Less than 50 miles away from Kharkiv is a gorgeous manor called Sharovka, which is known as a pearl of palace and park architecture of Eastern Ukraine. The building of Sharovka manor started in XIX century by Pavel Olkhovsky, but in the end of the same century Leopold Koenig bought it. Exactly Koenig built the palace and other buildings in gothic style we can see today.

When you will take a look at the buildings, you will see that Gothic style is everywhere: main gate has castle battlements, guard tower and lancet windows – seems like this place was built to repel real attacks of medieval armies! In the main building – the palace – there are 26 rooms and 3 huge halls. One of the halls was used as a dining room, the second one, so called “oak hall”, was used as a library, and the third one – the biggest – was used as a party hall, as in addition to its size it also had choirs for orchestra.

Leopold Koenig also changed park – many alleys, fountains, stairways and other decorations. The biggest pride of Koenig`s park was linden alley, it was designed for walking tours or for coach riding. In addition to that, there is a 600-year-old oak tree and a huge, nice pond with narrow footpath alongside. And surely park has some legends…

After The October Revolution in 1917 Koenig had to leave the country, so his property was confiscated by Bolsheviks, who made a sanatorium for the laborers from his manor. But still, even after that changes and some destructions during World War II, Sharovka stays one of the most spectacular estates of Kharkiv Oblast`.