... Where a soul can rest. Witnesses of ancient times

Building at 7 Kontraktova Ploshcha (Square of Contracts) 

A little-known place in Kyiv is hidden in one of Podil’s courtyards on Kontraktova Square, the oldest building in the capital, which is already 259 years old. It was first built from wood in 1760. And in almost 40 years, the building was completed with masonwork, thanks to which it became one of the five buildings that survived the Great Podil Fire of 1811.

The origin of the house is noble: it was once built for the Wiśniewski nobles. However, the building is associated not with its former noble residents, but with the Nechaiev bakers who had lived there since 1891. In the manor’s yard, they baked their branded Nechaivski gingercakes.

The oldest residential building in Kyiv, which organically fits into the atmosphere of Podil, had been owned by one family for more than a century. 

Building at 6/8 Kostiantynivska Street

This building was also located in Podil. The exact age of the building is unknown, but some sources believe that its construction began in 1696. Unfortunately, it is impossible to prove this, so the mansion does not claim the title of being the oldest in the city.

The building is a historical monument, so it is protected from vandalism and protected from destruction over time. As a result of the restorations, the outlook of the building has almost remained unaffected.

According to some sources, this building was Peter I’s residence in Kyiv. There is, however, no official confirmation that the tsar owned the building or at least visited it. However, this does not make the mysterious building any less interesting or significant.

Building at 16-V Spaska Street

This building was erected in the late 17th–early 18th century in the Ukrainian Baroque style. It is connected with the so-called house of Peter I by the same location (Podil is rich in historical sights) and an unproven connection with that historical personality.

It is believed that Hetman Ivan Mazepa used to visit the building. Despite the dubious data, this story stuck behind the house. Today, the Hetmanship Museum is located here.

The fact that it was preserved after one of the worst fires in the history of Kyiv in 1811 adds to the value of the building.

Building at 37A Voloska Street

And Podil, again... This mansion is hard not to notice: the old architectural style instantly betrays its age. Mariia Pavlenko’s revenue house was built in 1898. The red colour of the façade with white decorative elements attracts the eye. The sculptures of the building and the fine stucco work are fascinating.

People still live in the building. It’s amazing that even after so many years it’s still habitable. It’s a pity that the modern plastic balconies have disfigured the façade of the building.

Building at 34 Bulvarno-Kudriavska Street

This building is really a mystery. One may get the impression that people who lived here changed its layout depending on their mood. First of all, from an architectural point of view, it is impossible to define neither style, nor layering, nor symmetry of any kind. Along the entire perimeter of the house, there are a lot of superstructures and additions: sometimes Gothic windows, sometimes windowless arches, sometimes stairs going nowhere. The walls are disproportionately large, and the placement of the roof leaves many questions. Secondly, no information about the owners and previous designation of the house has survived to date. According to the memorial plaque hanging on the wall, an art school was located here, but historians question this, because it is known that it was at a different address, and here, most likely, a vocational school built in 1879 was located.

It is only known that today the building is residential with communal flats.