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    Tourist Attractions in Kyiv

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Kyiv. Photos and a brief description.

    Kyiv
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    About Kyiv

    Ancient City, the capital of Kievan Rus, the cradle of Slavic culture – Kiev will welcome tourists with thousand-year-old temples and monasteries, elegant European squares and, without a doubt, a seething stream of historical events. This is the place where statehood was forged and the pillars of the Russian Orthodox faith were established, where History continues its bizarre chronicle even now.

    Kiev is constantly becoming a venue for various musical and sporting events of the European level. A lot of national festivals take place here, especially in the summer. It will be interesting for tourists to visit the Day of Embroidery, dedicated to the traditional costume, or to walk along Khreshchatyk on the City Day, merging with the relaxed crowd of cheerful Kievans.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Kyiv

    Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

    One of the first monasteries of Kievan Rus, a revered and important Orthodox shrine. The monastery is included in the UNESCO Heritage List. The Lavra was founded in the XI century by the monk Anthony and his disciple Theodosius. The architectural complex of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra includes several temples, a theological seminary, cave monasteries, the State Library of Ukraine and a museum complex. The relics of the saints of God are kept in the Lavra.

    Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
    St. Michael 's Golden - Domed Monastery

    St. Michael 's Golden - Domed Monastery

    An Orthodox monastery founded in the XI century on the site of a former pagan temple, where rites were performed in honor of Perun, Svarog, Horse and other deities of the ancient Slavic pantheon. The first church on the site of the future monastery was made of wood. At the beginning of the XII century, in honor of the victory over the Polovtsians, the laying of the Archangel Michael Cathedral began, at which a monastery was established. On the square in front of the temple there is a sculptural group consisting of monuments to Princess Olga, Cyril and Methodius, and the Apostle Andrew.

    Vladimir Cathedral

    The Orthodox church of the late XIX century, made in a picturesque and magnificent Old Byzantine manner. The cathedral is distinguished by its magnificent exterior and interior decoration. The facade is decorated with arched windows and openwork stucco, Prince Vladimir and Princess Olga are depicted on the main entrance doors, the interior arches are painted with bright thematic frescoes, on which M. Vrubel, V. Vasnetsov, M. Nestorov and other famous painters worked.

    Vladimir Cathedral
    St. Sophia Cathedral

    St. Sophia Cathedral

    The temple is a museum built by the will of Yaroslav the Wise in the XI century. The cathedral was repeatedly attacked and destroyed: in the XIII century it was plundered by the hordes of Batu, in the XIV it was besieged by the Uniates, and centuries later by the Crimean Tatars. The temple stood and in the XVII century work began on its restoration. In the 90s, the building was included in the UNESCO heritage list, so religious services on its territory almost ceased. Religious holidays are an exception.

    St. Nicholas Church

    The Catholic Cathedral, where the House of Organ and Chamber Music was organized in the 80s of the XX century. In 2001, Pope John Paul II himself paid a visit to the church. The church was built in the classical Gothic style at the beginning of the XX century. Until that time, there was only one Catholic church in Kiev, which could not accommodate everyone. The St. Nicholas Church was built for ten years exclusively with private capital.

    St. Nicholas Church
    St. Andrew 's Church

    St. Andrew 's Church

    The church of the middle of the XVIII century in the Baroque style, located on a hill in the historical part of Kiev. It is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Kiev. According to the ancient legend referred to in the "Tale of Bygone Years", at this place the Apostle Andrew the First-Called put a cross and proclaimed that there should be a great city here. A few centuries later, Kiev was founded.

    St. Andrew 's Descent

    A street in the center of Kiev, which appeared in the historical period of Kievan Rus. In ancient times, it connected the Upper and Lower City. The official date of the appearance of St. Andrew's Descent is 1711, when, by order of the governor, the passage between St. Andrew's and Castle Hill was expanded. The passage became suitable not only for passengers, but also for carriages, horse riders and carts pulled by oxen.

    St. Andrew 's Descent
    Richard's Castle — Lionheart

    Richard's Castle — Lionheart

    The building is in the style of English Neo-Gothic of the early XIX century. Locals poetically call it in honor of the legendary King Richard the Lionheart. The creator of the structure is unknown. Presumably, the castle was built for rent, later it was acquired by the Orlov family. There have always been ominous rumors about the castle. Allegedly, he often changed owners due to the fact that evil spirits lived inside. But later the legend was debunked, as bottle necks were found in the walls, producing an ominous howl.

    The house with chimeras

    An unusual mansion built in the early XX century in the Art Nouveau style. Its architecture is very unusual for the Ukrainian capital. The facade and interior are decorated with statues and images of animals, fabulous creatures, inhabitants of the underwater world. The mansion was built according to the project of V. Gorodetsky. This master participated in the construction of the Church of St. Nicholas and the Ukrainian National Art Museum.

    The house with chimeras
    The building of the National Bank of Ukraine

    The building of the National Bank of Ukraine

    An elegant mansion in the "Venetian" style, located in the Pechora Lipki district. The building was erected at the beginning of the XX century by the project of engineers M. Verbitsky and A. Kobelev. The facade was faced by the Italian sculptor E. Salya. During the construction, many innovative solutions for that time were tested, including electric lighting and a steam central heating system.

    Kyiv National University

    The red building of the KNU. Taras Shevchenko is the oldest building of this educational institution. In addition to performing practical functions, the building is a valuable architectural monument and a popular place for excursions. The Red Building was erected in the XIX century in the style of the Russian classicism that was relevant at that time. It houses the rector's office, a number of university faculties and historical museums.

    Kyiv National University
    Khreshchatyk Street

    Khreshchatyk Street

    The main metropolitan street, presumably located near the place where Prince Vladimir was baptized. The length of the street stretches for only 1.3 km. from the European to Bessarabian Square. Active construction of Khreshchatyk was carried out in the XVIII-XIX centuries. The modern name has been fixed since 1869. Khreshchatyk becomes a pedestrian street during public holidays or significant public events.

    Landscape Alley

    The alley, created in the 80s of the XX century as part of a large–scale project for the construction of the historical architectural reserve "Ancient Kiev". The plans remained on paper, and the Landscape Alley remained the only completed object. From the observation deck near the Historical Museum there is a panoramic view of the Dnieper and Podol. Since 2009, a children's park has been organized within the alley.

    Landscape Alley
    Independence Square

    Independence Square

    The central square of the Ukrainian capital. The place where the modern history of the state was made. In the second half of the XIX century, merchants settled on the site of the future square. There was a large market here, where folk festivals were held on holidays. The central attraction of Independence Square is an impressive monument erected in honor of the separation of Ukraine from the Soviet Union and the formation of an independent state.

    Sofia Square

    One of the oldest city squares in Kiev. It is believed that it was in this place that Yaroslav the Wise defeated the Pechenegs in the XI century. There is a monument to the great Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky, a fighter against Polish and Turkish invaders, on the square. The commander is depicted riding a horse in a courageous heroic pose. Another architectural attraction is the stone bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral, built at the beginning of the XVIII century. In 1709, a meeting of the triumphants of the Battle of Poltava took place here.

    Sofia Square
    Kontraktovaya Square

    Kontraktovaya Square

    The square has been known for a long time as a venue for contract fairs (hence the name). Until the middle of the XIX century, it was considered the center of Kiev. Several popular attractions of Kiev are located here: gostiny Dvor of the beginning of the XIX century, contract house, Church of the Theotokos Pirogosha, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Samson Fountain and other buildings.

    Taras Shevchenko Opera House

    The National Opera House of Ukraine, the largest and most famous in the country. It is a real architectural decoration of Kiev. At the end of the XIX century, such works as "Eugene Onegin", "The Queen of Spades" by I. Tchaikovsky, "Aleko" by S. Rachmaninov, "The Snow Maiden" by N. Rimsky-Korsakov were performed on the stage of the opera house (the maestro personally attended the productions). The great Russian reformer P. A. Stolypin was killed in the theater.

    Taras Shevchenko Opera House
    National Museum of History of Ukraine

    National Museum of History of Ukraine

    The exposition began with a small archaeological exhibition organized at the City Museum of Antiquities and Art. The official opening took place in 1904. The museum halls exhibit archaeological collections, weapons, coins, unique books, porcelain and other historical artifacts. The total number of exhibits is more than 800 thousand copies. In addition to the permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions are organized in the museum.

    Bulgakov Museum

    The house-museum is located on Andreevsky Descent in the historical center of Kiev. The writer's family lived there until 1919. The building was given the name "Turbin House" thanks to an article in a literary magazine in 1967. That is, the house became a haven for the Bulgakov family and the heroes of one of his works – the Turbins family. The exposition opened in 1991, the collection was based on the private collection of the first director of the museum A. Konchakovsky.

    Bulgakov Museum
    Water Museum (Water Information Center)

    Water Museum (Water Information Center)

    The exposition is located in the water towers of the XIX century, which were renovated and restored in 2003. The buildings themselves are of considerable historical value and arouse the interest of tourists. During the tour, visitors will be able to learn about the structure of the Earth's hydrosphere, about various processes that are impossible without the participation of water, and about the harmful human activities that result in pollution and depletion of water resources.

    Open-air Museum Pirogovo

    In the museum you can learn a lot about the life and national traditions of Ukraine. On the territory of more than 150 hectares there are 300 exhibits telling about different aspects of the life and culture of Ukrainians. Here you can walk through the streets of the village, look at traditional Ukrainian huts, look into an old wooden church or have a family picnic on a green lawn against the backdrop of picturesque hills.

    Open-air Museum Pirogovo
    Mariinsky Palace

    Mariinsky Palace

    An architectural monument of the middle of the XVIII century, built in the brilliant era of Empress Elizabeth. The famous architect B. Rastrelli worked on the palace. The building was used as a royal residence and temporary shelter for important persons of the Russian imperial court. After the fire of the XIX century, the palace was destroyed. The restored building was surrounded by a magnificent landscaped park, where Maria Alexandrovna, the wife of Alexander III, loved to relax.

    Kiev Fortress

    A complex of fortifications on the right bank of the Dnieper River. It includes several earthen fortifications, citadels, economic and administrative buildings. The history of the fortress goes back to the V century. Then there was a fortified ancient settlement on Starokievskaya Mountain. After the destructive campaign of Batu Khan to Russia in the XIII century, the buildings fell into disrepair. The Kiev fortress regained its military importance during the Russian-Swedish War of 1700-1721.

    Kiev Fortress
    Golden Gate

    Golden Gate

    An architectural monument of the XI century, the remains of fortifications of ancient Kiev. For the first time the gate is mentioned in the "Tale of Bygone Years". They performed not only a defensive function, but were the main entrance to the city. During the construction, burnt bricks and a bonding mortar made of slaked lime were used, which ensured the strength and good preservation of the structure.

    Motherland

    A monumental female statue with a shield and a sword, glorifying the victory in the Great Patriotic War. The monument is part of a memorial complex dedicated to the history of the Second World War (the official name is the Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II). This is one of the largest expositions in Ukraine. The height of the monument is 102 meters. When it was created, it was assumed that the statue would last 150 years and be able to withstand a strong earthquake.

    Motherland
    Babi Yar

    Babi Yar

    The ravine between the urban areas of Syrets and Lukyanovka, where the German occupiers in 1941 massively shot the population. In a fairly short time, tens of thousands of Kievans were killed and buried in common graves here, the total number of victims exceeds 100 thousand people. Nowadays, within the territory of Babi Yar there are memorials dedicated to numerous victims of executions.

    Vladimirskaya Gorka Park

    City Park on Mikhailovskaya Hill. There is a monument to Prince Vladimir, the Baptist of Russia. Thanks to the monument, the place was named "Vladimirskaya Gorka". Along the slope of the mountain there are three levels of the park: lower, upper and middle terraces. It offers a great panorama of the city blocks. Vladimirskaya Hill is one of the favorite places for Kiev residents to walk.

    Vladimirskaya Gorka Park
    N.N. Grishko Botanical Garden

    N.N. Grishko Botanical Garden

    Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The Holy Trinity Ioninsky Monastery is located on its territory. The garden covers an area of 130 hectares and has a large arboretum, where magnolias, irises, jasmine, lilac, crocuses, daffodils, roses and dozens of other plants grow. In the greenhouse, you can admire exotic species brought here from different parts of the world.

    Kiev Funicular

    A unique funicular of the early XX century, performing the functions of public transport, one of the first in the Russian Empire. On it you can climb from Podol to the Upper Town. Previously, there was a staircase of 500 steps on the site of the funicular. Climbing it could be equated to a real physical workout. The system can transport up to 4000 thousand people per hour, the travel time is no more than 2-3 minutes.

    Kiev Funicular
    Hydropark

    Hydropark

    Entertainment complex with a system of beaches, attractions, boat stations. The park was created in the 60s of the XX century. The Kiev metro station of the same name is located on the territory. The modern Hydropark is a variety of entertainment venues, bars and discos that are ready to receive several thousand people daily, as well as a gym town, places for team games and the park "Kiev in miniature".