The Hanska Estate in the village of Verkhivnia is a late 18th- and early 19th-century palace and park included in the register of national shrines of Ukraine. This estate is known throughout the world thanks to Honore de Balzac: the French writer lived here as a guest of his beloved Evelina Hanska.
Palace and park
The park was laid out by Count Jan Hanska in the 1780s–1790s. In 1800, construction of the Empire-style palace began, and it was completed by Jan's son, Waclaw Hanska. It was built by craftsmen from Podilia and Volyn under the guidance of renowned architects of the time. The palace features a front facade with a colonnade, and the park preserves its alleys, a pond, and an old bridge.
Balzac in Verkhivnia
Balzac visited Verkhivnia several times between 1847 and 1850 and lived at the estate for long periods, working on his manuscripts. In 1850, he married Evelina Hanska in Berdychiv and soon left for Paris, where he died later that year. Today, a museum dedicated to the writer operates in the palace.
How to get there
Verkhivnia is in the Ruzhyn hromada, about 30 km from Berdychiv. The trip can easily be combined with the Carmelite monastery. More details can be found in the article about Berdychiv Raion.
