Attractions of Vytachiv

The most famous and most visited tourist object of Vytachiv is Mohyla Mountain, better known recently as Knyazhyi Shpyl (Prince's Spire) or Horodyshche. It is located in the south-eastern part of the village. This is one of the highest Dnipro cliffs (190 meters above sea level), which has become the hallmark of the village of Vytachiv thanks to stunning panoramas, modern legends and developed tourist infrastructure.

Data from archeological researches indicate that a 12th century barrow gravedigger is located at this place. Some local historians believe that it was at this place that the historic Vytychiv snem (congress of ancient Rus princes) took place, at which peace was concluded between Svyatopolk Izyaslavych, Volodymyr Monomakh, David and Oleh Svyatoslavych.

Mohyla Mountain does not have a protected status, although in some sources this place is mistakenly called the National Scientific and Cultural Reserve "Novhorod Svyatopolchyi Settlement" or "Vytych Settlement".

In 1991, Ukrainian writer and philosopher Oles Berdnyk laid the cornerstone of the future Church of Ukraine-Mother at this place during the Second Congress of the Ukrainian Spiritual Republic. Before the third congress held in Vytachiv the following year, a wooden windmill and a chapel designed by Taras Shevchenko were erected. The Berdnyk chapel appears in the film "Bohdan Zynoviy Khmelnytskyi" (2004). On the lower terrace of the mountain, the remains of the scenery of Orysya's hut from the film "The Guide" (2014) have been preserved.

The "Vytach" wood-fired craft bakery offers sourdough bread near the windmill. There is a car parking lot, places for rest with tables and barbecues, a public toilet. A stylized private estate also attracts attention.

Mountain Krasukha rises 189 meters above sea level in the northeastern part of the Vytachiv village. Archaeological studies indicate that the top of the mountain is an artificial mound of the 2nd-4th centuries, probably from the times of the Ant kingdom.

There is a popular version that the barrow was built in 375 at the place of death of the famous Gothic king Ermanaric by order of his successor Vithimiris, which gave rise to the village of Vytachiv.

Archeological research discovered objects of the Chernyakhiv culture of the 2nd-3rd centuries, artifacts from the time of the Huns (5th century) and the remains of a pagan temple from the 6th-8th centuries on the mountain. The mountain was probably used as a burial place at all times.

Now there is also a village cemetery on Krasukha Mountain, so it is considered the oldest active necropolis in Kyiv region. Adherents of esoteric teachings consider the mountain a "place of power".

To the west of the mountain is the historical area of Okip, where there is a settlement of the ancient Rus city of Vytychiv of the 10th-13th centuries. Remains of ramparts and ditches can still be seen among private estates there.

The historic town of Svyatopolch (Novhorod Svyatopolchyi) was founded in 1095 by the Kyiv prince Svyatopolk II Izyaslavych on the Vytachiv hill. Here the prince will resettle the inhabitants of the city of Yuryiv, destroyed by the Polovtsy.

Chronicles show that after the defeat of the army of the Rus princes in the battle of Kalka in 1223, the Mongols marched into Rus, but only reached Svyatopolch, from where they turned back. After that, Svyatopolch is no longer mentioned in the annals.

According to archaeological research, the remains of historical Svyatopolch are located in the Horodyshche tract between the villages of Vytachiv and Staiky. Hillfort occupied a triangular cape with an area of about 0.5 hectares. Fragments of earthen defensive ramparts with three towers have been preserved, and the remains of settlements have been investigated. Remains of a post with a pottery workshop can be traced on the ground side and on the slopes.

In 2009, the monument of archeology "The settlement of the historical city of Svyatopolch of the IX-XIII centuries" was entered into the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine under the number 100014-Н. A memorial sign has been installed.

The Vytachiv Museum of Local Lore was opened in 2008. It is located in the premises of the Vytachiv village club.

A small ethnographic collection and works of local masters of folk art are presented.