical information
- Entrance: free to view from the outside
- Inside: from 2024, tours will be accepted – check with the Bobrovytsk City Council
- Time for viewing: 20–40 minutes
- Distance from Kyiv: ~120 km by road via Nizhyn
How to get there
- From Kyiv: Kyiv–Nizhyn highway (~100 km), then ~20 km to Bobrovytsia
- By train: Kyiv → Nizhyn, then bus/taxi to Bobrovytsia
Little-known details
- Each brick of the palace bears the ancestral mark of Katerynych — its own brickyard, its own palace, its own sign.
- Shevchenko painted 8 portraits of the family — 5 are preserved in museum collections.
- Maria Zankovetska was a guest here — one of the biggest stars of Ukrainian theater.
- Petro Katerynych participated in Shevchenko’s redemption from serfdom in 1838.
- Since 2024, the community has been holding “toloki” — and the palace has been welcoming visitors for the first time in decades.
Conclusion
The Katerynychi Palace is not an “abandoned” or “newly opened” monument. This is a place that is slowly returning to people.
Named brick. Shevchenko portraits. Zankovetska at balls. Toloki 2024
If you are going to Nizhyn or Kozelets – Bobrovytsia is on the same road.
