Date :
Thursday, September 7, 2023
The Bulgakov family residence in the agro-town of Zhilichi in the Mogilev region is a unique architectural object that astonishes with its scale and lavish decoration. The structure covers about 4000 square meters - it is one of the largest palaces preserved on the territory of Belarus. It is an example of late classicism, typical for the architecture of the early 19th century.
The palace was built by order of a large landowner Ignaty Bulgak, whose family had been known since the 15th century. The Bulgakov family was not as influential as the Sapieha or Radziwill families, but they were wealthy, educated people who held high positions in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later in the Russian Empire.
It is said that after visiting Paris, the young nobleman Ignaty Bulgak was so impressed by French architecture that he wanted to build a family nest for himself that would not be inferior in luxury to European residences.
Construction of the palace began in 1825. The project was designed by the architect K. Podchasinsky. In a short time, a P-shaped structure was erected on the bank of the Dobosna River. Later, after the death of I. Bulgak, a building with a palace church and living rooms was added, as well as a greenhouse with exotic plants. It is said that even pineapples were grown in the greenhouse, which the enterprising owners rented to wealthy people wishing to impress their guests with the sight of exotic fruits.
The next owner of the estate was Ignaty's younger son, Edgar. He created a picturesque park around the building with ponds, gazebos, sculptures, and fruit trees.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Bulgakov Palace was renowned for its splendor and could compete in luxury even with the Radziwill residence in Nesvizh. The halls of the palace complex were adorned with carpets, expensive furniture, paintings, sculptures, and rich interior items. The walls were decorated with paintings, gilding, and bas-reliefs. The palace housed collections of exclusive works of art, including the famous Slutsk belts. Unfortunately, over time, all the wealth of the estate was taken away, lost, or plundered.
The last owner of the residence was Edgar's nephew Emmanuel - one of the richest representatives of the Bulgakov family, who permanently left Zhilichi with the onset of the 1917 revolution.
In Soviet times, the building housed an orphanage. During World War II, it housed a German hospital. After the war, the building was handed over to an agricultural college. After the students were moved to a new building, the Bulgakov residence began to decline. In the 1990s, a museum and a music school were opened in the palace. In 2009, a decision was made to start a large-scale reconstruction of the former Bulgakov estate.
What does the Bulgakov Palace look like after restoration?
Compared to many architectural monuments from the same period, the Bulgakov residence has been remarkably well preserved, despite wars and destructive historical events. The walls, columns, moldings, carved ceilings, and a significant part of the decor elements remained almost untouched.
Restoration work in the palace was carried out with meticulous care. The interior of the building was restored based on surviving photographs. Specialists paid detailed attention to the restoration of decor - moldings, ceiling paintings, small sculptural elements. A unique parquet made of five types of wood was restored.
In some places, specialists left fragments of the original paint so that visitors to the architectural object could see that its interiors are maintained in the same tones as those of the previous estate owners.
Today in the halls of the palace, you can see restored fireplaces and original ceilings, antique furniture, paintings, luxurious chandeliers, mirrors, clocks, candlesticks. The original furniture and interior items have not survived, so restorers had to purchase their modern copies and antique versions.
As of today, the restoration of the palace is not fully completed, the restoration of the greenhouse is underway. However, the doors of the Bulgakov residence are open to visitors. The complex staff conduct tours every half hour, where they talk about the wealth and family secrets of the Bulgakov family, about the history and architectural features of the estate in Zhilichi.
The easiest way to reach the Bulgakov estate from Minsk is by car, along the M5 highway. The journey will take about two hours. From Mogilev and Bobrujsk, there are also scheduled buses to Zhilichi.
Official site:Bulgakov Palace in Zhilichi