The Kosach Family Museum stands in Zviahel (until 2022 — Novohrad-Volynskyi), near the banks of the Sluch River. It is one of the key literary locations of Zhytomyr Oblast, connected with the life and work of Lesya Ukrainka (Larysa Kosach), who was born in this very town.
The Kosach family left a huge mark on Ukrainian culture. Besides Lesya Ukrainka, it is worth mentioning her mother, Olena Pchilka, her father, Petro Kosach, and her uncle, Mykhailo Drahomanov. Their contribution to literature and public life can hardly be overestimated. This is the only museum in the world dedicated to the entire family in which the writer grew up.
History of the Manor
The Kosaches lived in Zviahel for eleven years and changed several residences here. The last one was a spacious manor that the family rented from the landowner Zawadzka — "at Pani Zawadzka's, a Polish woman," as Olena Pchilka wrote.
The Kosaches moved here in 1873 and lived in the manor for about six years, until 1879, when the family moved to Lutsk.
The Zawadzka house did not survive: the current museum building was erected in its place. The museum was opened on July 31, 1999, during the literary festival "Lesyna Dzherela" (Lesya's Springs) on the initiative of the city's creative intelligentsia.
Museum Exposition
The exposition occupies seven rooms and tells the story of Olena Pchilka, Petro Kosach, their children, and their connections with Mykola Lysenko, Mykhailo Starytskyi, Volodymyr Antonovych, and Mykhailo Drahomanov. The museum's holdings include about two thousand items, among them:
- lifetime editions of Lesya Ukrainka's works;
- books and materials of Olena Pchilka;
- works of Mykhailo Drahomanov.
The museum tells not only about creative work, but also about the family's life, everyday routine, worldview, and role in shaping the Ukrainian intelligentsia.
Concerts, presentations, and meetings with artists take place in the literary and musical hall — this makes the house "alive," rather than just a museum space.
Architecture and Appearance
The museum building immediately catches the eye:
- single-storey building;
- pink facade;
- large windows that fill the space with light;
- decorative elements: columns, pilasters, relief lines.
A short flight of stairs leads to the entrance, and a cozy park located nearby adds tranquility to the place.
How to Get There
Zviahel has convenient transport links: many trains pass through the town, and buses run from Zhytomyr, Kyiv, and other cities. The museum is located within the town, accessible on foot or by local transport.
What's Nearby
- the Sluch River;
- the historical town center;
- Lesya Ukrainka Literary Memorial Museum — the house where the writer was born on February 25, 1871.
This allows combining several spots into a single route.
The Kosach Family Museum is a place where the living history of Ukrainian culture can be felt. There is no pretentiousness here, but there is depth and context that help to better understand how Ukrainian literature was shaped and who its creators were.
