Our city has a lot of places that are widely known in narrow circles, and that`s not only churches or parks – it is also mansions of famous people of the past. Kharkiv manors excursion includes two exclusive manors of Kharkiv nobility that were built before Revolution – Shidlovskiy family manor and Natalyevka manor.

Shidlovskiy family manor – one of the most outstanding monuments of manor architecture of Kharkiv Oblast`. These lands were declared as a nature reserve in 1891 by Alexander III edict, as manor architecture complex is one of few Russian manors that saved its primary view, and manor lands is one of the oldest parks of former Russian Empire.

In 1919, after revolution, the manor was robbed by Bolsheviks, they even broke into Shidlovskiy family crypt… During World War II manor was not injured, and from 1945 to 1997 veterinary college was housed on manor territory. In 1997 college was moved, and the manor becomes almost abandoned. Nowadays this place looks pretty deserted, but it still can make an impression if you like XVIII-XIX century architecture.

Natalyevka manor was built in the middle of XIX century and belonged to the owner of a sugar factories Pavel Kharitonenko – the owner of a manor had not only money, but he also had great taste. The total area of a manor is 5382000 square ft.

The real highlight of Natalyevka is Spasa Preobrajeniya Church. It was firstly built as a gallery of Old Russian art and rare icons – it was a real pride of Kharitonenko, who loved ancient art. Another highlight of a mansion is garden. It was found on a base of coniferous forest on two river shores – lower and higher. Garden has beautiful groves of different tree species, and the most beautiful decoration of the park was Spanish chestnut alley.