The estate was built around 1870 for military officer Vasyl Vinberg and his wife, Yelysaveta Annenkova, who inherited the property.
Once, it was a two-story palace with sixteen rooms, a tower, bathing rooms, stables, and a passage to the river. According to legend, Vasyl built it as a gift for his beloved wife, who missed the warmth of Ukraine after living in cold St. Petersburg.
During the Soviet era, the building served as a school and children’s home, and in 1997 it was transferred to a women’s monastery. That was when the metal elements — balconies, gates, and beams — disappeared. In 2004, a fire destroyed the dome and floors, leaving only the stone walls.
Today, the manor is under the care of the Pantaivka community. Although there are no funds for restoration, locals keep the area tidy and occasionally organize community cleanups. Near the ruins grows a magnificent two-hundred-year-old oak, and in summer, cyclists often visit this spot.
Legend has it that Vasyl Vinberg built the palace as a replica of their St. Petersburg home so that Yelysaveta would not feel homesick. Even now, with its roof gone, the locals fondly call the ruins “the castle of love”.
