There is a beautiful landscape park in the Buky village of the Kyiv Region (there's another Buky in the Cherkasy Region). It was founded in 1996 by a businessman Ivan Suslov, owner of the agro-industrial corporation "Skvyra". For the park, he bought a plot of land near the Rostavytsya river. The land area of 2.7 hectares was the local dump and cost only $20,000.
Church complex in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
Suslov's handprint ©Yuriy Buriak
View of the park complex from the frog sculptures ©Yuriy Buriak
Now this place has become one of the most beautiful parks in Ukraine. At the same time it's also the residence of the Suslov family: the estate is located right in the park. Previously, access was open to visitors throughout the entire territory, you could even approach Suslov's house. But soon access to the house was closed due to a large number of visitors.
Bridge with Ivan Suslov's house in the background ©Yuriy Buriak
The park consists of two parts: the church complex with fountain and landscape park. Access is free. However, some parts of the park can be accessed only with a guide ($1.2). You can join the group at the entrance to the fairy tale area (see image below).
Entrance to the fairy tale area ©Yuriy Buriak
During the tour you can learn a lot of interesting information (but I'm not sure if the guides speak English well...), see the fairy tale area with beautiful fairy-tale figures and a mini zoo with lion, bears, deer, wolves, ostriches and other animals.
Fairy tale area in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
Fairy tale area in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
"Educated cat" from the Slavic fairy tale ©Yuriy Buriak
Cthulhu ©Yuriy Buriak
Fairy tale area in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
Wizard oaks ©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
The church complex and park were designed by an architect Yuri Babych. Despite the fact that the architect was already quite famous, this complex is probably the most significant work for which he was awarded by the state. Individual elements were changed by Ivan Suslov, such as roofs on each side of the church in the form of huge doves.
Church complex in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
Church of St. Eugene in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
Church complex in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
The complex includes the tower of St. Daniel, named in honor of Daniel Kuchma, the father of the former president of Ukraine. Long time ago Ivan Suslov's son got cancer. There was no essential medicine in Ukraine at that time. Ivan didn't know what to do and tried to ask the president Leonid Kuchma for help, but the guards didn't accept his visit and reported the incident. The next day a special flight was arranged to bring the needed medicine from Germany, and the son was saved. The bell tower was named in honor of the father who gave life to Leonid Kuchma. After the Orange Revolution the businessman was offered to remove the plaque with the name from the bell tower, but he refused.
Bell tower of St. Daniel ©Yuriy Buriak
There's is a huge fontain near the entrance to the park. It used to stand on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv before the central part of the city was reconstructed. After the reconstruction the fountain layed for many years in one of the warehouses. Ivan Suslov had organized its transportation to Buky where it was repaired.
Fountain from the Independence Square in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
Fountain from the Independence Square in the Buky village ©Yuriy Buriak
The park has a mini hydroelectric power station that provides electricity to the entire territory. The HPS is organically built in the landscape and is a part of the park. There's a plan to build a cascade of small HPSs to provide electricity to the entire Skvyra area.
On the hill you can find three frogs that symbolize prosperity. Just married couples take photos here. Nearby is a sculpture of Maxim Gorky, Ivan Suslov's favorite writer.
The frog doesn't let go. ©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
Throughout the park you can see the number 7. In Ukrainian, the name "Suslov Іvan Mykolaiovych" is abbreviated as SІM (seven). He is also the seventh child in the family.
©Yuriy Buriak
In addition to the church complex and the park there's an orphanage in Buky. The businessman has several schools for children in the Skvyra region. Initially, he wanted to help only the disabled children, but later all children could study in the schools. Each child receives $100 per month on the account. The children rest in Crimea, and the best students go abroad. Each of them will receive a higher education and all possible assistance after graduation: a house, a car, a job and own business. Upon reaching 16 the children are offered to take Suslov's surname; three of them already did it.
Suslov also built a modern football stadium with artificial surface and a sandy beach within the park for the orphans. Besides, the businessman renovated a recreation center, a cemetery, a paramedic station and other facilities in the village.
Elephant near the beach ©Yuriy Buriak
Unfortunately, there's no place where you can eat. A restaurant and a hotel are being built now, so don't forget to bring some sandwiches with you.
In contrast to many rich people in Ukraine, Ivan Suslov doesn't avoid visitors of his estate. During our visit he came to the park on a black Hummer with the number 7777, parked the car near the entrance and went to his house by the path that is used by the visitors.
In 2008, the National Bank of Ukraine issued a commemorative coin dedicated to the church complex in the Buky village.
Church complex gate ©Yuriy Buriak
Jump Jump ©Yuriy Buriak
Statue of an angel with stone was imported from Israel, from the place where Jesus turned water into wine. ©Yuriy Buriak
Non-poisonous adder in the pond ©Yuriy Buriak
Ivan Suslov's house ©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
River banks ©Yuriy Buriak
Water tower at the top ©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: The best option is to go by car; it's quite problematic to use minibuses. First, you should get to Skvyra. From Kyiv, there are direct buses from the Lybidska metro station (8 and 10:20 am), leave the bus on the Skvyra bus station (it's not final stop). There are minibuses from Skvyra to Buky that leave at 10:20 am and 12:20 pm. You can also take a taxi ($6-10). Don't forget to take the phone number of the taxi driver to return to Skvyra. At 5:30 pm there is a bus to Bila Tserkva from Skvyra, from where you can get to Kyiv by minibus. There is also a bus from Skvyra to Kyiv that leaves at 5:30 pm. So you need to come to Skvyra by taxi.
Many travel companies offer trips to Buky. The park is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 5 am, the entrance is free. The church complex is open every day. The fountain works periodically during the day.
