castle of baron

Castle of Baron in Kyiv

Castle of Baron Steingel. Nestled in the heart of Kyiv, the castle that was never a castle and no baron owned it. Yes, I’m talking about one of Kyiv’s most romantic and enigmatic buildings in Gothic style – the Castle of Baron Steingel.

Kyiv Renaissance: Construction Boom of the 19th Century

At the end of the 19th century in Kyiv, the famous ‘construction fever’ began. The hotel business was rapidly developing, but it did not keep pace with the population growth of Kyiv. 

Therefore, the sector of private housing for rent began growing. Given the rapid rise in land prices, landowners, especially in the city center, were adding several more floors and attics on one-two-story dwellings. Each next such mansion surpasses the previous one in design and architecture.

Indeed, private housing for rent was a great alternative to an expensive hotel room or a whole apartment rent. The so-called “furnished rooms” – were a kind of cheap hotel with rooms that were rented out on a daily or monthly basis.

From Magnate’s Dream to Reality: Story of Castle of Baron Steingel

In 1892 Polish magnate Mikhailo Podgorsky addressed an engineer from Kharkiv Mykola Dobachevsky to create for him the most original and extravagant building.

His plan was to rent it out, with one ambitious task in mind – to make everyone who sees the house gasp in awe! The engineer did an exceptional job, and everyone couldn’t stop talking about the wondrous house castle, except for the lazy ones.

Mykola Dobachevsky was a technical engineer, not an architect. His knowledge and education helped him to receive a job and participate in the project of building the Panama Canal.

Upon his return home, the Russian Tsar’s family recognized his remarkable construction talents and honored him with a precious gift – gold cufflinks adorned with diamonds and sapphires

The house looked extravagant indeed. It’s impossible to overlook the neo-gothic building with a charming tower nestled at the street corner, directly facing the Golden Gate. The locals started to call the building – the Castle of Baron.

But hold on a moment. Why was it called the Castle of Baron if the owner was not a baron at all?

In reality, the actual baron, Maxim Steingel, owned a much simpler-designed house right next to this Castle. However, locals firmly believed that this new mansion was undoubtedly constructed by the renowned Baron Maxim Steingel, who was well-known in Kyiv as a successful winemaker.

Right after the building’s construction, a beloved cafe-pastry shop named “At the Golden Gate” opened its doors. Since 1912, there has also been a cinema operating on the ground floor.

Modern Life of the Castle of Baron

From the twenties of the last century until recently, the “Castle of Baron” was a house with communal apartments. Communal life may not have been very attractive, but still, the house was in an advantageous location, in the very center of the city. 

Therefore, the eviction of the residents of the communal apartment in early 2000 was quite tense. Apparently, a nice piece of land in the center of Kyiv attracted an investor who was interested in the capital’s cultural heritage.

After the last resident left his communal apartment, the building was secured and no one was allowed in.

Nowadays, all the apartments in the house belong to a private person. A couple of apartments are rented as offices, and on one floor there’s an art studio.

You can get inside the house only on excursions conducted by two Kyiv travel agencies.

Untold Stories of Castle of Baron Steingel

Every time I pass the Castle of Baron, my guests point to it wondering what kind of building it is. This is why on my Old Town Kyiv tour, I always make a stop and tell about it. To be honest, there are interesting things to tell about it. 

For example, the creator of the building Mykola Dobachevsky did not become a demanding and famous architect. In fact, the Castle of Baron was his first and last major building project.

His once prestigious reputation in the architectural community crumbled, tarnished by a life of reckless gambling. Abandoning his wife and four children, he spiraled into darkness, entangled in the shadows of scandalous trials.

Behind the Closed Doors of Castle of Baron

Recently, I visited the house. The enormous size of the rooms and the towering ceilings in the house are impressive.

There are almost no traces of the former luxury of its interior. The Bolsheviks were not merciful to the private property of wealthy people and robbed or destroyed many of the similar mansions. 

But there are some traces of the old communal apartments. In some places, you can see unpretentious Soviet chandeliers hanging from the ceiling with chic stucco moldings or huge kitchens partitioned off with plywood. 

Stucco decoration, fireplaces – all this remained in a more or less decent look. Fireplaces are generally the hallmark of this house.

According to the builders’ plan, one apartment of ten to fifteen rooms was supposed to occupy one floor. While on the first floor, the rooms, on the contrary, are small, and the passages are narrow because these rooms were made for servants.

I made some of the photos of the interior of the house, you can watch them in this article. 

About the Author

Hello! My name is Victoria, I am a private tour guide in Kyiv. If you plan a trip to the Ukrainian capital, I would be happy to customize your perfect Kyiv private tour.

Just let me know your ideas and I will design a tour built around a theme of particular interest that you wish to learn more about. I will take great professional care of you, making your visit one to remember.

Book a Private One Day Kyiv Tour:
myukraine4u@gmail.com
www.bestkievguide.com

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