In the center of Odessa on Langeronovskaya Street, house 2, in an old mansion that once belonged to the representative of the highest aristocracy D.I. Gagarin, one of the best museums of Ukraine, which has no analogues in the whole world — Odessa Literary Museum
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D.I. Gagarin’s Palace was built in the middle of the XIX century, its project belongs to the architect L. Otton, whose name is forever imprinted in the architectural image of the city. The interior of this two-story mansion is a mixture of Empire, Baroque and Classicism, called «free southern eclecticism» and characteristic of many buildings of the mid-19th century.
The museum was given to the city by the Gagarins in 1898, and since then it has been the venue for meetings of the Odessa intelligentsia, evenings and meetings of the Literary and Artistic Society, which united writers, actors, artists and musicians. According to historians, the great Hungarian composer and pianist Ferenc Liszt even gave a concert in the memorial Golden Hall.
And today in this most interesting place is presented not only literary exposition, but also regularly held art exhibitions, book presentations and conferences, concerts of classical music. And the Golden Hall is still considered to be the best chamber concert hall in the city.
The exposition of the museum is located in 20 halls, each of which surprises with the most beautiful interior. In chronological sequence the history of literary Odessa is presented here. Each hall recreates the atmosphere of city life in a certain period of time, tells about real facts, legends and secrets of South Palmyra.
It is interesting that the museum presents not only the history of books, but also memorial exhibits — personal belongings of many writers. In addition, the museum also reflects the history of cultural development of the city.
The museum is among the largest literary museums in the world, it was founded in 1977 and opened to the public in 1984. It tells about more than three hundred writers whose works and destinies are connected with the city. Among them are Leo Tolstoy, A. S. Pushkin, J. Simenon, A. Akhmatova, B. L. Pasternak, N. V. Gogol, A. P. Chekhov, I. A. Bunin, A. Mickiewicz, Lesya Ukrainka, I. A. Ilf, E. P. Petrov and many others.
The structure of the museum also includes the literary and memorial museum of A. S. Pushkin, memorial museums of S. I. Oleinik, K. G. Paustovsky and Hristo Botev.
Another outstanding cultural object of the museum is the Sculpture Garden located in the Italian-style courtyard adjacent to the building, an exhibition of contemporary sculpture that makes the museum the only one of its kind in the world. Now in the Sculpture Garden you can see 13 humorous compositions, including Antelope Gnu, Denim Duke, Sashka the musician, Shalandy full of mullet, Odessa-mama and the Hero of Odessa jokes Rabinovich. In addition, there are also ancient sculptures — Scythian and Cumans women.
Coming to the city, tourists from all over the world do not miss the unique opportunity to see three most interesting sights of Odessa — the unique sculpture garden, one of the most beautiful old mansions and the largest literary museum in the country, where you can see even things that belonged to the great creators of literature.
The Odessa Literary Museum has forever captured the real and literary history of the city, the image of which has enriched world culture.
Contacts:
Odessa, ul, Lanzheronovskaya 2
Phone: (048) 722-33-70
Tel/fax: (048) 731-46-85
E-mail: litmuseum@yandex.ru
www.museum-literature.odessa.ua