Ukraine: Palace Estates in Kachanivka and Sokyrnitsa

n the heart of Chernihiv Oblst of Ukraine, there are a couple of sprawling 18-19th century estates of nobility with large palaces and extensive parks around them. In the village of Kachanivka, there is a snow-white palace of Piotr Rumyantsev, who was the viceroy of Catherine II in what was Malorossia (Little Russia) back then – a beautiful park with multiple buildings and a small church and lion statutes and fantastic views of the river. Just about 20km south lies the village of Sokyrnitsa with another estate – Halahanov Palace – also white, statue-adorned, and surrounded by beautiful park. Both estates are now national historic sites.