Attractions of Opishnia

The house of Krychevsky-Lebishchak in Opishnia is the premises of the former Opishnia Pottery Demonstration Point of the Poltava Provincial Zemstvo (Zemsky Pottery School).

It was built in 1916 in the style of Ukrainian Art Nouveau according to the project of the outstanding architect and painter Vasyl Krychevskyi, the author of the Ukrainian Trident, with the participation of Yuriy Lebishchak, an instructor of pottery production, technologist-ceramist from Galicia.

For many years, the Krychevsky-Lebischak House was the center of pottery life in Opishnia. In 1925, the Opishnia Ceramics Industrial School was opened here, in 1929, the "Art Ceramics" potter's workshop was formed, then the Opishnia School of Art Ceramics Masters, then shop No. 1 of the Opishnia Factory "Art Ceramics" operated.

Since 1986, the building has been owned by the National Museum-Reserve of Ukrainian Pottery in Opishnia. The Wall of Pottery Glory of Ukraine and the Krychevsky Art Family Museum are open. There are exhibitions: "Pottery Visions of the Country", "Modern Ceramics of Ukraine, "Ceramics of the Opishnia Art Nouveau", etc. An exhibition of the works of the Krychevsky family has been opened.

The Museum of Boiled Borscht and the Museum of Living Bread were opened in Opishnia on the basis of the green tourism estate "Lyalyna svitlytsya" during the ethno-festival "Living Bread" in 2020.

The owner of the estate, Olena Shcherban, prepares daily borscht for guests according to a new recipe, of which she knows at least 365. Among them are wedding, funeral, winter, summer, white, brown and many others.

In one of the houses of the ethnic estate there is a collection of pots from different regions, stags, as well as a traditional oven in which dishes are prepared. Ingredients added to borscht in different regions of Ukraine are also presented.

The National Museum-Reserve of Ukrainian Pottery was founded in Opishnia in 1986.

This ancient village has long been famous as the largest center of pottery, the pottery capital of Ukraine. The open-air exhibition presents exclusive works by Opishnian potters, including Taras Shevchenko Prize winners, as well as masters from other regions who take part in the annual festivals of monumental ceramic sculpture.

The exhibition hall presents especially valuable exhibits, a large collection of books on pottery.

All visitors receive a fistula as a gift. By prior arrangement, it is possible to meet with a master who will demonstrate the art of working on a potter's wheel. There is a souvenir shop on site.

The memorial museum-house of the world-famous potter Oleksandra Selyuchenko in Opishnia tells about the life and creative path of the honored master of folk art of Ukraine, one of the most outstanding masters of traditional clay zoo- and anthropomorphic sculpture of small forms.

She was born in 1921 in a family of simple potters and lived all her life in Opishnia, only once leaving her native village for a while. Oleksandra Selyuchenko is considered an unsurpassed master of traditional Ukrainian clay toys.

In the museum, you can familiarize yourself with her works and the technology of making clay products at home.

An old potter's kiln used by a ceramist has been preserved in the courtyard of the manor.

Memorial Manor Museum of potter's family Poshyvaylo is dedicated to representatives of one of the oldest pottery dynasties of Opishnia.

A collection of pottery by masters of the Poshyvaylo dynasty and works of other types of folk art are presented.

During the tour, guests are introduced to the history of the creation of the manor museum, the interiors of the house, and family photos.