Zhilici, Bulgakov Palace

Story

The Bulgakov family is one of the oldest in Belarus. Starting from the 16th century, the Bulgaks occupied high positions in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and then in the Russian Empire, and owned vast lands in Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev and other provinces.

The residence of a wealthy nobleman, Bobruisk district marshal Ignat Bulgak in the village of Zhilichi was built in the 1830s by his order and designed by architect Karol Podchashinsky on the banks of the Dobosna River. The palace was built in two stages: first, the main U-shaped building was erected, and later a long two-story wing with a palace church and additional living quarters was added to it. In 1848, after the death of Ignat Bulgak, the estate passed to his youngest son Edgar. During his time, the palace was completed - two one-story flanks with a church, a greenhouse and service premises appeared.

Architecture

The residence was a fairly large, well-planned palace and park ensemble. In addition to the palace and park, it included large orchards, vegetable gardens, and reservoirs where fishing was carried out. There was a large farm yard, a water mill, a distillery, a starch and a sugar factory.

The Bulgakov Palace stylistically belongs to classicism and impresses with both the beauty of its decoration and its size. The building is mainly two-story, but there was also a mezzanine floor intended for musicians and servants: its small windows peer over the large ones. The facade of the main building is decorated with a portico with six Corinthian columns. Above them there is a pediment with stucco molding. Similar porticoes - but with four columns - are located on the side facades of the main building. Along the perimeter of the building there is a developed cornice with a frieze, decorated with molded garlands and rosettes.

The main facade of the side building is cut through by arched window openings and decorated with a colonnade. The center is highlighted by a two-story house chapel. The interior layout of the palace is mixed - corridor-enfilade.

The interior decoration is rich in stucco, small sculptures, paintings, gilding, mirrors, and decorative upholstery. Empire elements are used in the decor: large friezes, panels with bas-relief antique scenes. Moreover, each room is decorated individually. On the second floor of the southern wing of the main building there is a rectangular front hall, divided into three parts by columns. The hall is decorated with a wide multi-figure bas-relief frieze with scenes on the themes of hunting, battle, and sacrifice. The columns and pilasters have gilded capitals. The main plastic effect is created by a coffered ceiling with richly ornamented stucco molding.