Ukraine is the largest country in Europe with the richest historical past. This territory was densely populated even in the Stone Age, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. Starting from the 9th century in Ukraine, the process of formation of a powerful medieval state – Kievan Rus, which later became the historical progenitor of modern Russia – takes place. The following years of Ukrainian history were no less stormy, in which there were both tragic and truly heroic episodes.
Many architectural and historical monuments remain here from past eras: wonderful cathedrals, ancient fortresses and castles. There is much to see in Ukraine and for lovers of natural beauty – these are the endless Black Sea steppes, picturesque forest tracts, the beautiful Carpathian Mountains and the warm coast of the Black and Azov Seas. In ancient Ukrainian cities, there are many diverse museum expositions dedicated to the culture, art and history of this wonderful region with a rich past. Below we will consider the most interesting historical sights, beautiful places and other tourist attractions of Ukraine.
Independence Square (Kyiv)
Maidan Nezalezhnosti is the central square of Kyiv, located in the historical part of the city next to Khreshchatyk. The first mentions of this area date back to the 10th century, and this lowland wasteland was then called Goat Swamp. During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, a significant expansion of Kyiv took place, and defensive ramparts, ditches and walls of the new fortress were laid here.
The Lyad Gate was located directly on the territory of the modern Maidan. They are known for the fact that it was through them that in 1240 the Mongols of Khan Batiya managed to break into Kyiv and ravage the city. When the city walls were demolished in the 18th century, a wasteland was formed on Kozyachy Bolot, which was used as a market square, which was named Khreshchatytska. Active development of the Maidan began in the 1870s, when the building of the City Duma and other social and administrative buildings appeared here.
The Maidan acquired its modern appearance after the Great Patriotic War, when the square destroyed by hostilities was rebuilt. During the USSR, it changed several names, having visited the Soviet, named after Kalinin, Zhovtneva, and received the most modern name in 1991 after the declaration of Ukraine’s independence.
Independence Square gained wide popularity as a result of violent political events that took place here. In 1990, the so-called “Revolution on Granite” took place here, in 2000-2001, “Ukraine without Kuchma” protest actions took place here. In 2004, the main events of the Orange Revolution, which overthrew President Kuchma, unfolded on the Maidan. In 2013-2014. this square became the center of events that entered Ukrainian historiography under the name “Revolution of Dignity”, and in Ukrainian as Euromaidan.
Among the sights that tourists can see on the Independence Square, the central place is occupied by a sculptural composition in the form of a column, with a statue of a girl-berezhina holding a viburnum branch in her hand. A monument in the form of a stone gate with the figure of the archangel Michael was erected at the place where the foundation of the Lyad gate of the time of Yaroslav the Wise is located. Today, a large underground shopping complex operates under the Maidan.
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Kyiv)
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is the center of Orthodoxy in ancient Russia. This monastery was founded in 1051 by prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavych, son of Yaroslav the Wise. A monastery was built on a raised plateau near Kyiv, on former princely lands that were handed over to the Orthodox Church. The name “Cave” Lavra was given due to the numerous karst caves and grottoes in this area. Over the centuries, the monastery complex grew and expanded, new and new buildings appeared here: temples, cells for the growing monastic brotherhood, farm buildings. By the XV-XVI centuries, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra acquired a high status as one of the main religious centers in the Orthodox world.
Over the centuries since its founding, the Lavra has experienced many stormy events: the invasion of Mongols and Poles, the fire of 1718, when many ancient icons and a wonderful monastery library perished in the fire. The monastery suffered persecution under the Soviet authorities and complete destruction during the years of German-fascist occupation. But every time this oldest Christian monastery of Ukraine was reborn from the ashes. The last time this happened was in 1988, when the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and reopened its doors to Orthodox pilgrims from all over the world. Tourists, after visiting this ancient monastery, will be able to literally touch the times of Kyivan Rus, see unique ancient Russian temples and cells with a thousand-year history.
Khotyn Fortress (Khotyn)
Khotyn is a small but very ancient city in the west of Ukraine. It is famous among tourists for its medieval citadel. The first fortress on this site was built by the ancient Slavic tribe of Tiberians back in the 5th century. It had walls made of logs and an earthen moat around them. The first stone fortifications around Khotyn appeared in the 13th century. during the time of Prince Danylo Halytskyi, who simultaneously held the throne of Kyiv. The Khotyn fortress had an important strategic position, blocking the way through the Carpathians deep into Ukraine. Because of this, during its history, this fortification survived dozens of sieges and assaults: Poles and Turks, Crimean Tatars and Moldovans tried to take it. The Khotyn fortress survived the last siege during the Napoleonic invasion in 1812.
There is one beautiful local legend associated with this citadel: during one of the sieges, the enemy blocked access to the river, and the defenders of the citadel suffered cruelly from thirst. One local girl, to help them, collected a large jug of water and headed for the fortress, but on the way she was mortally wounded by an enemy arrow. Despite this, she was able to carry the precious moisture to the gate and deliver the pitcher to the citadel’s defenders. The Khotyn Fortress is also known for having been used as historical scenery for the filming of many films, including “The Three Musketeers” and “Taras Bulba”.
Saint Sophia Cathedral (Kyiv)
The Kyiv Cathedral of St. Sophia was built in the 11th century as a Russian analogue of the Constantinople Cathedral of the same name. According to historical sources, the temple was founded by Yaroslav the Wise on the same place where he and his wife completely defeated the Pecheneg army besieging Kyiv in 1036. Until the end of the 17th century. a significant part of the buildings on the territory of the temple was made of wood, and was destroyed by a great fire that broke out in Kyiv in 1697. By order of Peter I, the restoration of the Cathedral of St. Sophia began in the same year, as a result of which it acquired a modern white stone appearance.
A great role in the restoration of the Orthodox shrine was played by the rich Ukrainian nobleman Hetman Mazepa, who during the Northern War sided with the Swedes. The large bell located on the second tier of the belfry is named after him. In some parts of the temple, ancient stonework from the time of Kyivan Rus, which is interspersed with architectural elements of the Petrine era, has been preserved. Today, this ancient cathedral can be seen on the Ukrainian two-hryvnia banknote together with its founder, Yaroslav the Wise.
Deribasivska street (Odesa)
There are many colorful attractions in modern Odessa, but probably the most famous of them is Deribasivska Street. She is widely glorified in literary works, films and folk folklore. It appeared in the 18th century. and was named after the founder of Odessa, a Spaniard in the Russian service, Jose de Ribas. A monument to this military leader was erected at the beginning of the street, where he is depicted with a blueprint of the future city and a shovel in his hands.
Today, this historic street along its entire length is a pedestrian zone and is the most important tourist attraction of Odessa. There are many fashionable restaurants and cozy snack bars, shopping centers, fashionable boutiques, small souvenir and antique shops. Among the important attractions of Deribasivska Street is the Odesa Botanical Garden, which is the oldest park in the city. It was founded in 1803 and since then has become a favorite place of recreation for Odessa residents and guests of the city. Nearby are other wonderful quarters of this colorful and original city – Greek Square and Longeron.
Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra (Sviatohirsk)
Sviatohirska Lavra is considered one of the most beautiful monasteries in Ukraine. It was built in the 14th century on the high bank of the Siversky Dinets by monks-skhemniks, who were looking for solitude from the hustle and bustle of the world. The choice of this place was influenced by its sparse population and the presence of caves here, which were used by hermits to communicate with God “tete-a-tete”. A century after the appearance of the underground cells of hermits, the construction of the first Orthodox churches began in Uspenskaya Lavra.
In the 17th century, these lands were officially transferred by royal decree to the use of the Orthodox Church. The monastery existed until the beginning of the reign of Empress Catherine the Great, who began a struggle with the Old Believers. As a result, the Dormition Lavra was closed for half a century, and returned to the Russian Orthodox Church only under Nicholas I. In the 19th century the monastery was not only a large religious center, but also an economic center: mills, craft workshops, trade shops and small shops operated under it.
After the revolution, a cultural and educational complex with a cinema was organized within the monastery walls, and a sculpture of the revolutionary Artyom was installed nearby. Only at the end of the 20th century. the monastery was once again handed over to the Orthodox Church, and after restoration work, it opened its doors to believers.
Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle (Kamenets-Podilskyi)
After the defeat of Kievan Rus by the Mongols, part of the destroyed state was captured by the Lithuanian princes. On the captured territories of the former Russia, they launched a rapid construction of defensive fortifications. Among them was a stone castle in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi, built in the 14th century. on a high rock and served as the residence of the Lithuanian governor Koriatovych. At the same time, the castle had an important defensive value, in 1434 these lands came under the control of the Kingdom of Poland and remained in their possession until 1672, when they were captured by the Ottoman Turks.
During the time of Catherine the Great, Kamianets-Podilskyi became a part of Russia together with its ancient citadel. After the revolution, in the 1920s, the fortress was declared a historical monument, and after reconstruction works, a museum-reserve was opened on its territory. It is still active today: visitors will be able to see majestic medieval fortifications, interesting artifacts of past eras found here by archaeologists.
Tunnel of Love (Klevan)
Near the Klevan settlement there is an interesting natural monument – the so-called Tunnel of Love. In this place, the bushes and trees intertwined in such a wonderful way that the result was a non-man-made tunnel 4 km long. In its center, a railway line is laid, through which a train of the local line runs three times a day.
A beautiful legend is associated with this amazing place: if a beloved couple passes through it from beginning to end, holding hands, they will remain inseparable forever. Therefore, the Tunnel of Love is an indispensable attribute during wedding ceremonies – it is necessarily visited by brides and grooms from the entire district and even remote settlements. It is also customary here to plant new trees for newlyweds as a guarantee of a happy marriage, thanks to which the tunnel is constantly lengthened.
Khortytsia Island
Khortytsia is an island in the middle of the Dnieper, within the city of Zaporizhzhia. It became famous as the birthplace of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks, since it was here that the military chieftain’s residence was located, the treasury was kept, and the gathering of troops took place before going on a campaign against the enemy.
The island has been inhabited by people since the Stone Age, as evidenced by archaeological excavations. The first permanent settlements appeared in Khortytsia in the era of Kyivan Rus – a patrol and defense line was located here, protecting Rus from raids by nomads from the Black Sea steppes. The real heyday of Khortytsia came in the 15th-18th centuries, when the island became the capital of Zaporizhzhya Sich, an independent Cossack state.
Today, the island has been declared a museum-reserve, where visitors can learn about the history, military and economic life of the Cossacks of Zaporizhzhya Sich. In addition to its glorious past, this largest island of the Dnipro is distinguished by its picturesque nature. Here, tourists will be able to combine a visit to historical sites with relaxation in the bosom of wild nature, walks among shady oaks and maple groves.
Bernardine Church and Monastery (Lviv)
In the historical center of Western Ukraine, the city of Lviv, there is an interesting cultural and historical object. This is a monastery of Catholic Bernardine monks with the church of St. Andrew. The Bernardine monastery was built near the fortress rampart itself, between the Royal Bastion and the Galician Gate. Occupying a triangular plot of land, the monastery itself was a powerful fortress structure and was part of the general defense perimeter of medieval Lviv. It was distinguished by massive stone walls with loophole windows and iron-bound gates. One of the bastions of the fortress wall was even given the name of Bernardinsky in honor of this monastery. Until the 15th century Most of the monastic buildings were made of wood, and after another fire, they were gradually replaced by stone buildings.
The church of St. Andrew, located on the territory of the monastery, was built in 1600-1620. according to the project of the monk Avelid, and the architects Pavlo-Romanin and Amvrosii Blagoskhilny acted as construction engineers. Hewn stone was used as a material, and the temple itself was made in the form of a three-nave basilica in the Renaissance style. On the square in front of the church there is a monument to St. John, the patron saint of Lviv, and a bell tower attached to the monastery walls. Today, the Bernardine monastery is in the custody of the city archive, and the church belongs to the Greek Catholic Church, where religious services are held regularly.
Beregvar Castle (Transcarpathian region)
In a picturesque area among the Carpathian Mountains stands the unusual Beregvar Castle. It was built here recently – in 1895, when Transcarpathia was part of Austria-Hungary, and initially served as a hunting estate. The customer and the first owner of Beregvar was Count Schönborn-Buchheim, and the author of the project was the famous Austrian architect Gresserson. Through his efforts, a real work of art appeared here, which still amazes tourists with the beauty of its lines.
Beregvar organically combines several styles at once – classic Gothic, romanticism and eclecticism. The count spared no expense in building his hunting residence, so the exterior and interior decoration of the castle is luxurious and, at the same time, extremely elegant.
A distinctive feature of Beregvar is a close combination of architecture and numerology, which was fashionable in those years. For example, a castle has 12 doors, 52 pipes and 365 windows – according to the number of months, weeks and days in a year. Starting from the middle of the 20th century. the castle houses the “Karpaty” sanatorium, where vacationers can improve their health while enjoying the amazing beauty of the Carpathians and the Beregvar Castle.
Lake Synevir (Transcarpathian region)
Synevir is the largest mountain lake in Ukraine. It is located in the Carpathian Mountains, in the upper reaches of the Tereblia River. The total area of Synevir exceeds 7 hectares with a maximum depth of 24 meters. It was formed as a result of an earthquake that occurred 10 thousand years ago, which created a natural dam. It is fed by mountain streams and underground springs, due to which the water in it remains icy even in the middle of summer. In the center of Senivir is a small island that looks like the pupil of an eye against the background of an oval water mirror. For this feature, the lake is also called the Eye of the Carpathians.
Since 1989, Synevir has been part of the national park of the same name created here. There are many fish in its waters, including brook and rainbow trout, crayfish, but fishing is prohibited in the protected area. According to local legend, the Eye of the Carpathians appeared from the tears of a girl named Xin. She, who came from a rich princely family, fell in love with a commoner boy, Vir. But her father, having learned about this, ordered the execution of his beloved daughter. In honor of this beautiful legend, a 13-meter-high sculptural composition has been installed on the banks of the Synevyr River, depicting two lovers – the girl Xin and the young man Vir.
Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathians are a large mountainous country spread out near several Eastern European countries. In Ukraine, the Carpathians cover four regions at once, stretching from the San River in the west to Suceava in the east for 280 km over a width of 100 km. The mountain ranges and the valleys located between them are oriented in the northwest direction. All the highest peaks of Ukraine are located in the Carpathians: Hoverla with a height of 2,061 meters, Berebeneskul with an indicator of 2,032 meters and Pop-Ivan, which rose to 2,020 meters.
The slopes of the mountains are covered with the lush greenery of primeval forests, in the picturesque valleys of the Carpathians, gardens bloom lushly and rapid rivers flow. The Carpathians are distinguished by the diversity of the animal world: here you can meet bears, lynxes, deer, wolves, which today has become a real rarity for many countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Park “Kyivska Rus”
In the area of the villages of Zastugna and Kopachyv, not far from the Ukrainian capital, there is an unusual amusement park. It is stylized as Kyiv of the early Middle Ages and is a reconstruction of the City of Volodymyr, a child fortress of Kyiv that existed in the V-XIII centuries.
On the territory of the “Kyivska Rus” park, this citadel is reproduced in life size and occupies an area of 10 hectares. Here you can see accurate reconstructions of such historical monuments as the fortress wall of Kyiv 9 meters high and one and a half kilometers long, the palace of Prince Volodymyr Chervono Sonechko, the palace of his mother Princess Saint Olga, the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the most famous church buildings and farm buildings.
Visitors to the theme park are offered an entertainment program. They will be able to see with their own eyes the work of master craftsmen and purchase metal, leather, and wood products made by them using ancient technologies. You can take part in competitions in throwing battle axes, knives or archery. There are interesting expositions here, where tourists can see siege tools, armor and clothing of the times of Kyivan Rus, traditional vessels of the Rus of the IX-XI centuries, reproduced according to ancient drawings, including a reconstruction of Prince Volodymyr’s boat. Concerts, folklore festivals and theatrical performances on historical themes are regularly held on the territory of the park.
Pysanka Museum (Kolomia)
Pysanka is a museum located in the city of Kolomyia, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, dedicated to Easter eggs. It was opened in 2000, initially during the Hutsul Festival, but it was such a success with visitors that it was turned into a permanent exhibition. Today, in its collection there are more than 6,000 painted eggs, which were brought from all regions of Ukraine, as well as from other countries. Among other things, there is a collection of eggs with autographs of prominent figures of politics, culture and art.
According to the results of an online vote, the Pysanka Museum was included in the top ten most interesting monuments of Ukraine. Among the notable objects located on the territory of the museum is a monument to a painted egg 13 meters high and 10 meters in diameter. The walls of the museum are made in the form of continuous colored stained glass with a total area of 600 m2.
Lutsk Castle (Lutsk)
The capital of the Volyn region, the city of Lutsk, has a long history dating back to the times of Kyivan Rus. The main citadel of the city in a distant era was a wooden baby Kremlin, but in 1261 it was burned together with Lutsk by the troops of the Mongol khans. After that, the city loses its former importance for a long time, turning into a village lost in the woods. Only from the 15th century, after Volyn became part of the Lithuanian principality, rapid construction began in Lutsk. Among other things, in 1430 a new citadel was built here – the stone Lutsk Castle, which can still be seen today.
Since then, this fortress has become one of the centers of political and social life in the southern part of Lithuania: diplomatic meetings, congresses of local aristocrats, balls and social gatherings were held here. During its history, the Lutsk Castle had to survive many sieges and assaults, but every time it was restored and regained its strategic importance. Today, this medieval citadel is considered the best-preserved building of the 15th-16th centuries in Ukraine and has been declared a historical monument of state importance.
Sofiivka Arboretum (Uman)
Sofiivka Arboretum is one of the oldest artificial gardens in Ukraine. It appeared in 1796, when the local tycoon Pototsky decided to express his boundless love for his wife Sofia in this way. The management of the creation of the arboretum was entrusted to the famous military engineer Metzel, who was able to turn the territory of the former wasteland into a real picturesque forest. An artificial terrain with hills and lowlands, man-made ponds and streams was created here.
In general, hundreds of trees and shrubs were planted on the territory of the modern park, which was named in honor of Mr. Pototsky’s wife. Today, Sofiivka consists of five parts – Central and four more, oriented to all sides of the world. Each of them has its own characteristics: for example, the Central one is made in an antique style and seems to transport visitors to the ancient Greek era.
Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra (Pochaiv)
In the town of Pochaev, in Volyn, there is an ancient monastery complex founded here in the 13th century. According to legends, the monastery was founded in 1237 by monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra who fled from the Mongol invasion. In those years, the powerful prince Danylo Halytskyi ruled here, and the holy fathers hoped to find protection from foreign hordes under his hand. Since that time, the Pochaiv Lavra has grown continuously, becoming the main pillar of Orthodoxy in the territory of Western Ukraine.
Today, travelers will be able to see the Holy Dormition Cathedral, built in the 18th century, on the monastery grounds. and its 65-meter five-tier bell tower. The Trinity Church, built at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, also functions at the monastery. Nowadays, the Pochaiv Lavra is active: more than 250 monks and novices live here. Tens of thousands of Orthodox pilgrims and ordinary tourists flock here every year, who want to see with their own eyes this ancient monastic abode, its cathedrals with rich fresco paintings.
Mukachevo Castle (Mukacheve)
Mukachevo is an ancient city in the Zakarpattia region, which in the early Middle Ages was part of Kyivan Rus. In the 11th century, a stone castle was built here, which was named Palanok. From the XIV century. Transcarpathia was part of the Lithuanian Principality, and the city of Mukacheve, along with the rest of Western Ukraine, belonged to the Koriatovich princes. At the turn of the XIV-XV centuries. Transcarpathia was captured by the Hungarians, and only Palanok Castle remained for the Koriatovych princes as a small compensation. In 1633, it was acquired by the Prince of Transylvania, Gyorgy Rakotsi, who turned the fortress into his residence.
With the beginning of the Austrian expansion into Hungary, Palanok gained fame as the main center of resistance to the Habsburgs. For a century, Mukachevo was the capital of Transylvania, until 1711, when the castle of Rakoci was captured by the Austrians and confiscated for the benefit of the imperial family. After that, Palanok was used as a prison for political prisoners, mainly for Hungarians dissatisfied with Austrian rule. During the Soviet times, a technical vocational school was opened here, and since 1960, the Mukachevo Castle has been recognized as a historical monument and declared a reserve museum. Today, restoration works have been carried out here and the ancient fortress has acquired its original medieval appearance.
Derzhprom (Kharkov)
Derzhprom is an administrative building located in the center of Kharkiv and is a landmark of Soviet architecture. It was built in 1925-1928. as the seat of the Ukrainian SSR government (in those years, Kharkiv was the capital of Soviet Ukraine). Derzhprom still impresses with its size today: the total area of its premises exceeds 60,000 km², the height, together with the television tower located on its roof, is 108 meters. At the time of commissioning in 1928, the Derzhprom building was the tallest skyscraper in Europe. It is surprising that it was built in just 2.5 years, practically without the use of construction equipment. Yes, the pit for this huge building was dug using shovels, wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows – 5 thousand workers worked in three shifts around the clock without days off or holidays. In 1926, the construction was visited by the head of the OGPU, Felix Dzerzhynskyi, after whom the square in front of the building was named. Today, this colossal constructivist building is recognized as a UNESCO monument of architecture. It is distinguished by a huge glazing area exceeding 40,000 km² and 4,500 windows. In total, 1,300 wagons of cement, 9,000 tons of steel and 3,700 wagons of granite were used for its construction.
Olesky Castle (Olesko)
In the village of Olesko there is an ancient fortified castle, founded in the early Middle Ages. Over the centuries, it passed from the hands of Polish magnates and Lithuanian princes, to the raids of Crimean Tatars and Ottoman Turks. In 1629, the future king of Poland Jan Sobieski was born here. It also went down in history as the place of service of the father of the national hero of Ukraine, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, and in 1646, the army of this hetman freed Olesko from the Poles.
At the beginning of the 19th century the castle was destroyed as a result of a powerful earthquake and the subsequent fire. Until 1891, the Olesky castle was in a state of ruins, after which restoration work began, interrupted by the First World War and the Civil War. During the liberation of Western Ukraine from the power of bourgeois-landlord Poland, in 1939-1940 the castle housed a camp for Polish prisoners of war. In 1951, a fire broke out in the castle again, which significantly damaged its interiors. Today, restoration attempts are being made here again, but the modern state in the form of picturesque ruins gives the building a medieval flavor that attracts tourists.
Radomislo Castle (Radomisl)
The colorful castle of the same name is located in the western Ukrainian city of Radomyshl. Despite its rather respectable appearance, it was built quite recently – in the 2000s. The initiator of the construction of the castle was Olga Bogomolets, a local doctor of medical sciences. Once upon a time, there was an ancient paper factory on this site, founded in the 17th century, but until the end of the 20th century. completely destroyed by time.
Radomysl Castle, built on the foundation of this medieval factory, is made in medieval style. Its interiors reproduce the appearance of family estates of aristocrats of the 17th-18th centuries, and the walls of the castle contain a unique collection of ancient Ukrainian icons. Also, visitors will see other household items and church utensils of past centuries, produced both in Ukraine and on the territory of neighboring countries. In the refectory of Radomysl there is a restaurant, where dishes prepared according to ancient recipes are served in a large wood-burning oven.
Old city of Lviv
Lviv is one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, an important political and economic center of medieval Russia. From the 13th to the 16th centuries, Lviv was successively the administrative center of a separate principality, the Russian kingdom, and a Russian voivodeship. Today, the historic part of the city is a rectangular area measuring approximately 500 by 600 meters with 11 streets. Many wonderful medieval buildings and architectural ensembles have been perfectly preserved within Old Lviv.
Tourists are especially attracted by the Market Square with the City Hall standing on it, the former Venetian Embassy and the Bandinelli Palace. In total, there are 45 buildings declared historical and architectural monuments in the Old Town, several interesting museum exhibits are active. Many tourists get unusual pleasure even just from walking through the ancient streets and squares of the medieval quarters.
Bilhorod-Dniester Fortress (Bilhorod-Dniester)
In the city of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, which before the Great Fatherland had the Turkish name Akkerman, there is a medieval citadel that has been perfectly preserved. The fortress covers an area of 9 hectares and is one of the largest in Ukraine in terms of its size. It was founded in the 13th century and lasted until the 15th century. The Akerman fortress is a powerful fortification standing on the banks of the Dniester estuary with walls 2.5 km long. Bastions and defensive towers are built into them every 45 meters, as well as platforms for installing artillery batteries. The construction of the fortress was started by the Mongolian Khan Berke, and in the 14th century. the right to lease it was granted to the Genoese, who renamed the citadel Moncastro.
In the 15th century, the fortress and the surrounding territory captured Moldova, turning the Akkerman fortress into its outpost on the Black Sea. But for several decades, this area was occupied by the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Byazid. Akkerman was freed from Turkish rule by Russian troops in 1812, becoming part of the Russian Empire. For a long time, the territory of the fortress was used for various economic needs, and only in 1963 was it declared a historical monument. Restoration work was carried out here and an open-air museum is open. The picturesque surroundings and territory of the fortress were often used as an entourage for feature films: for example, the Soviet film “Captain Nemo” was shot here.
Podhoretsky castle
Pidhoretskyi Castle is a popular attraction of western Ukraine, a beautifully preserved palace in the Renaissance style, located in the Lviv region. In Soviet times, it housed a tuberculosis dispensary for a long time. If you look closely at the castle, you can see that part of the episodes of the famous film about the three musketeers were filmed right next to the walls of the Pidgoretsk castle. Despite its attractive appearance, the castle primarily performed a defensive function. Deep ditches and impregnable walls were not so easy to capture when they were defended from a height by warriors with bows and crossbows. The outside of the palace was perfectly preserved, but the interior decoration was irretrievably lost for a long time. At the moment, Pidhoretsky Castle is fully accessible to tourists and can be visited any day of the week.
Oleshkiv sands
Someone goes to Egypt to see the desert, and someone to Ukraine. Yes Yes! Oleshkiv sands are a real desert and one of the most interesting places in the south of Ukraine. It is worth noting that the desert was not formed independently, but “with the help” of man – the grazing of huge herds of sheep on the plain turned it into sand dunes. Today, many travelers and seekers of new sensations come here. In addition, almost no one knows about the existence of the Oleshkiv sands – this place remained classified for a long time, despite the fact that it is the largest desert in Europe.
Lime alley (Uzhhorod)
One of the sights of the city and the most recognizable place. This is the longest Linden alley not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe. The alley is located on both sides of the Uzh River and is more than 2 kilometers long. Due to the diversity of linden varieties, flowering lasts most of the year.
In 2009 and 2011, the city planted a Sakura Alley. It is also the longest in Europe. At the end of April and the beginning of May, the trees bloom in a lush pink color. This is such a fantastic sight that every Ukrainian should see it.
Uzhhorod is a real European city with a special mood, color and unique history. Choose the right flight on the Busfor website and come see another beautiful city of our country.
University (Chernivtsi)
It’s hard to imagine a visit to Chernivtsi without seeing the main attraction – Yuriy Fedkovich University. The beautiful facade of the building is shaded by a roof covered with colorful tiles. Guides conduct tours on the territory every day, we recommend booking places in a group in advance.
In addition to the main building, known in the photo, there is a church on the territory of the complex. Construction lasted 18 long years. Every step was carefully thought out and planned. For example, bricks were produced in a specially built factory. The craftsman was not allowed to lay more than 100 bricks per day, so that the person would not get tired and perform his work well. University Square is paved with pebbles, it creates a special microclimate of the place.