Attractions of Vyshhorod

Kyiv HPP - the upper stage of the cascade of hydroelectric power stations on the Dnipro, the first HPP in the USSR, built from prefabricated reinforced concrete structures with the use of horizontal capsule hydro units, which allowed to design the HPP building combined with the spillway part

Construction Kyiv HPP continued from 1960 to 1968. Structures: HPP building (440 MW), a concrete spillway dam with 20 spillways, a shipping lock, earth dams, structures of a hydraulic storage station with an upper reservoir. The construction of the dam and the city of energy workers created a modern industrial architectural appearance of the ancient Vyshhorod.

According to legend, during the design of the Dnipro Cascade in the 1930s, Joseph Stalin demanded that if the Kyiv Hydroelectric Dam was destroyed in the event of a war, the water shaft would also destroy all other dams and bridges downstream, thus creating a natural water barrier. This legend, as well as concerns about the technical condition of the dam, constantly cause discussions about the threat to Kyiv from the station.

The Church of Saints Borys and Hlib in Vyshhorod was rebuilt in the 19th century on the site of an ancient Rus hillfort on Hill Olha. It is part of the Vyshgorod Historical and Cultural Reserve.

The first church was founded here by Prince Volodymyr. In 1030, on the site of the burnt church, Yaroslav the Wise built a temple-tomb in honor of Saints Borys and Hlib, where the relics of the holy martyrs were transferred, and in 1115 Yaroslav's grandsons built a stone cathedral.

The temple, destroyed by the Tatar-Mongols, was revived by archpriest Mykhaylo Sikachynskyi according to the project of the architect Kostyantyn Ton.

During Soviet times, the Church of Saints Borys and Hlib in Vyshhorod was turned into a museum. Now the temple is active. Nearby are the ramparts of the hillfort.

On June 17, 2023, the community voted for the transfer of the Church of Saints Borys and Hlib to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On September 5, a service in the Ukrainian language was held for the first time in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honor of Borys and Hlib.

The Museum of Ancient Rus Pottery of the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve introduces the Vyshhorod region as a leading historical center of the traditions of pottery in Kyivan Rus.

The large pottery center of Ancient Vyshhorod was discovered in the middle of the XX century during the construction of the Kyiv HPP infrastructure. According to archaeologists, in the XI century. on the territory of 5-6 hectares there were about 250-300 pottery kilns. Probably, measuring utensils for taxation were made here. Most of the finds were destroyed during the construction of residential buildings in the city of power engineers.

An exposition pavilion was built over the only surviving medieval pottery kiln. Nearby, in a village house of the middle of the XX century, there is an exposition of archeological finds on the territory of Vyshhorod pottery center, a collection of products of the Mezhyhirya porcelain and faience factory, an exhibition of works by modern masters.

The Museum of Ancient Rus Pottery regularly holds various events and celebrations. Masters of pottery invite you to master classes, during which everyone can make a souvenir for themselves.

The Historical Museum of the Vyshhorod History and Cultural Reserve is located in the old "Klyukva House" in the center of Vyshgorod.

This is a two-storey residential building, which was built in 1905 by Corporal Ivan Shkolnyi, nicknamed Klyukva. According to legend, at the end of the XIX century Klyukva began to collect various antiquities, which were then often found in the Vyshhorod region. Later, this house was used as a village council, school, dormitory. Since 1995, it belongs to the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve.

The basis of the exposition of the historical museum are the materials of archeological excavations on the settlement of Ancient Vyshhorod. In the archeological exposition you can see the oldest Easter egg in Ukraine (XI century), the seal of Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavych of the XI-XII centuries, a folding encolpion cross of the X century, fragments of a Scandinavian fibula of the first half of the X century.

The wall panel "Ancient Vyshhorod of the XII-XIII centuries", made by the honored artist of Ukraine Henry Yahodkin, gives a clear idea of the medieval city. Classic methods of museum (showcase) display are complemented by innovative museum technologies: 3D-modeling, interactive maps, QR-codes.

The "VyshHora" complex is located in Vyshhorod in a picturesque location, on the steep banks of the Kyiv Reservoir, next to the old bobsleigh track.

In winter, the mountain, which is about 200 meters long, has three different slopes and snow tubing for riding on inflatable tubes. A modern conveyor belt, snow cannons, and night lighting are in operation. Equipment can be rented, instructors work. Visitors are offered tandoori meat dishes, hot mulled wine, tea and coffee. The complex works in snowy weather, or when the average daily temperature allows the use of snow cannons.

In the summer, the complex includes 200-meter-long water slides, a 20x20-meter pool with a pool bar, and a sunbathing and relaxation area with an area of more than 400 square meters.

In July 2020, the administration of the "VyshHora" complex announced the complete cessation of activities.

Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve was founded in 1994 to protect the historical landscape of the Ancient Rus city of Vyshhorod on an area of ​​41.5 hectares. Its most valuable component is the territory of the Vyshhorod hillfort, which stretches along the slopes of the high bank of the Kyiv Reservoir.

The architectural dominant of the settlement is the Saints Borys and Hlib Church, which is clearly visible from a significant part of the village and the embankment. Within the boundaries of the Okolnyi Hrad and the former pottery Posad (downtown), which occupied an area of ​​over 19 hectares and was unparalleled in the scale of pottery production in Kyivan Rus, there is an archaeological cultural layer with the remains of pottery kilns, metallurgical workshops, residential and utility premises. On their basis, directly above the excavation site, the Ancient Rus Pottery Museum was established in 2006. The exposition of the Historical Museum, founded in 1982, is located in an old two-story building known as the Klukva House.

In total, there are 22 cultural heritage sites on the territory of the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve. All of them are marked with information boards with QR codes, by which you can get detailed information.

The administration of the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve and exhibition halls are located on the first floor of a modern residential building in the city center. As a result of a Russian missile strike in 2022, the administration building was damaged and is temporarily out of service.