Ukraine

Chernivtsi, Ukraine – an unknown pearl of the Austrian empire

It is believed that the area of Chernivtsi was already inhabited in the time of the Neolithic era but it wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that the city got its splendor.

That’s when it was annexed to the Austrian Habsburg empire and became the capital of the Bukovina region (soon after it was promoted to the Duchy of Bukovina, one of the 15th crown-lands in the empire).

It was the golden era of Chernivtsi, the city received Magdeburg rights and numerous wealthy and smart people (merchants, craftsmen or entrepreneurs) were invited to help developing the place.

Chernivtsi has become a typical Central European city of this time, with stunning architecture and rich cultural life. It was and still is called “Little Vienna” as it just resembles the capital of Austria so much!

After the First World War Bukovina together with Chernivtsi was under the Romanian rule only to become part of USSR in 1940 and eventually independent Ukraine in 1991.

These days it’s one of the most important cities in Western Ukraine and together with Lviv they make a cultural hub of the country.

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Find the capital of Ukraine!

Welcome to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with ancient historical traditions, unique culture and European-style of life.

Kyiv is one of the most beautiful cities of the world that picturesquely spreads on the Dnipro river hills. As others old cities Kyiv has no exact date of foundation. According to the legend, Kyiv was founded more than 1,500 years ago by three brothers Kyi, Schek, Khoryv and their sister Lybid. The city was named after the oldest brother Kyi. In the 9th century Kyiv became the capital of the Ancient Rus. The territory of this independent state stretched out from the Baltic Sea in the North to the Black Sea in the South and from Volga River in the East to the Carpathians Mountains in the West. Kyiv is often referred as "the mother of all cities" by Russians and Ukrainians and as a cradle of Slavonic civilization.

Go to the largest city in western Ukraine.

Lviv history is as colorful and amazing as a city itself. It is filled with interesting events and outstanding figures. Today Lviv is more than 760 years old and it has lots of stories to tell you! City situated on the crossing of two profitable trade routes developed and flourished rapidly and became one of main trade centers of medieval Europe. Afterwards while being a part of different countries, Lviv borrowed some parts of culture and knowledge from invaders. Later on it transformed not only to an architectural gem, but also to the modern capital of scientific, spiritual and artistic life.

Go to Zaporozhian Sich

Zaporozhian Sich (Zaporizka Sich). The name of several Cossack keeps on the Dnipro River that were the centers of the Zaporizhia. The first Sich was established ca 1552 by Prince Dmytro Vyshnevetsky on Mala Khortytsia Island in the Dnipro River, near present-day Zaporizhia. It was besieged and destroyed by Crimean Tatars in 1558. The new Tomakivka Sich was built 60 km to the south on a now-inundated island near present-day Marhanets. It was also razed by Tatars, in 1593, and the Bazavluk Sich was built on Bazavluk Island, now also inundated, farther south near the mouths of the Chortomlyk River and the Pidpilna River. A fourth Sich was built at nearby Mykytyn Rih, the site of present-day Nikopol; it is first mentioned in 1628 and was captured by Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky in 1648.

Go to Sorochinsky Fair

There is an old and very good tradition among the people in the Poltava Region to have a fair in the village of Velyky Sorochintsy. This Sorochinsky fair usually takes place at the end of summer. The village of Sorochintsy is widely known in the whole world because of this fair. M. Gogol, an outstanding writer, described it in his famous works. The people of Sorochintsy organized this incredible fair very well. The people from the nearest and the distant villages come to the fair and sell their products and buy consumer goods. Many guests from different parts of Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and from many other countries come to Sorochintsy to take part in this fair. The representatives from many plants and factories bring their products to advertise and sell them. They make agreements on cooperation between different enterprises and try to do their best to co-operate with each other. At the Sorochintsy fair one can meet many interesting and talented people, one can listen to folk songs. Different exhibitions will show you the works of famous Ukrainian artists and ancient folk crafts. You may visit videosaloon and take part in different entertainments. You are all welcome to Sorotchintsy fair during the last decade in August.

Go to Chernivtsi