Yuriy Fedkovych's museum-estate, Putyla

Yuriy Fedkovych... Bukovynian Soloviy, kobzar of the Carpathian region... An outstanding poet, prose writer, playwright, educator, ethnographer, folklorist, and teacher, simply an extremely talented, intelligent, erudite person, an extraordinary personality.

One can only wonder how, in those dark and hopeless times of foreign enslavement of Bukovyna in the second half of the nineteenth century, in the land of hopeless need, illiteracy, and suffering, God's Providence sent the Hutsul singer and savior, defender and teacher, spokesman for thoughts, hopes, and hopes, and people's lawyer, Yuriy Fedkovych.

The prominent writer and public figure Yuriy Fedkovych(Osyp Dominik Hordynskyi de Fedkovych) was born in the town of Putyla into a noble family. He studied in Chernivtsi and served in the Austrian army. An interesting fact is that Yurii began writing in German, even writing his first Ukrainian poems using Latin letters. He was a militia officer in Putyla, then an editor in Lviv and Chernivtsi. He died on January 11, 1888.

It was necessary to have a great gift from God to love one's native land, its people, and believe in a happy destiny. The artist wrote: "I love our people with all my heart, and my soul predicts that a great destiny awaits them." The poet brought this time of great destiny closer with his works, pedagogical and social activities.

In memory of him, local residents organized a memorial museum in the family estate of the famous writer. To appreciate the significance of this man, it is worth remembering one fact: Chernivtsi University is named after him. To learn more about the life and work of the extraordinary native of Bukovyna, we recommend that you visit his museum in his native Putyla, which is a branch ofthe Yuriy Fedkovych Literary and Memorial Museum in Chernivtsi.

Themuseum in Chernivtsi was founded in 1946. It is located in the writer's last apartment during his lifetime, in house number 10on Soborna Square. This house wasthe center of the Ukrainian society Ruska Besida, and the Bukovyna newspaper, edited by Yuriy Fedkovych, was published here. The museum houses the first editions of Yuriy Fedkovych's works, documents, photographs, scientific and artistic works about him. The museum preserves the memorial room where Fedkovych lived in 1885-1888, as well as the working room of the Bukovyna newspaper where he worked. The exhibition includes a gallery of Ukrainian writers close to Yuriy Fedkovych. There is a memorial plaque to Yuriy Fedkovych on the house.

The museum's exposition occupies the entire house and the estate's courtyard. It introduces visitors to the life and work of Yuriy Fedkovych, and the interior recreates the atmosphere of the first half of the 19th century. Copies of editions of the writer's works, his personal belongings from different periods of his life, such as his childhood in Putyla, service in the Austrian army, work and life in Chernivtsi, are on display.

The estate's furniture attracts special attention. It is known that Yurii Fedkovych came from a noble family, which is confirmed by the sophistication of the interior and the high cost of the furniture. The museum's pride is the preserved well, which has been functioning in the museum's courtyard since the time when the writer lived here.

The original family estate of the Fedkovych nobles did not survive - it burned down. However, in 1974, it was restored exactly according to the preserved photographs and the author's works, but without outbuildings. At the same time, a memorial museum was opened in the estate. The building consists of three rooms: a hayloft, a living room, and a living room. Among the museum's items are Hutsul household items, clothes, and artistic works; the nobility of Yurii Fedkovych's family tree is confirmed by the appropriate furniture of the time: a tiled stove, good quality chests, a large table, carved furniture, etc. The stands of the next museum exposition introduce the life and work of the writer in Putyla, the period of his service in the Austrian army, and his activities in Chernivtsi.

An authentic well from the time Yurii lived here is also preserved in the yard. Nearby is a bust of the writer.

The prominent Ukrainian public figure Mykhailo Drahomanov admired Yuriy Fedkovych's work, his erudition, broad-mindedness, and musical talent. In 1875, M. Drahomanov visited Yurii Fedkovych in Putyla and stayed in the family home for three days.

Today the museum is one of the most important cultural centers of the region. The largest annual event on the estate is the celebration of the writer's birthday on the first Sunday in August. This literary and artistic celebration is called "Silk Braid" and includes a presentation of the work of various handmade artists (embroidery, wood carving, pysanky, paintings, carpets, towels, etc.).

The museum is located at 21 Yurii Fedkovycha Street, in the center of the town. Putyla can be reached by bus from Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vyzhnytsia. It is also convenient to get there by car, but the quality of roads in the fall and spring is rather questionable.

Opening hours of the Yuriy Fedkovych Memorial Museum-Estate: open to visitors from 10:00 to 18:00, weekends on Saturday and Monday. Please note that the museum has a lunch break from 13:00 to 14:00.

Entrance fee: 10 UAH for adults, 7 UAH for students, and 5 UAH for children. The cost of the tour is 40 UAH for adults, 30 UAH for students, and 25 UAH for children.

The best way to get there is by bus from Chernivtsi. The museum is located in the center of the village, near the church.