The palace and park ensemble in the style of classicism (late 18th - early 19th centuries) is located in the village. Verkhovnya, Ruzhinsky district, Zhytomyr region, which in 1972 was given the status of a protected area - a monument of landscape art of national importance. This palace and park ensemble, the family estate of the Gansky family, is inextricably linked with the name of the brilliant French writer Honore de Balzac. From 1847 to 1850 he lived in this luxurious estate, which he called "the little Louvre". Here he came to his beloved - the Polish Countess Evelina Hanska. In March 1850, in the church of St. Barbarians of the city of Berdichev, they got married and Eva (Evelina) Ganskaya became Madame de Balzac.
A vast landscape park, about 60 hectares, a two-story palace, two outbuildings, a park bridge (buildings of the 80s of the 18th century.), a tomb (1810), a wine cellar, a stable have been preserved to this day. There are quite a few trees left in the park from "that time". According to legend, it was under the canopy of the preserved chestnut tree that Balzac and Hanska kissed for the first time. 200-year-old ash, maple, spruce, linden trees are admirable. At present, self-sowing of 40-60-year-old ash, hornbeam, maple, linden, elm trees - native species of flora of the Zhytomyr region - dominates in the vast park, which makes the park more reminiscent of forest plantations and, of course, requires careful, and most importantly, skillful intervention of specialists in its clearing and care. Surprisingly picturesque views opening from the territory of the park to a beautiful lake, the surrounding landscapes emphasize the grandeur and beauty of Ukrainian nature.
The park is located about 160 km from Kyiv and it is better to get there by private transport. You should drive from Kyiv along the Zhytomyr highway until the turn to Brusilov, and then Brusilov - Kornin - Popelnya - Verkhovnya, while taking into account that there is a piece of road directly in front of the village of Verkhovnya, about 4 km, where there is no asphalt road - only backfilling with granite screenings.