Attractions of Kropyvnytskyi

The Archaeological Museum named after Ninel Bokii at the Central Ukrainian State University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko in Kropyvnytskyi was opened in 2011. It bears the name of its founder, historian and archaeologist, assistant professor of the Department of History of Ukraine, Ninel Bokiy.

The main exposition of the museum represents the work of the archeological expedition of Kirovograd archaeologists for 30 years and contains artifacts from almost all archaeological eras. In particular, items from such well-known monuments as the Melhunovskyi kurgan, Samur-Mohyla, Scythian burial mounds near the village of Zalom and the city of Svitlovodsk are presented. Among them: ceramics, weapons, jewelry, horse bridles and ritual objects.

The pearl of the collection is materials from the Golden Horde period, which represent a unique archaeological site near the village of Torhovytsia in the Kirovohrad Region.

The exposition of the Art Museum in Kropyvnytskyi is housed in a building in the Art Nouveau style, built at the end of the 19th century by the order of the merchant Israel Shpolyanskyi.

For the first time, the question of creating an art museum in the city was raised by the local intelligentsia back in 1870, but real work began only in 1921.

Today, the museum's holdings include 9,000 exhibits: painting, graphics, sculpture, ceramics and glass, fabric, wood, metal, archival and documentary, photos. The museum received part of the exhibits from the funds of the Hermitage, Tretyakivska Gallery, Kyiv museums, others represent the creative work of famous artists from Kropyvnytskyi.

The museum has five exhibition halls, three of which are stationary: "Sacred Art", "Art of the 18th - early 20th centuries", "Compatriot Artists".

The pearl of the collection is the painting "Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg on January 9, 1905" by the original Polish artist Voytsekh Horatsiy Kossak.

A complex of decorative and applied art is also presented in the museum exposition.

The stone church of the Holy Virgin of Volodymyrska with a bell tower was built at the expense of the Greek community of Yelysavethrad (now Kropyvnytskyi).

Initially, there was a wooden temple built in 1766 by Greek merchants at this place. In 1898, the building was rebuilt, the rector's house is located next to it.

The interior has preserved ancient paintings, which were restored in 1905. Today it is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin.

The Central Ukrainian Regional Museum of Local Lore in Kropyvnytskyi is a descendant of the first museum institution in the region, which was created in 1883 at the initiative of historian and teacher Volodymyr Yastrebov. Previously, the institution was called the Kirovohrad Regional Museum of Local Lore.

Since 1929, the museum has been housed in the former house of the merchant Oleksandr Barsky, which is a vivid example of the "early modern" architectural style. It was built between 1895 and 1910 by the city's leading architect Oleksandr Lyshnevsky. According to legend, the owner never had to live in it, as he died after completing all the works just on the doorstep of his new house.

The museum collections include about 68,500 thousand items of the main fund, which characterize the historical development and culture of the region from ancient times to the present day, as well as the nature of the region. The basis of the collection is the collection of private collector Oleksandr Ilyin: archaeological finds, paintings, icons. The museum lapidarium presents a Neolithic anthropomorphic stele, a log culture sarcophagus and 6 Scythian statues.

The branches and departments of the Central Ukrainian Regional Museum of Local Lore include:
- Reserve-museum of Ivan Tobilevych (Karpenko-Kary) "Khutir Nadiya";
- Marko Kropyvnytsky Memorial Museum;
- Ukrainian Choreographic Art History Museum;
- Museum and nature reserve "Tobilevychi";
- Historical and architectural reserve "Ascension of Cross Church" (Rayevsky Family Reserve);
- Historical and memorial reserve "Black Raven".

Arboretum in Kropyvnytskyi is one of the most popular recreation spots for the townspeople.

The 45-hectare park was created in 1958. At the first stage, about 50 species of various trees and shrubs were planted. And in 1972, the park was classified as a monument park.

In 2001, the park area, which had fallen into disrepair over time, began to be revived: the green area was recreated, children's playgrounds were built, attractions were restored and new ones were installed - now there are 40 of them in the park.

In 2008, the Arboretum in Kropyvnytskyi was recognized as the best park in Ukraine. Its real highlight is 100,000 tulips that bloom at the end of April.

In 2009, an avenue of thuja was planted in the park in honor of the region's 70th anniversary.

The park has an entertainment zone with 44 attractions. A huge samovar treats visitors to tea all year round. There are also 2 cafes and 2 restaurants on the territory.

"Elvorti" is one of the oldest and largest agricultural machinery factories in Europe, specializing in the production of seed drills.

Founded by English brothers Robert and Tomas Elvorti. The success of the factory, which in pre-revolutionary times employed more than half of Yelisavethrad's population, contributed to the development of the city.

In Soviet times, it was renamed "Red Star", whose products were known all over the world. Currently, the factory will return the historical name of Elvorti.

After the restoration and overhaul of the Elvorti building, the factory museum was opened in 1994, which now has more than 3,500 exhibits.

The fire-technical exhibition-museum in Kropyvnytskyi is also known as the Fire Protection History Museum. It is located on the territory of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kirovohrad region.

Expositions in three halls tell about the history of fire protection of the steppe region and about the activities of the modern rescue service. Among the exhibits are a variety of technical equipment for firefighting and clothing samples of fire and rescue service fighters.

The highlight of the first hall is the diorama "Yelysavethrad Fire of 1834", which shows the tragic event of the past, as a result of which the city burned to the ground. Of particular interest to visitors are the old fire pump and the legendary horse-drawn barrel carriage used by Yelysavethrad rescuers in the 19th century. A miniature fire engine and models of vintage fire engines are also presented.

In the hall of fire prevention and prevention, it is possible to see with the help of a mirror diagram what stages a fire goes through from a spark to complete elimination. Household appliances and interior items that have been in fires are also presented here.

The museum has a local lighting system, which allows visitors to concentrate their attention on one or another object as much as possible thanks to the directed flow of light to the required area of the exhibition.

The defensive ramparts of the fortress of St. Elizabeth, which started Kropyvnytskyi, are located near the current city center.

Founded in 1754, the fortress bears the name of Saint Elizabeth, the heavenly patron of the Russian Empress Elizabeth. The ramparts of the fortress are built in the form of a star-shaped polygon, the ends of which are sharp bastions.

The Elizabethan fortress served as the headquarters of the Russian military command in the south of Ukraine, a stronghold of Russian influence in the Zaporizhzhia lands and a center of struggle against the Haydamak movement. In 1769, the fortress withstood the siege of the Turkish-Tatar army of Khan Crimea-Girey. After the end of this stage of the Russo-Turkish war and after the liquidation of the Zaporizhzhia Sich, in 1775 the Elizabeth fortress lost its military and strategic importance, and in 1784 it was disarmed.

However, the unique earthen fortification structure has survived to this day. The barracks in which the regiment of General Mykhaylo Kutuzov was stationed at the end of the 18th century have also been partially preserved. A memorial sign was installed - ancient guns.

On the territory there is a memorial to the Eternal Flame at the military cemetery of those who died during the Second World War.

A large chorale synagogue in the characteristic eclectic style of the end of the 19th century with a romantic direction of the Moorish style was built in Kropyvnytskyi in 1853.

In 1895, it was reconstructed according to the project of the famous Elisavethrad architect Oleksandr Lyshnevskyi. At that time, about 25,000 Jews lived in the city.

After the Second World War, the synagogue was closed, the building was in a state of disrepair. Now it has been restored and returned to the Jewish community of Kropyvnytskyi.

In 1998, 2 significant projects of Jewish culture started working in the premises of the synagogue - the historical museum "Jews of Yelisavethrad" (at the time of its creation it was the first communal Jewish museum in Ukraine) and the Jewish musical and dramatic theater "Thiya".

The blue church with green domes in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located in Kropyvnytskyi to the west of the headquarters complex of the military town.

It was built on the site of a wooden church in 1787. The money for the construction of the stone building was allocated in 1824 by the merchant Petro Shchedrin. The project was developed by the architect Kostyantyn Ton, the construction was supervised by the city architect Andreev. The temple is made in the neo-Rus style of cult architecture. Details of 17th century architecture are also used.

In the interior of the Intercession Church, the remains of a painting from the second half of the 19th century (Fedir Kozachinsky) have been preserved.

In 1932, the church was closed, although it resumed work for a short time during the Second World War. Returned to believers in 1988.

The Literary and Memorial Museum of Ivan Karpenko-Kary was opened in Kropyvnytskyi in 1995 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the well-known Ukrainian playwright, the luminary of the Ukrainian professional theater Ivan Karpenko-Kary (Tobilevych).

The museum is located in the memorial building where the writer lived in Yelysavethrad (then the name of the city) from 1872 to 1883. Here he began his literary activity, writing the short story "New Recruit" and the first two plays - "Shepherd" and "Not so gentlemen, as mister". Famous cultural figures of the second half of the 19th century visited him, including: Mykola Lysenko, Marko Kropyvnytskyi, Mykola Sadovskyi, Panas Saksahanskyi, Mykola Arkas, Mariya Zankovetska, Mykhaylo Starytskyi and others.

The main exhibition "Ivan Karpenko-Kary: life paths of a luminary" highlights the Yelisavetgrad period of the writer's life, his role on the amateur and professional scene. Lifetime editions of Karpenko-Kary's works, original photographs of luminaries of the Ukrainian theater, theater posters are presented.

In the second and third halls there are temporary exhibitions: "Khutir Nadiya - the theater mecca of Ukraine", "Voices of literary Kirovohrad region" (history of the literary life of the region for 80 years), "A word about the city above Ingul" (references to the city of Kropyvnytskyi in the works of famous writers).

The complex of buildings of the former Junker Cavalry School in Kropyvnytskyi was built in the middle of the 19th century on the territory of the former suburb of Kovalivka.

It was one of the largest military schools in the country. The military town included a three-story palace, headquarters and training buildings, officers' meeting, arena, and stables.

The buildings are located around the current Cavalry Park, on the site of which there used to be a parade ground where military parades and reviews were held. The complex is still in the hands of the military.

The memorial museum of Marko Kropyvnytsky was opened in Kropyvnytskyi in 1982 in the building where the luminary of the Ukrainian theater lived for almost 20 years.

Here the playwright wrote his classic plays, and in the early 1880s, he formed a celebrated Ukrainian theater troupe.

The exposition of the museum consists of several chapters that tell about the family of the playwright and actor, about his childhood and studies at the gymnasium and university, about his path in art as the founder of the first professional Ukrainian theater - the Theater of Corypheivs.

A monument to Marko Kropyvnytsky was erected near the Coryphaei Theater.

The monument "Guardian Angel of Ukraine" was installed in Kropyvnytskyi for the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ and for the 250th anniversary of the city.

Along the perimeter of the base of the column is the inscription: "God, save Ukraine."

During the creation of the monument, the craftsmen used granite from the Kapustinsky, Krupsky and Voynovsky deposits. The monument to the Guardian Angel was created by sculptor Anatoliy Honchar and architect Vitaliy Kryvenko.

The museum complex of the National Aviation University Flight Academy in Kropyvnytskyi unites a number of museum institutions and exhibition spaces dedicated to the history of Ukrainian aviation in general and the educational institution in particular.

The center of the complex is the Aviation Museum, which has been operating since 1971. The exposition presents many aircraft models, photos, souvenirs from different countries, awards and gifts. The most popular exhibit is the cabin of the An-24 aircraft, which was used as a training exercise for cadets. Samples of on-board recorders - so-called "black boxes" are also presented.

Kozhedub Square behind the main training building of the academy was created in 2010 around a memorial sign in honor of the stay of Ukrainian ace pilot Ivan Kozhedub in Kirovohrad Oblast. The square also features a forged commemorative sign "Shpakivnia forever" in honor of all graduates, a memorial plaque dedicated to the two-time Hero of the Soviet Union Amet Khan Sultan, stands with information about outstanding aviators whose activities are related to Kirovohrad region, etc.

Alley of Aviators was laid in 2010 from Chobanu Street to BC "Aviator" in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first flight into the sky of Yelisavetgrad. There are real airplanes and models, stands and creative compositions, a fountain in the form of an airplane and much more.

The Aeronautical square is located between the second educational building and the training center - here the composition "Rose of the Winds" and samples of aeronautical equipment, which was operated at the airfield "Kirovohrad" in different years, are presented.

The museum exposition of historical local history is also a part of the complex.