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UKRDOUG Castle Tours - Konopko Palace Traditional Cache

Hidden : 6/18/2014
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

The palace in Mikulyntsi was built in the second half of the 18th century by Ludwika Potocki (1712-1785), the widow of the Grand Crown Hetman Jozef Potocki. 


A metal fence has been erected to enclose the palace complex. A piece of the original stone fence from the 19th century can still be seen on the eastern side. A landscaped park surrounds the palace of the western, eastern and southern sides. On the south side the park is terraced down the hill with stairs leading to the old main road below. The north side, the front side of the palace, is a large yard with lawns, flowerbeds, ornamental trees and a walkway. According to the literature of the time, the entrance to the palace was decorated with a large statue of the Archangel Michael (now lost) supported by two cartouches.

The internal layout of the palace has been changed to fit its current use as a hospital. The first floor hall is all that has been preserved. The front façade of the palace is decorated by the figures of four Atlanteans, standing on high pedestals decorated with lion masks that were part of the reconstruction of 1820-1830.


Across the road is Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Ludwika’s heirs sold the town and palace to Peter Konopko whose son, Jan Konopko, would rebuild the palace from 1820-1830. The major changes were made to the main building of the palace that contained the living quarters and reception areas. Jan bequeathed the town and palace to his nephew Casimir Konopko (1825-1884) who then passed it on to his daughter Josephine (1856-1938). Josephine, who would marry Earl Ray Mieczyslaw, was the last owner of the palace until her death in 1938.
Across the road is Holy Trinity Catholic Church The first stone of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mikulyntsi was placed in 1761 at the expense of the widow Countess Ludwiga Pototska. The Pototski family had ruled over hundreds of villages and dozens of towns from their base in nearby Terebovlya in the 17th -18th centuries. During this time the countess also built the palace across the road from the church. The church was completed in 1779 and consecrated under the Lviv eparchy.

The Polish architect Augustus Moschynskyy, the director of the royal house in Poland, built holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mikulyntsi. It was built in the Baroque style and modeled after the royal church of Dresden, Germany. Moschynskyy also built (1749-1779) the Dominican Basilica in Lviv in the Baroque style.

The stone wall built around the church at that time still exists today. In the courtyard of the church was the tomb of Count Konopko who purchased the town and palace from the Pototski family in the late 18th century. Unfortunately it has not survived. The building to the west of the church is where the monks lived.

Inside the middle of the church are four side altars and a main altar made of wood. In the main altar is the image of the Holy Trinity. Above is the Latin inscription ET NI UNUM SUNT.

During the early Bolshevik era the church was completely abandoned and closed. In 1939 the church was restored with funds provided by the European Roman-Catholic community.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

zvpeb zntarg - frr fcbvyre cvpgher

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)