Bilcze

Bilcze, or Bilcza – as Kolberg spelled sometimes, is located 30 kilometres to the south from Łuck.

Kolberg came here at the end of the summer 1862; he took advantage of the hospitality of Michał and Cecylia Sołtan. The family of Michał Sołtan was very patriotic; his father took part in the November Upraising, and Michał himself participated in the January Upraising less than a year after the Kolberg’s visit. Bilcze was a family estate of Cecylia.

Most of the songs collected in Volhynia belong to Ukrainian folklore; Bilcze is not an exception. However, Kolberg documented here also the song by J. Jasiński, which was very popular in Polish manors.