LeeAnneCanada
The House of V. Kochubey, was the one semi original sites that we visited while in Baturyn. Apparently it sustained heavy damage during World War II/The Great Patriotic War after surviving the destruction of Baturyn in 1708. The original house was built sometime between 1669-1672. In 1700, the house, which bears his name, was the residence of V. Kochubey who was the Judge General for the Military Tribunal which was the judicial arm of the Left Bank Ukraine Hetmanate. There is a legend about one of the Kochubey daughters, and her forbidden romance with the hetman, Ivan Mazepa. Love letters from the period survived and are exhibited in house. The house itself is situated in a park. We were there in April, so it wasn’t in bloom yet. Restoration work was part of the larger undertaking by then president Yushenko in 2005 to restore the old Hetman’s Capital to its former glory. The upstairs of the house is chocked full of artifacts, antiques and exhibits. The upstairs is divided into 4 showrooms, that display a tiled stove, pictures, antique wardrobes, and display cases which hold the houses locks and keys and pipes and belt buckle along with other interesting items. The downstairs or basement area was the original court house and prison and is decorated as such and has a figure of the judge general himself and an unfortunate fellow in the jail. There is also a showcase of items of torture. Books in English were available for sale at one of the sites, and my friend bought me a couple on the places we had visited including the judge generals house. The town of Baturyn and its sites is doable in a day trip from Kyiv. Not sure about accommodations in the town, but an overnite stay isn’t necessary if you are coming from the capital.
