The ancient city of Cherkasy in Central Ukraine has a long and interesting history, which has left many amazing places and objects in its memory.
Today, travelers are increasingly paying attention to small cities in Europe, so Cherkasy appears in many tourist routes. Sights, a guide to which will be of interest to both travelers and new residents of the city, this settlement are of great cultural and educational significance. We will talk about what you definitely need to see in this city, what to do here and how to spend time.
Geographical position
The city of Cherkasy is located in the center of Ukraine, on the right bank of the Kremenchug reservoir. Historically, the settlement was located in a strategically important place in the middle reaches of the Dnieper. The city was built on top of a hill, which gave it advantages in defense. Today Cherkasy is also spread on the flat part of the territory, however, on the whole, the settlement is distinguished by a hilly relief. The city is adequately provided with land and water resources, which has always contributed to sustainable development.
Name etymology
Researchers express different versions about the origin of the name Cherkasy. The first assumption is based on the fact that the toponym is formed as a result of distortion of the word "Circassians", i.e. residents of the Caucasus. There is also a version that the name came from the Turkic phrase “chiri kishi”, which means “people of power”. Some researchers believe that the word "Cherkasy" is derived from the Ossetian word "eagles". One way or another, all versions lead to the Caucasus and connect the name of the city with a special subethnos - Cossacks. These two factors have become the most important in the history and formation of the city.
Foundation History
The first people in these parts appeared in the Paleolithic era. These were the sites of nomadic tribes, which left behind themselves traces in the form of primitive tools. Later, representatives of the Zimovnikovsk and Chernyakhov cultures lived here , from them traces remained in the form of dwellings and graves. In the 6-3 centuries BC, these territories were occupied by Scythians, it was they who made up the nucleus of future Slavic tribes. Also here lived such nationalities as glade, Sarmatians, Berendeys, Alans. The first documentary evidence of the existence of the city dates from 1394, the annals mention the fortress on the southern borders of Kievan Rus. For several centuries Cherkasy fought with various invaders: Tatar-Mongols, Lithuanians, Poles. For some time in the 15th century, Cherkasy became the center of the headman, in which the Lithuanian governor lived. A little later, Cossack tribes settled here, who united the inhabitants in the struggle against the Lithuanians and Tatars. In 1493, Cherkasy (Cossacks) captured Ochakov, a city rebuilt by the Ottomans and Crimean Tatars. To protect against enemies, Cherkasy Castle is being built, for several decades it was strengthened and withstood numerous sieges. The city began to be built around this fortress, towering on a hill above the Dnieper. The strategic importance of the city is growing due to the increasing danger of attacks by neighboring states. The freedom-loving nature of Cherkasy was manifested in their active participation in the uprisings at the turn of the 16-17th centuries. Residents of the city played a prominent role in the struggle of the Ukrainian people against the power of the Polish feudal lords. For a while, the city became part of Ukraine, but then was again returned to Poland. In 1793, Cherkasy became part of the Russian Empire. This has a beneficial effect on the development of the village, here industrial and cultural enterprises begin to be built. In the 19th century, the real flowering of Cherkasy began, a railway was laid here, several large factories were opened, and a large trade fair was held. As a result of the October Revolution, the city entered the Soviet Union together with the Ukrainian SSR. Since 1991 it is the regional center of the state of Ukraine. The rich history of the city allowed him to accumulate many interesting places and attractions. Therefore, tourists are increasingly including Cherkasy in their routes. What to see them in this city? There are several answers to this question.
Cherkasy today
Currently, the city is a major economic and transport center of Ukraine. Its stability is ensured by the developed chemical and food industries, as well as automobile enterprises. The city is home to about 280 thousand people. Also, Cherkasy, whose attractions are diverse and attractive, is a major tourist center. This area is one of the most promising, as the city has great cognitive, recreational and cultural potential. Creative biographies of T. Shevchenko, K. Paustovsky, P. Tychina are connected with Cherkasy.
Historical monuments
Visiting Cherkasy, the sights of which are of great historical interest, it is worth starting with the Hill of Glory. This is the place where the ancient city of 6-8 centuries was located. Also here stood the famous Cherkasy fortress, thanks to which the city grew and developed. Today, one of the main churches of the city stands near the hill, and once upon a time there was a wooden Trinity Cathedral. On the hill is a memorial in honor of the soldiers and defenders of the rear during the Second World War. During the construction of the memorial, unfortunately, all the remains of historical buildings were destroyed. About 5 thousand dead are buried on the hill and there is a figure of Motherland. From the top there is a magnificent view of the city and the Dnieper. For those wishing to learn more about the history of the city, several museums operate in Cherkasy, we will discuss them further.
Architectural monuments
For architecture lovers, the city of Cherkasy, whose sights are of undoubted value, provides the opportunity to see several unique objects at once.
The most famous building in Cherkasy is the magnificent house of A. Shcherbina (now the Wedding Palace). The building was erected for the residence of a local businessman who made capital on the construction of the railway in 1892. The magnificent neo-Renaissance building also had stables, a servant's house and a magnificent garden. In 1907, Scherbina passed the mansion to the Zemsky assembly. After the revolution, the building was nationalized. The new owners destroyed part of the adjacent buildings and the garden, replaced the doors. But the house continues to delight with its splendor.
Another architectural “miracle” is the Blue Palace. So the people call the building of the hotel "Slavyanskaya". The construction was commissioned by the entrepreneur Skorina according to the project of the architect V. Gorodetsky at the end of the 19th century. The building is a true masterpiece of the Neo-Gothic style, which is rare enough for Eastern Europe. Today the building houses a bank, the house is well restored and looks very impressive, especially in the evening illumination.
A unique building is a water tower, designed by an engineer and architect Shukhov in 1914. There were about 200 such structures in Ukraine, but only a few remained. A spectacular, openwork construction is not in the best condition today, but Cherkasy, whose sights are gradually being restored, are beginning to think about preserving the monument. The tower was designed to provide the city with drinking water, but today it is not used for its intended purpose.
It will be interesting to look at the building of the Cherkasy Puppet Theater, located in the house of the early 19th century. This building belongs to the so-called "model houses" of the architect A. Ruska. In his image, public buildings were erected throughout Ukraine.
The Tsibulsky House is another architectural monument in Cherkasy. This building was built in the mid-19th century and is an example of European architecture of its time. Today it houses the museum of "one book" - "Kobzar" T. Shevchenko.
Natural monuments
In Ukraine, many cities are famous for their parks and other natural sites, and Cherkasy is no exception. Attractions - a waterfall, gardens, parks, a river - are worthy of devoting several leisurely walks to them. The main natural site in the city is the Dnieper, it is nice to take a boat trip on it. This allows you to look at the city from an unusual angle and enjoy the natural views.
It’s not often that you see a real pine forest in the city, there is one in Cherkasy. This park is called the 50th Anniversary Park, the Jubilee Park, Sosnovy Bor. A large park with ponds, a large number of different plants, alleys, paths for cyclists allows you to have an excellent time at any time of the year.
Not far from the city is the waterfall Vyr. Its height is about 2 meters, it gives rise to a picturesque canyon with a length of about one kilometer. The views of this natural object are not at all characteristic of Ukraine, most of all they resemble the Norwegian fjords.
The main attractions
Travelers do not always have a lot of time, and they have a question: what to see in Cherkasy per day? Residents of the city say that the main attractions are:
- Mikhailovsky Cathedral;
- Hill of Glory with a memorial complex;
- Cherkasy registry office, aka Shcherbina House;
- the building of the bank "Ukrsotsbank", the former hotel "Slavyanskaya";
- Valley of roses;
- Kobzar Museum, housed in the Tsibulsky house;
- Buddhist temple "White Lotus";
- tower of Shukhov;
- Trinity Cathedral;
- Feysvol.
In general, if there are cities, as if specially created for walking, then one of them, of course, is Cherkasy. What to see in the city? The city itself! You need to walk slowly along it, absorbing the atmosphere, which is the main attraction.
Temples of the city
Cherkassy, whose sights preserve the spirit of the times, can not be imagined without temples. They create a special atmosphere and preserve the history of the people. The city has some of the most important places of worship. The most important of them is St. Michael's Cathedral, we will talk about it in more detail later. Also of great importance for the history of the city is the Trinity Cathedral. It was restored in 1991 near the historical site - Castle Hill. Since the 17th century, there was a temple on the hill, which was demolished during the construction of the Glory Memorial. This small, many-domed temple does not restore the historical appearance of the previous cathedral, but continues its traditions. Another interesting cathedral in Cherkasy is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built in 1905, then partially destroyed during the war. In Soviet times, it was the only active temple in the city. Since 2002, the church was moved to a new place.
An amazing place for the Ukrainian city is the Buddhist Martial Arts Temple "White Lotus", an excursion to which you must include in the plan of acquaintance with Cherkasy. In the historical place where the Vedic temple of the Warriors of the Light was located in antiquity, in the 1990s it was built by the followers of the kung fu school. The temple was built on the model in Laos and is the largest in Europe. During the tour, you can see a slice of the sacred oak, white and black stupas, participate in a tea ceremony.
Mikhailovsky Cathedral
In 1994, the city of Cherkasy, the sights of which we are considering, acquired another unique place. The Mikhailovsky Cathedral was founded, which today is the largest church in Ukraine, it accommodates up to 12 thousand people. He supervised the construction work and created the project, Metropolitan Sofroniy. The cathedral is made in the Byzantine style with 7 chapters. Its height is 74 meters. The church plans to build a bell tower about 100 meters high to the temple. There are daily services in the church, and various visiting clergymen conduct services here on holidays.
1 day route
Tourists often ask the question: what to see in Cherkassy in 1 day? For inspection, you can choose one of the proposed routes. Although the historical center of the city is not very large, and you can see it quickly enough, there are attractions that you can miss. For organized tourists guided tours of Cherkasy are both walking and bus, which allow you to see the main places. You can start your self-examination with a walk along T. Shevchenko Boulevard lined with chestnuts, walk to the Hill of Glory to see the city as a whole. Then go to the Trinity Church. Then take a walk around the city, exploring the architectural sights. Visit St. Michael's Cathedral, breathe air in the Valley of Roses. You can end the day with a boat trip along the Dnieper. Cherkasy, the sights whose photos deserve the best guides, are worth it to devote to their inspection more than one day. But the main thing can be seen in a day, you need to plan the route well.
Things to do
Cherkassy has a lot to do besides sightseeing. First of all, you need to walk through the beautiful parks of the city. The Valley of Roses is a small park near the Dnieper. Here, from June to October, roses of many varieties bloom, and walking here is a pleasure. The park has an unusual sundial in the form of a bird. Also, the Valley offers beautiful views of the river. For lovers of fauna in Cherkassy there is a zoo where you can see traditional and rare animals. Cherkassy cinemas always work, where you can spend time with pleasure and comfort. From the end of April, navigation along the Dnieper begins. A traditional river cruise is 1 hour, but it is possible to get a longer walk. For fishing enthusiasts, trips to the islands are organized where you can fully enjoy the Ukrainian nature.
Many unusual sculptures have been found in Cherkasy, and their search can become a kind of quest in the city. It is worthwhile to find monuments to Golokhvastov and Prona Prokopovna, Moonshine still, Varenik and Plumber, Fagot and the cat Hippo.
Museums
When thinking about what you can see in Cherkasy, do not forget about museums. The local history museum offers a very good ethnographic collection, here you can find out how the fate of the region evolved, how the first settlers lived. A special pride of the museum is the complete skeleton of a mammoth. The museum of one book is also interesting, in which various editions of the best work of T. Shevchenko, the poem "Kobzar" are presented. And besides, here you can see paintings, a collection of postcards, film projectors and many other interesting objects. In the Art Museum you can see a good collection of folk art of the inhabitants of the Dnieper region, an excellent collection of icon paintings of the 16-19th century.
Practical information
Today, for many cities of Ukraine, the most important area of development is tourism. Cherkasy has great potential in this aspect. Tourists have the opportunity to stay in 9 hotels of the city of different price categories. Getting to the city is very easy, an international airport operates in Cherkasy, a railway line runs, and there is a bus and river connection with nearby settlements.