Attractions of Korosten district

Saint Basil's Cathedral is the oldest temple in the city of Ovruch.

It was built in 1190 by Prince Ryuryk Rostyslavovych on the site of a wooden temple built in memory of Prince Oleh Svyatoslavovych, who died in 977. The construction was supervised by the ancient Rus architect Petro Mylonig, one of the four architects of the pre-Mongol period, whose names have been preserved in history.

In terms of architecture, the temple is close to Sophia of Kyiv. Kyiv, Smolensk, and Grodno techniques are used in the exterior decoration, creating a strict and at the same time rich decoration of the temple.

In 1321, the Saint Basil's Church in Ovruch was almost completely destroyed by the Lithuanians, restored at the beginning of 1909 by the famous architect Oleksiy Shchusev (for this work he received the title of academician of architecture). Paintings on non-canonical subjects were performed by the outstanding artist Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. Fragments of Old Rus frescoes have also been preserved.

Nearby is the women's Saint Basil's Monastery, built in the Pskov architectural style at the same time as the temple was restored. The complex includes a cell building and a bell tower.

A granite cross was erected for the 1000th anniversary of Saint Basil's Church.

The State Geological Reserve "Stone Village" ("Kamyane Selo") is located on the territory of the Polisky Reserve, in the Zamyslovytskyi Forestry, 30 kilometers northeast of Olevsk.

Large boulders scattered in the forest between pines and oaks form "streets" on which there are "houses", "church" and "school". One of the stones has three indentations resembling human footprints - "footprints of God".

The boulders were probably brought by a glacier, after which they were weathered. There are several folk legends about the origin of the "Stone Village". One of them tells about how greedy residents of a forest settlement refused shelter to travelers, for which they were punished - their houses were petrified.

The manor of the family of the famous traveler and ethnographer Mykola Myklukho-Maklay is located in the Hamarnya tract on the western outskirts of Malyn.

Myklukho-Maklay's mother bought the Hamarnya manor at the beginning of the 19th century from the Shcherbakov princes, the scientist himself visited it several times.

Since 1931, the Malyn Forestry Technical College has been located near the estate. Of particular value is the park, which has many rare trees 500-600 years old. A house with Neo-Gothic elements, built by Myklukho-Maklay, has been preserved - now it is part of one of the college buildings.

In 1986, a small museum exposition dedicated to the scientific activity of the researcher was opened in it. In 2015, the Myklukho-Maklay Museum was opened. A bust of the scientist and a commemorative plaque were installed.

The Kopyshche Village History Museum is part of the memorial complex of the Kopyshche Tragedy, located in the Memorial Park in the center of the village.

On July 13, 1943, with the help of partisan units, the Nazi invaders shot and burned 2,887 villagers alive, only a few survived. The central element of the museum exposition is the diorama "The Tragedy of Kopyshche".

The ethnographic section presents items of traditional life of Polishchuk, folk clothes, embroidered towels.

The modern exposition of the Korosten Museum of Local Lore was opened in 1987 in the premises of the former headquarters of the Korosten Fortress.

Here is a history of the region from ancient times based on the results of archaeological research conducted in the 1990s.

The most valuable exhibits are samples of minerals, weapons of the XIII-XIX centuries, tools of Polishchuks, objects of folk decorative and applied art.

A special place in the exhibition is occupied by the canvas-diorama "Princess Olha near the walls of ancient Iskorosten" (artist Oleksandr Turansky, 1982), which recreates the picture of the arrival of the widowed princess of Kyiv to the walls of the rebellious city.

The room-museum of the history of the Korosten porcelain factory has been operating in the city's cultural center since 2012.

Here is a part of the exposition, which was previously located in the lobby of the main building of the enterprise, which is now closed.

Local residents also helped in creating the exposition. Today, the number of unique items in the museum room is about 500 items.

For many years, the enterprise "Korosten Porcelain Factory" was one of the largest manufacturers of porcelain tableware in Ukraine.

The Korosten Porcelain Factory was founded in 1904 by the Polish entrepreneur Tymofiy Przhybylskyi. During the Second World War, the plant was destroyed, it was put into operation again in 1944.

In Soviet times, the company specialized in the production of porcelain products for cultural and household purposes: dining, tea, and coffee sets, headsets of various configurations, custom-made souvenirs.

The exhibition of the best samples of the plant's products could still be seen in the lobby of the main building. The company is currently closed. Part of the exposition is presented at the porcelain exhibition in the Korosten House of Culture.

The Museum of the Locomotive Depot of the Korosten Station tells about the history of the development of railway transport and the construction of the Kyiv-Kovel Railway.

Construction of the Korosten station began in 1902. Today, this complex railway junction is one of the most important in the country.

The collection of rarities for the Locomotive Depot Museum was collected by enthusiasts from among its employees.

The continuation of the exposition can be considered a complex of production facilities.

The Luhyny People's Museum of Local Lore was opened in 1980 on the initiative of local teacher Zoya Sulska.

The museum is located next to the House of culture and has 8 exhibition halls. The exposition tells about the ancient history of the region, about the foundation and development of the town of Luhyny, about the traditional life of local residents, as well as about the nature of Polissya.

In particular, stone tools, axes and a sword from the times of Ancient Rus, household items of Polishuks from the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, embroidered towels, women's and men's clothing, and carpets are presented.

A table with hollow bowls attracts special attention.

The "Rock" facility in Korosten is a former secret underground command post of the Korosten fortified area №5, which was part of the so-called "Stalin Line".

It was built in 1936 on the basis of a system of natural and artificial caves in the granite rock, on which the ancient Rus city Iskorosten stood in the 8th-13th centuries. Also known as "Stalin's Bunker".

Also known as "Stalin's Bunker". In case of war, it was planned to command the South-Western Front. The object was not used for its intended purpose. In 1941, a detachment of 200 Red Army soldiers defended themselves against the Nazis for a week.

In Soviet times, the facility remained under the control of the military, then was transferred to the civil defense system. All this time the equipment (ventilation system, water supply, autonomous power supply, communication) remains in working order. The seal of secrecy was lifted in 2005, and the efforts of enthusiasts began the creation of the military-historical museum complex "Rock", dedicated to the initial period of the Second World War. One of the probable three levels of corridors and caves has been investigated.

Excursions are by prior arrangement.

The Ovruch historical and local history museum "Drevlyans Sources" has been operating since 2006 at the Center for Children's and Youth Creativity of the Ovruch City Council.

In the ethnographic hall, items from the traditional life of Polishchuks are presented, including unique towels-curtains with Drevlyans patterns. A prominent place is occupied by icons, one of which was made in 1904 in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

The next exposition introduces the ancient Polissya crafts - needlework and linen weaving. In particular, a real shipboard and shipboard equipment, as well as an ancient loom, are presented.

The last museum room contains materials about schooling in Ovruch region from the time of Kyivan Rus to the present day, as well as about prominent people of the region. The interiors of the classroom and pioneer room are reproduced here, old textbooks are presented, including the 1861 primer by Taras Shevchenko.

The People's Museum of Local Lore in the urban-type village of Narodychi was founded in 1990. The exposition in three rooms tells about the history of Narodychi region from the most ancient times to the present day.

The archaeological section presents the tools of primitive people. The ethnographic collection includes many household items of the Polishchuks, as well as icons, embroidered towels, etc.

Products of folk craftsmen are demonstrated.

A separate exposition is devoted to liquidation of the accident at the Chornobyl NPP.

The Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, which is also called the Saint Olha's Church, rises above the Uzh River on the outskirts of "Drevlyanskyi Park" in Korosten.

The name is connected with the legend of how Princess Olha, who burned Iskorosten in revenge for the death of her husband, repented of what she had done and, after accepting Christianity, built a temple on the burnt area, where she came to pray for her sins.

The parish of Saint Olha was founded in Korosten in 1990.

The Olevsk Museum of Local Lore opened in 1995.

Initially, it had only two halls: military glory and nature. Later, a hall of antiquities was opened, which tells about the ancient crafts and trades of Polishchuks, as well as a hall of history of Olevsk region. In particular, there are archeological finds from the Middle Ages, made during excavations on the territory of Olevsk settlement in the tract Babyna Hill: sword guard, lead seal of the King of Prussia, a necklace of glass of different colors and amber, bronze jewelry.

The exposition "Republic of Olevsk" on five stands highlights basic information about the activities of the Polissya Sich and Taras Bulba-Borovets.

Stands "Jewish Community in Olevsk" and "Local Interest" were developed, a new exhibition "Amber-succinite" was created.

The museum offers sightseeing tours of the city of Olevsk and field trips to the "Stone Village".

The Ovruchchyna History Museum was founded in 1975 at the Ovruch House of Culture.

The exhibition in three halls reveals the culture and history of the region, starting from the Paleolithic period. Among the unique exhibits are tools of primitive people, an medieval Drevlyan sword  of the XII-XIII centuries, a Cossack pistol and a powder magazine of the end of the XVIII century.

Documents of repressed compatriots, letters of Ostarbeiters deported to Germany during the Second World War, personal belongings of people who left their homes after the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, photos of Ovruchans who participated in the Revolution of Dignity and the Russian-Ukrainian war are preserved.

In the ethnographic department, the everyday objects of Polishchuks are exhibited, in particular, traditional clothes and shoes, woven and embroidered towels, wooden products of folk craftsmen. The interior of the 19th century village house "Polissya room" has been recreated.