Bishop`s House (History Museum), Zhitomir

Local History Museum Building

The Local History Museum in Zhytomyr is housed in an ancient historical building that served as a bishop’s residence over 150 years ago. Time has left almost no traces on the building: its façade still boasts a fresh, vibrant blue color, with only the cannons at the entrance having been removed. The museum holds an impressive collection of paintings by renowned world artists, as well as valuable stones and minerals.

This two-story brick building was once used as the consistory of St. Sophia Cathedral in Zhytomyr and represents a remarkable example of the city's Renaissance architecture.

The museum’s façade is adorned with a central portal and corner projections, giving it a distinctive charm. The floral ornamentation and small angel busts make the bishop’s residence exceptionally elegant, while the blue walls create a light and harmonious appearance.

History of the Museum

The Local History Museum dates back to 1865, when its first exhibit—a collection of 48 minerals donated by Volyn Governor M. Chertakov—became the foundation of the collection. Over time, the museum’s holdings expanded with paintings by Italian, Dutch, Hungarian, German, Polish, and Russian artists, as well as canvases depicting the city’s history.

Museum Exhibitions

One of the museum’s main exhibitions features a collection of over 12,000 taxidermy animals. Visitors can also explore a diverse array of precious stones and even models of space technology.

How to Get to the Museum

To reach the museum, you can take minibuses No. 11 and 58 from the railway station or trolleybuses No. 1 and 3. Get off at Teatralna Street or Peremohy Square and head toward Zamkova Street.