Attractions of Ivano-Frankivsk region

The Plast Camp-Museum "Sokil" in the village of Hrynkiv in the Ivano-Frankivsk region is the oldest stationary base of the National Scout Organization of Ukraine "Plast".

The camp was built in 1926 on the left bank of the Lymnytsia River, at the foot of Sokil Mount – on land near Osmoloda, donated by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi for the development of plast movement.

Until 1939, dozens of boys and girls camped here every summer. The revival of the camp began in 1990, the buildings were restored according to the old drawings, a chapel was opened and a memorial cross was installed on the symbolic grave of the scouts who died in the struggle for the freedom of Ukraine.

Now the camp-museum "Sokil" is an active institution of children's recreation, sports and patriotic education. Excursions are possible only by prior agreement.

The multi-functional cultural and creative hub "Carpathian Culture Center" in Kosiv was created in 2023 on the basis of the reconstructed building of the former carpet workshop of the "Hutsulshchyna" Industrial and Artistic Association at the initiative of the "Hutsuliya" Tourist Association.

In the premises of the "Carpathian Culture Center" there are workshops of folk crafts, exhibitions and master classes are held. In particular, the Vandra Rugs weaving studio producing handmade carpets and Serhiy Dutka's ceramic workshop are operating.

The public space "Vilni" functions on the first floor.

The Carpathian Region Ethnography and Ecology Museum in Yaremche was founded in 1963 on the initiative of local historian Mykhaylo Muzych, who collected a collection of ethnographic works, historical and natural materials.

Since 2007, the museum in Yaremche has become a branch of the National Museum of Hutsulshchyna & Pokuttia Folk Art in Kolomyia.

Until 1993, it was called the Museum of Partisan Glory, as the main exposition covered the activities of Sidor Kovpak's partisan unit in the Carpathians during the Second World War. Then there was an exposition dedicated to the liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people, which told about the creation of the USS Legion, UGA, youth organization "Plast", the activities of the OUN, the struggle of the UPA and the division "SS Halicia".

An exposition dedicated to Hutsul ethnoculture has opened.

The Carpathian tram is an original narrow-gauge excursion route through the picturesque foothills of the Carpathians, which runs from Vyhoda to Senechiv.

It was opened in 2004 on the basis of a narrow-gauge railway created by Baron Leopold Popper fon Podhrahi at the end of the 19th century to service mountain logging. The width of the narrow track is 760 millimeters, which is almost 2 times smaller than the traditional European track.

The train includes a locomotive in which you can observe the driver's work, a closed car with comfortable seats, a cabriolet car, and an open platform. Along the route, the train crosses 4 bridges.

Stops are planned near the bridge over the Myzunka River, the source of mineral water "Horyanka", the height of the Shirkovets swamp, Dubovy Kut station and near the cascade of the Myzunsky Waterfall. It is possible to organize picnics.

The Cathedral of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin is better known to residents of Ivano-Frankivsk as the "Armenian Church" or "Blue Church".

A tall building with two towers in the mature Baroque style next to the market square was erected in the 18th century on the site of a wooden church in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God (crowned in 1937, now located in Poland). Construction began after the Armenian community of the then Stanislaviv received the right to self-government. Since the Armenians did not have enough funds for construction, the owner of the city, Yuzef Potoski, obliged the Jewish community, which competed with the Armenian community in trade, to help with financing.

Two restorations in the 19th and 20th centuries significantly changed the appearance of the building.

Wooden sculpture, most likely the work of master Matviy Poleyovskyi, was used in the interior design. On the walls are frescoes made by Yan Soletskyi. The interiors were completely preserved during the Soviet times due to the fact that the museum of the history of religion and atheism was located here.

In 1990, the church was returned to believers. Today it is the Holy Intercession Cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Cheese factory-museum "Khata-Staya" was opened in Verkhovyna in 2014. The herd is a traditional element of the estate of Hutsul shepherds, where budz cheese is made from sheep's milk.

The real hundred-year-old Hutsul house was moved by the owners from a remote village. The oldest part of the building is a room with a stove, where embroidered shirts and towels, dishes (plates, jars), carpets, etc. are collected. Here, the hosts prepare meals in the oven.

The second room "Hutsul Svitlytsia" is intended for holding master classes and tastings.

But first, visitors are offered to take part in the process of making budza in a herd, where a cauldron of milk is placed over an open hearth. After that, a tasting is held.

You can also learn to cook Hutsul dishes or take a weaving lesson here.

In the 17th century, Chernelytsia Castle was one of the most powerful eastern outposts of the Commonwealth of Nations.

It was built in 1659 by the Bratslav voivode Mykhaylo Chartoryskyi, as evidenced by his coat of arms "Pohon" on the gate tower. On the other side, there is the coat of arms of "Pilava" of the prince's wife, Yefrosyniya Stanislavitska (a legend is associated with her about the swarthy mistress of the castle, who committed suicide after cheating on her husband).

The castle is square in plan, with high walls on earthen ramparts and four bastions at the corners. It played an important role during the Polish-Turkish wars, Polish troops stored weapons and supplies here. The Polish king Yan III Sobieski repeatedly stayed in the castle during his Moldavian campaigns.

As a magnate's residence, the castle lasted until 1817, when its last owner, Mykola Tsensky, died. In Soviet times, a hospital was located on the territory.

Now the castle is in a dilapidated state.

Chernytskyi Waterfall waterfall is located in the village of Chernyk, village of Zelena, on the mountain river Chernyk.

The height of the Chernytskyi Waterfall is 7-8 meters. The waterfall is two-stage. At first, a wide stream of water falls from a height of 2.5-3.0 meters and is directed into a narrow, narrowing wedge-shaped channel, from which it then flies out with a roar and falls from a height of 4-5 meters.

The Catholic Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola in Kolomyia was built on the initiative of the Polish Catholic community of the city, which invited the Jesuit Fathers of the "Society of Jesus" order. In addition to missionary activity, the Jesuits were engaged in education and charity.

The construction of the temple according to the project of the Chernivtsi architect Yosyp Lyaytsner was supervised by the engineer Dioniziy Kzhychkovskyi. The church was called "man's" because most of the parishioners were wealthy people.

In Soviet times, the church premises were used as a shop. In 1990, the church of Saint Ignatius Loyola was returned to the Roman Catholic community of the city.

The majestic church of Saint Yosafat (the former church of the Virgin Mary) rises in the center of Kolomyia, next to the market square.

The parish Roman Catholic church in the baroque style was built according to the project of the famous Italian architect Bernard Meretin in 1775 (according to other sources - in 1762). Rebuilt in 1895 after a fire.

During Soviet times, the church was closed and turned into a Children's World store. In 1991, it resumed its activities as the Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Martyr Yosafat Kuntsevych.

The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the oldest wooden churches in the Carpathians, a fine example of the Hutsul school of folk wooden architecture.

Initially, the temple was part of the monastery complex, which was destroyed by the Tatars. Paintings made in 1648 have been preserved. It is located near the cemetery.

In Soviet times, the exposition of the Museum of Easter Eggs was housed here. In 1990, the Church of the Annunciation was transferred to the church community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. In 2018, the temple was returned to the Greek Catholics.

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krylos was built in 1586 from the materials of the destroyed Assumption Cathedral - the main shrine of Ancient Halych (the foundation of the cathedral was discovered next to the church, restoration is planned).

Ancient Rus reliefs and graffiti were found on some of the stone blocks that make up the church. In the 17th century, the temple complex was surrounded by defensive stone walls with four corner towers (fragments have been restored).

The church, badly damaged during the Turkish invasion, was restored at the beginning of the 18th century by Bishop Yosyp Shumlyanskyi. Great artistic value is represented by the western portal with a pediment, decorated with a stone-carved composition "The Assumption of the Virgin".

The Basilian monastery, which was abolished in 1783, operated near the cathedral.

Today, the Church of the Assumption in Krylos belongs to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. It is part of the National Reserve "Ancient Halych".

The Greek-Catholic church in the village of Staryi Uhryniv has a unique name - the Church of the Entry of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

The wooden temple was founded in 1820, but in 1914 it burned down from a shell, and was later rebuilt (according to some reports, in 1924).

Andriy Bandera, the father of the UPA leader Stepan Bandera, served as a priest in the Staryi Uhryniv church, as evidenced by a commemorative plaque with a bas-relief.

The wooden church of the Miracle of Saint Archangel Michael was built in the village of Yaremchy Dora in 1844 by the local craftsman Hnishik on the basis of an early church (XVIII century).

Made in Hutsul style. It is cruciform in plan with a large central square log that supports a tent-shaped roof with a pear-shaped crown.

The carved iconostasis and icons of the XVIII-XIX centuries, which have a high artistic value, have been preserved. Ornamental paintings on the walls were made at the beginning of the 20th century.

The appearance of Saint Michael's Church has been largely "modernized" with a metal coating.

From 1946 to 1990, the community of the Russian Orthodox Church worked on the basis of Saint Michael's Church. After Ukraine gained independence, the church building was returned to the Greek Catholic community.

The multi-tiered church of the Saint Prophet Illya in Yaremche was built in 1937. by local master Ivan Yavorskyi.

A classic example of Hutsul wooden architecture.

It is part of the complex of the Illynskyi Monastery of the Studites, whose patron saint is Saint Illya.

The interior has a unique iconostasis with wood-burned ornaments and carved icons.

During the Soviet period, a warehouse was arranged in the church, and later - a museum of atheism. In 1990, after Ukraine gained independence, the church of Saint Illya was returned to the Studites, who carried out restoration and restored the monastery. Now the church is active.