Mikhail Bulgakov Museum

The world-famous writer Mikhail Bulgakov is one of those prominent personalities with whom Kyiv is associated in the first place. It is particularly true for the legendary Andriyivsky Descent - the street where the great writer lived with his family and where he ’lodged’ the heroes of his immortal novel "The White Guard." Now the House №13, the true legend of the Andriyivsky Descent, hosts the unique exposition of the Literary and Memorial Bulgakov Museum. Thanks to this exposition, it remains the most impressive and frequently visited museum in the Ukraine's capital for more than two decades.

Today, the museum's collection has about three thousand exhibits, 500 out of them are original Bulgakov's relicts: personal belongings, books, autographs, original photos. But, the central exhibit is the house itself. From 1906 to 1919, the large Bulgakov family lived here, occupying seven rooms on the second floor. By the end of the 20th century, the house fell into decay, and therefore, the museum creators had to carry out large-scale restorations. They managed not only to resurrect the legendary house, but also to save some scripts of that time: stove tiles, antique flooring in some rooms, part of the front door, window and door handles.

In the first place, the Literary and Memorial Mikhail Bulgakov Museum attracts with its original exposition. It's not a cold exhibition area with frozen in time items, but warm a cozy house, in every corner of which the atmosphere of love and hospitality reigns, the same as a hundred years ago. Museum's concept is based on the interweaving of two worlds: real one, presented by Bulgakov family's original belongings, and fictional - connected with Turbin family, the heroes of the novel "The White Guard" whose world is presented by objects painted in white. Thus, the museum's creators managed to combine reality and fiction.

The Literary and Memorial Museum's exposition occupies seven rooms. The first one is a cozy living room in whose center white piano with ’forgotten’ score "Faust" stands. This room introduces the history of the large Bulgakov family. Right next to the living room, the medical chamber is located. Both, the writer and his fictional character, doctor Turbin, conducted medical practice here. The life of the Kyiv University in the early 20th century is showed here: pictures of Bulgakov's professors and classmates.

Then, it goes to the room, where writer's sister Barbara lived with her husband; and where Bulgakov ’lodged’ the heroine of "The White Guard" Helen. The entrance to the room, occupied by the great master before his marriage, is the wardrobe with a plate Apartment №50 from the famous novel "The Master and Margarita". A memorial lamp under green shade always burns here. Then, the so called Book Room is located. Its interior embodied the dream of young Bulgakov about a library and his own writer's study. Currently, the lifetime editions of writer's books, magazines, newspapers, and his autographs are stored here.

However, the most interesting and mysterious room, pushing the limits of space, is the 'fifth dimension' that can be seen through the mirror from the dining room. In reality, in this room Bulgakov's father died, and in the novel - Alexei Turbin. The created illusion is impressive: bright stars, which appeared to the hero of "The White Guard" before death, shine here, and restless flames try to burn up the manuscript lying on the table. And above all these, fluffy snowflakes circle in bizarre dance.

In 2007, a bronze monument to Mikhail Bulgakov, depicting him sitting on a bench, was erected near the museum house.

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