Koropets Palace of the Badeni

Koropets Palace is also called Bedeni Palace, in honor of its first owners. It is located in the Ternopil region, but much closer to Ivano-Frankivsk. I did not miss the opportunity to visit this interesting place and want to tell you its history and show you what it looks like today. And, of course, give you some advice: is it worth going there?

History of the castle

The Mislovsky family built this palace in the early 19th century. It was so attractive that Stanisław Bademi decided to buy it from Alfred Mislovsky’s son. The deal was concluded in 1893.

Stanisław Badeni, a Polish public figure and politician, almost immediately began renovating the palace in the Viennese Neo-Renaissance style. At that time, he owned the entire village of Koropets, which gave him broad powers. The construction work was completed in 1906.

A photograph I found in the archives, dated no later than 1905, shows the palace as it looked at that time.

During World War I, the building was severely damaged, but it was soon restored by the Badeni family. At the same time, the park near the palace was expanded. After reconstruction by the famous gardener Arnold Röhring, its area was 200 hectares.

After the arrival of Soviet government, from 1940 to 1941 and from 1945 to 1959, the district center administration was located here. In 1959, it was converted into a children’s home and school for orphans.^[1].

Koropets Palace today

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Today, the palace is owned by the Koropets Regional Boarding School with Enhanced Military and Physical Training and is in a state of disrepair.

There are bas-relief compositions on the walls, with heraldic patterns looking down at us. One of them seems to be hunting-themed. The horn looks more like a post horn, but together with a pair of rifles… I am inclined to believe that the theme of hunting was raised here. If there are any heraldry experts out there, please clarify, I would be grateful.

The second is more intricate. It features crossed fasces (a symbol of power, state and national unity) and a bow (an emblem of war and defense) resting on a shield. Decorations made of ribbons and laurel branches symbolize triumph, victory, and honors.

The exterior condition of the palace leaves much to be desired. Broken windows and boarded-up doors are visible. This is despite the fact that money has been allocated for its repair more than once in recent years. For example, contracts worth a considerable amount of money were signed for the same service (restoration of the roof and decorative elements of the central dome) with a difference of six months. In December 2017 — 702 thousand UAH. ^[2], and in May 2018, another contract was signed with the same contractor for UAH 841,000 ^[3].

I came across a wonderful video of the palace taken from a drone in the fall of 2021. You can draw your own conclusions about the condition of the building and its roof.

In general, this palace has suffered the same fate as many others in Ukraine: they are gradually falling into ruin and becoming unusable, even though they are historical and architectural monuments that are also protected by law.

Only a modest 6 hectares remain of the park. It is equally neglected, but this adds a certain charm. You can arrange a photo shoot, look at the remains of the palace, and imagine what it once looked like.

We arrived here on a weekday when the children from the boarding school were in class. They looked at us from the classroom window and waved happily. For some reason, I remember that moment. Perhaps because our children would have made rude gestures 🫣.

Tourist information

How to get there

By car

The Badeni Palace is located in the village of Koropets in the Ternopil region. The nearest large settlement is Ivano-Frankivsk.

The easiest way to get there is via the H18 road, driving in the direction of Tismenytsia – Monastyryska – Buchach. After crossing the Dniester River, immediately after the Nezhnyvsky Bridge, turn onto the road towards Koropets. The palace’s coordinates are: 48.93049461529986, 25.180387127585796.

As of 2024, the road through the village of Zubretska from Buchach was impassable for cars with low ground clearance. I do not recommend using it. If you are going to see Buchach Castle, it is better to return to the H18.

You can combine the trip with visits to other interesting places nearby. I recommend Buchach Castle and the Town Hall in the town of the same name, as well as Pidzamochok Castle.

By bus

If you don’t have your own car, don’t worry. You can get to the palace by public transport. Buses run here and back every day:

Ternopil – Koropets – Ternopil (from the central bus station) No. 449B and No. 444B

Ivano-Frankivsk – Koropets – Ivano-Frankivsk and Ivano-Frankivsk – Horyhlyady – Ivano-Frankivsk (from bus station No. 4).

The bus stop is located near the palace. Landmark: Koropets Technical School No. 34. Bus stop coordinates: 48.93272430027937, 25.180752089032094.

1. HAWRYŁYSZYN, Petro. Zapomniany Koropiec nad Dniestrem.  Kurier Galicyjski [онлайн]. 25 июля 2020,  13(353), 16–30 [дата обращения 14 октября 2024]. Режим доступа: https://kuriergalicyjski.com/zapomniany-koropiec-nad-dniestrem/[↩]
2. Tender ID UA-2017-12-13-000675-a[↩]
3. Tender ID UA-2018-05-04-000076-b[↩]