Berezan is a small town in the east of the Kyiv region, situated on the Nedra River, 82 km from Kyiv along the highway to Kharkiv. Once a sotnia town of the Pereyaslav Regiment, it is now home to one of the coziest local lore museums in the region. The museum was opened in 1975 in a modern building featuring elements of traditional architecture, and it has become a true cultural hub of the town.
A Sotnia Town on the Nedra
Berezan was first mentioned in 1616 in the lustration of the Pereyaslav Starostwo: its residents back then had no duties other than military service. Saltpeter for gunpowder was produced here, and until 1620 the town belonged to Prince Janusz Ostrogski. In the late 1620s and early 1630s, Berezan became the center of the registered Berezan Sotnia of the Pereyaslav Regiment. At the beginning of the 1648 uprising, not far from Berezan, Yarema Vyshnevetsky executed the envoys of Bohdan Khmelnytsky who had brought him a letter. Later, the town was owned by the descendants of Pereyaslav Colonel Dmytrashko-Raichia.
In 1843, Taras Shevchenko visited Berezan, where he wrote his poem "The Ransacked Grave". In 1901, the Kyiv – Poltava railway passed through the town, and Berezan received its own station.
What is in the Museum
The permanent exhibition tells the story of the region from ancient times to the present day. The nature room recreates the local flora and fauna, while the everyday life room features tools and items of traditional crafts. The "Shevchenko Room" is dedicated to the poet: most of the exhibits here were crafted by folk artisans. A separate room tells the story of the tragedy of the 1930s and the Holodomor of 1932–1933.
In the folk art room, you will find works by local craftsmen and gifts from twin cities; one of the most interesting items is a 6-meter-long woven rushnyk towel. There is also an exhibition dedicated to the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a numismatics room with currency from many countries, a hall of military glory, and an exhibition hall. Many of the exhibits were handcrafted by folk artisan Andriy Bushlia. Every year in December, the museum hosts theatrical evening gatherings.
How to Get There
Address: 22 Heroiv Nebesnoi Sotni Street, Berezan. From Kyiv — take the highway to Kharkiv (M-03) or a suburban train towards Yahotyn to the Berezan station. The museum is open from 8:00 to 16:00, closed on Mondays; it is best to check the schedule before your trip.
Tip
After visiting the museum, take a walk to the Annunciation Church and along the bank of the Nedra. Nearby, in the Baryshivka district, you will find the wooden St. Michael's Church in Lukashi, and half an hour's drive to the east is the Zhurivka Arboretum. Read more about the region in the article about Kyiv Polissia.
