This post is about the best places in Ukraine worth to visit, created by #TeamUkraine and included in the #TeamChallenge series of posts kindly launched by @ErmesT !!!
Ukraine is a home for many natural and human marvels, among them:
the biggest desert in Europe – Oleshkivsky Pisky,
longest cave in Eurasia and the fifth longest cave in the world – The Optimist Cave;
the rocky corrals reefs 15 million years old – Podilsky Tovtry;
Salty lakes with the qualities even saltier than the Dead Sea in Israel;
Greek ancient cities of VI century B.C. - Chersonesos, Olbia, Panticapaeum;
ancient Ukrainian city of V century B.C. – Tripillia;
Medieval Castles in Dubno, Svirzh, Hotyn and even the whole Medieval city - Kamyanets-Podilsky;
endless nature reserves Askaniya Nova, Shatsky lakes & Caniv national park;
and, of course, Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains, beautiful traditional dance, music, songs, delicious cuisine & drinks.
LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
The origins of Ukraine go back to Kyiv Rus, a home to the first eastern Slavic states, that was founded in the 6th century AD with the peak of its glory in X-XI centuries. Then there was a range of nations ruling on the current territories of Ukraine: Mongolians from the east in the XII century, Poland and Lithuania from the west in the XIV century, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires in XVII century with the ettempt of semi-autonomous state of Cossacks in the XVI and XVIII centuries, later the Soviet Union of 15 countries was established in the XX and finally with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 an independent state was reborn again.
In this light, the dominant Ukrainian culture is Slavic, but it has many tracks of all nations that came across its history. As a result, ancient Scythes’ gold can be found in Kiev Pechersk Monastery, Byzantine mosaics - in St Sophia’s Cathedral, Tripillia culture remains near Kyiv, Greek ancient cities in the South of Ukraine, Tatar mosques in Crimea, Turkish architecture, Catholic and Orthodox churches all over the country, Cossacks culture on Khortytsya Island, native Hutsul traditions in the Carpathian Mountains.
Thus, traditional Ukrainian musical instruments (bandura, tsymbaly, gusli, trembita, panpipe) as well as beautiful Ukrainian clothing and dance differ from region to region, but that is what makes Ukrainian culture so vivid and bright.
ITINERARY ACROSS UKRAINIAN WONDERS
Following the centuries of history, you can imagine how many sights one can find in Ukraine, generously left by different epochs and cultures.
Some time ago Ukraine ran a nationwide contest to choose 7 national wonders, but TeamUkraine decided to go far beyond it and to elaborate a_ list of more than 50 quintessential significant natural and cultural highlights_ worth to visit both for locals and tourists and still we leave the number to be a subject to change with our new journeys across our country.
NORTHERN UKRAINE
Many remarkable cities and places are is situated on the North of Ukraine, among them:
Kyiv, Chernigiv & Sumy, where one can admire incredible Orthodox churches, splendid monasteries, majestic cathedrals, natural and manmade caves, places of historical importance, endless forests, large lakes and rivers and just distinguished architecture.
Near Kyiv one of the most important ancient settlement of the IV century BC, Tripillia ancient city with absolutely unique states of art and household is located. It is a must for every Ukrainian to visit this cultural place as a symbol of our ancient roots.
CENTRAL UKRAINE
Most of Natural parks are located in the central part of Ukraine, such as the biggest desert in Europe - Oleshkivsky Pisky; Open-air museum of Poltava Battle between Swedish & Russian Empire in XVII century; as well as Zaporіzska Sich, once fortress, built on Khortytsya Island on the Dnipro River that used to be an escape land for the most known characters in Ukrainian history, the Cossacks.
WESTERN UKRAINE
The West of Ukraine is considered to be the most beautiful and the most visited region in our country in terms of architectural, cultural & landscapes spots, specially due to the range of the Carpathian mountains situated here, as well such picturesque cities like Lviv, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Lutsk and Rivne. Western Ukraine has a historical connection with Poland, Lithuania, Austria and Hungary, so it is reach in western style architecture, majestic medieval castles and magnificent Catholic churches, such as:
- The medieval town of Kamyanets-Podilsky, built on a tall plateau in a deep, winding river gorge with a range of towers, fortresses and fascinating in-city churches;
- Khotyn Fortress on the Dnister River, with one of Ukraine’s most impressive castles;
- Chernivtzi University and its majestic Catholic church of the Holy Trinity.
On the top to the architectural marvels, between Chernivtzi and Ternopil, one will find absolutely gorgeous natural wonder - 230 km or 140 miles long Optimist Cave, known for its mud and calcite speleothems.
EASTERN UKRAINE
Even though East of Ukraine is considered as an industrial zone, with the main cities of Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkiv, it is rich in Orthodox churches, salt mines, nature reserves and endless forests with the most impressive attraction is a marvelous church complex Sviatogirsk Cave Monastery and the nature reserve around it, called “the Holy Hills”.
Unfortunately, since 2014 a part of eastern Ukraine is still in war condition, but we hope it will end asap. As Ermest states: In war we are all losers.
SOUTH OF UKRAINE
South of Ukraine is known for the sea resorts, mineral salty lakes such as Red Lake with the healing muds, white sandy beaches such as on the Djarylgach Island, rocky mountains in Crimea, and the ruins of an ancient Greek cities, such as Khersonesus and Olbia, as well as famous Genoese fortress of the XIV century in Sudak city of Crimea so-calles “Ukrainian Chinese Wall”.
The list of Ukrainian wonders can be continued and continued, but let us stop here for a start and leave some space for future posts too!
Meanwhile, let us remind you what kind post you can already find on Connect about our lovely country:
[Recap] Post about Ukraine
- #TeamUkraine - Introduction & Welcoming Post by TeamUkraine
- Mykolayiv Landscape Park post by @JaneBurunina
- Buki Landscape Park post by @RedCatZs
- Kyiv walking post by @GLG_BVF
- Ichnyansky National Natural Park and “Kachanovka” Historical and Cultural Reserve by @AntonKuts
- Djarylgach, Ukrainian Maldives post by @NatalkaR
- Let’s go to wonderful peak Pip Ivan of Carpathian Mountains by @NatalkaR
- Truskavets post by @nkiriljuk
- Traditional Ukrainian Clothing by @uavalentine
[Recap ] Google Maps Lists made by TeamUkraine
- Ukrainian Natural and Cultural Highlights by TeamUkraine
- Amazing Orthodox Сhurches of Ukraine by @JaneBurunina
- Wonderful Kyiv: Places to Visit by @RedCatZs
- Traditional Cuisine in Kyiv by @uavalentine
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Any time of the year might be a good reason to come to Ukraine, depends on your purpose.
Come in spring, if you like mild temperatures and would like to see mass chestnut and apple trees blossoming or Orthodox special rituals for Easter.
If you are fond of hiking come in summer to our Carpathian mountains where it will be cooler than on the other territories.
Autumn is a perfect season to come to admire all colors of nature in our city and national parks, to hike in the colorful mountains, to enjoy the best season at the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
And if you are in love with skiing, iceskating and frosty weather you are welcome to visit ski resorts of Bukovel, Dragobrat, Slavske and many others in winter time.
SOME NICE MUSIC TO FINISH
As a nice bonus, we kindly invite you to listen to one of the oldest traditional slave musical instrument, called tsymbaly, from Pirogovo Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture we admired last week:
And you are very welcome to discover and to enjoy many great posts by using the tag of #TeamChallenge in the research as well as to join it and share with us the beauty of your country too!
With loooots of love,
#TeamUkraine: @JaneBurunina , @NatalkaR , @RedCatZs , @GLG_BVF , @AntonKuts , @nkiriljuk , @uavalentine .
