Podhorskyi House, better known as the Baron’s Castle, is one of the most enigmatic buildings on Yaroslaviv Val. In fact, no baron ever lived here. The house was built for a Polish landowner Mykhailo Podhorskyi, while its popular nickname comes from a mix-up with the neighbouring estate of Baron von Steingel. This historical inaccuracy has only added to the building’s mythical charm.
Neo-Gothic details, a tall spire, decorative arches and winged demons on the facade give the house its distinctive, slightly mysterious look. Inside, visitors step onto a mosaic floor with the word Salve — “Welcome” in Latin — while tiled stoves and ornate plasterwork make the interiors feel like a film set inspired by Kyiv’s urban legends.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the building housed cafés, a cinema and a newspaper office, and also included rental apartments. What truly made it famous, however, was its mystical atmosphere — strong enough for the house to become a character in Lada Luzina’s book series “Kyiv Witches.”
Today, the Baron’s Castle hosts guided tours and tea gatherings, offering a rare chance to experience Kyiv’s Gothic architecture up close.
