Mansion of the Tearful Widow

House of "crying Widow" (1907, architect E.Bradt­man) has an interesting riddle – here is a portrait of a sad woman's face, with a wreath of maple leaves on her head, from which, in rainy weather, beautiful tears roam down the cheeks.

Kyivans love to give nicknames to houses, and they called it "The Crying Widow’s House". Why "crying"? Why the” widow” ? For a century, nobody can answer this question.

There are many legends of why it was named so. One of them says that on the roof of the house there is a reservoir, which during the rain is filled with water and when it rains, it flows into the cheeks, so it gives the impression that the woman cries. Another version that the lovers hid in a house, the captain and the duchess, but there was a tragedy, she lost her sweetheart with her children in the sea. And her disappointing face, filled with tears, will always stay on this house. There is also a story that, after the death of Mr. Apstein, the last owner of this estate, his wife remained in the house for the next 5 years, she was very sad and mourned for her husband a lot.