Attractions of Kyiv

The Pedestrian Park Bridge (Bridge of Lovers) over the Alley of the Mahdeburzkoho prava in Kyiv connects Khreshchaty (Kupetsky) Park with City (Tsarsky) Park.

It was built in 1912 according to the project of KPI professor, famous bridge builder, "father of electric welding" Evhen Paton. In 1983, a complete reconstruction was carried out.

The Park Bridge is popularly nicknamed the Bridge of Lovers, as it is the most popular place in Kyiv for romantic dates, confessions of love, and proposals of the hand and the heart. According to tradition, lovers leave love messages on the railings, tie ribbons and hang locks as a sign of strong love.

Also, the Park Bridge is sometimes called the "Devil's Bridge" or "Suicide Bridge" - unfortunate people often chose it to settle scores with their lives.

The Luhansk Regional Museum of Local Lore is one of the oldest museums in Donbas.

In March 2015, the museum was moved from Luhansk to the Ukrainian-controlled territory of the city of Starobilsk. The museum is located in the premises of the former craft school, built in 1895 at the expense of the noblewoman Domna Demenkova, and is an architectural monument of the 19th century.

With the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Luhansk Regional Museum of Local Lore found shelter in Lviv and operated for two years on the basis of the Memorial Museum of Totalitarian Regimes "Territory of Terror". Now the museum has moved to Kyiv to the "My Luhansk Region" Humanitarian Hub, where it will be working for the near future. Unfortunately, the museum does not have its own premises and exhibition spaces for the full restoration of museum activities.

Lysa Hora is a historical area in the Vydubichi district, which is traditionally associated with evil spirits.

The name "Lysa Hora" (Bald Mountain) and the bad reputation of the place of the witches' coven are attributed to several hills in Kyiv, but the "official" name is fixed on the hill in the southern part of the city, between Saperna slobidka and Stolychne Shose.

In 1872-1876, the Lysohirskyi Fort of the New Pechersk Fortress was built here (earthen ramparts with brick ramparts have been preserved). In Soviet times, a military radio engineering complex was based here.

Now this place is popular with Tolkienists and representatives of other informal youth trends.

M17 Contemporary Art Center (M17 CAC) in Kyiv is a cultural institution that functions as an educational and research platform, an exhibition venue for Ukrainian and foreign contemporary art.

It was founded in the summer of 2010. The M17 center occupies 2 floors, its area is 1238 square meters.

M17 cooperates with the National Union of Artists of Ukraine and is one of the largest independent non-governmental exhibition spaces in Kyiv. The technical equipment of the Center meets international standards, which has already made it possible to realize a number of iconic museum-level projects.

The Art Center supports and produces Ukrainian contemporary art. Exhibitions of young and leading artists of Ukraine are held in the halls.

The Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is located on the territory of the Holosiyivsky forest, on the southern outskirts of Kyiv.

It was built in 1944-1948 on the initiative of the outstanding Ukrainian astronomer Oleksandr Orlov, who became the first director of the observatory. The construction was carried out according to the project of the famous architect Oleksiy Shchusev.

The first telescopes were Wanschaff's vertical circle and Tepfer-Steingel's double long-focus astrograph. Now the observatory also has a station for laser observation of artificial satellites of the Earth, a horizontal solar telescope АТСУ-5, a reflector AZT-2, a double wide-angle Zeiss astrograph, a meridian axial circle and other instruments.

The Museum of the History of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences is located in the tower of the double long-focus Tepfer-Steingel astrograph. Visitors are greeted by a poster announcing that minor planet No. 15675 was named Goloseevo in honor of this institution.

On the four floors of the tower, numerous photographic materials about the history of the institution, personal belongings of prominent astronomers, the first astrometric instruments and measuring devices are presented. A collection of antique clocks is presented in the time room.

Excursions with amateur astronomical observations are held by prior appointment for organized groups.

The Kyiv Literary and Memorial Museum of Maksym Rylsky was opened in 1966 in the building next to the Holosiyivsky Park in Kyiv, where the outstanding Ukrainian poet lived the last 13 years of his life, from 1951 to 1964.

It was here that he wrote his most famous poetry collections "Roses and Grapes", "Winter Notes", "Evening Conversations".

The living room, office and library of Maksym Rylsky have been preserved in the building. In three more halls, there is a biographical exposition that illuminates the life and creative path of the poet.

In total, the museum's funds include more than 10,000 items. It is possible to listen to recordings of the poet's voice.

The house is surrounded by a garden and flower beds, created by the hands of Maksym Rylsky. A monument to the poet has been installed in front of the house.

The Literary Memorial House-Museum of the outstanding Ukrainian actress, the first People's Artist of Ukraine Mariya Zankovetska tells about the life and work of the representative of the luminaries of the National Ukrainian Theater of the late XIX - early XX centuries.

Zankovetska spent the last years of her life in Kyiv, living in the house of her sister Lidiya Karnaukhova. The first museum was organized in 1960. In 1980, the original architectural monument was destroyed, but 9 years later the house was restored to its original form and opened a renovated museum.

The historical and biographical part of the exposition presents manuscripts, photographs, play posters, stage costumes and personal belongings of the actress.

The memorial part recreates the interior of Mariya Zankovetskaya's apartment, which consisted of three rooms: an office, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. The rooms are mostly furniture and things that belonged to the hostess.

On the ground floor there is a museum living room and an exhibition hall.

Maydan Nezalezhnosti is the central square of Kyiv, a symbol of freedom. The main events of the struggle for Ukraine's independence in 1990-1991, the "Orange Revolution" in 2004, and the "Revolution of Dignity" (Euromaydan) in 2013-2014 took place here.

The square began to take shape only in the 19th century (it used to be a wasteland), and already in 1876, when the City Duma moved here, the square was called Dumska. After the war, it was rebuilt, called Kalinin Square, then - October Revolution Square (the central element was a monument to Lenin, removed from the pedestal in 1991). One of the symbols is the electronic scoreboard on the tower of the House of Trade Unions.

The panorama of the square opens from the hill, where the former building of the Institute of Noble Girls (1843) is located, which later served as the premises of the NKVD, then the Palace of Congresses.

In 2000-2001, the square was thoroughly reconstructed (the "roulette" disappeared - the famous Kyiv fountain, which was a traditional meeting place). A series of new monuments appeared: Independence Monument, Lyad Gate, Monument to the Founders of Kyiv, Kozak Mamai and others. The "Globus" shopping complex was built in the underground part, which now adjoins the "pipe" - an underground passage where "informals" of all stripes gather.

Projects for the reconstruction of the Maydan and the creation of a memorial to the heroes of the "Heavenly Hundred" who died during the protests in January-February 2014 are being discussed.

The residence of the Metropolitans of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the territory of the Sophia Monastery in Kyiv was founded in 1722–1730, during the time of Archbishop Varlaam Vanatovych.

It was completed by his successors, Metropolitans Rafayil Zaborovsky and Tymofiy Shcherbatsky.

The three-storey palace in the Ukrainian Baroque style was built next to Sophia of Kyiv with the participation of architects Johann-Gottfried Schedel and Semen Antonov. At the end of the 19th century, an extension was made on the western side and a balcony with a staircase was installed, which led down to the metropolitan garden from the second floor.

The interiors of the metropolitan rooms have preserved the authentic painting of the XVIII century, as well as authentic stoves, lined with tiles of the Kiev ceramic factory Andrzheyovsky. Among the original interior items of the XVIII-XIX centuries: floor clock, desk-cylinder, fireplace made of red marble. Old prints in Old Slavic and foreign languages of the XVI-XVIII centuries are presented.

The gallery of portraits from the collection of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine introduces the former residents of the Metropolitan's House.

The MIA of Ukraine Museum opened in 2004 in the premises of the National Academy of Internal Affairs in Kyiv. The exposition tells about the activities of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine from the times of Kyivan Rus to the present day.

In particular, in the museum you can learn about the work of the General Secretariat of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian People's Republic during the time of the Central Council, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian State under Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi, law enforcement agencies of the Soviet period and the modern Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

Photographs, documents and personal belongings of famous law enforcement officers are presented; the most important legal acts related to the creation, organization and activity of law enforcement agencies; awards of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; samples of weapons and uniforms of different historical periods.

Collections of cold and firearms seized from criminals, counterfeit money and documents, as well as the tools used to make them, materials of high-profile criminal cases, physical evidence, etc. are exhibited.

There is a separate hall dedicated to the participation of units of the MIA of Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The Literature-Memorial Museum to Mikhail Bulhakov was opened in the so-called "Turbiny House", where the writer lived from 1906 to 1919 and where he "settled" the heroes of the novel "White Guard".

The interiors of the rooms are reproduced in the form in which they are reflected in Bulhakov's photographs and descriptions: a grand living room with a piano, a medical office, a room for the writer's sister Varya, as well as a room for Bulhakov himself and the hero of Mykolka's novel. apartment N50 from the novel "The Master and Marharita". The effect of the "fifth dimension" is especially impressive - from the dining room through the mirror you can see the room where Oleksiy Turbin died, and in real life - Bulhakov's father.

The exposition presents many Bulhakov's relics collected by the writer's relatives and enthusiasts.

Tea parties are arranged for visitors on the veranda.

The Miniland Railway Miniature Museum is the largest railway model in Ukraine, which opened in 2022 in the Blockbuster shopping center in Kyiv.

On an area of 87 square meters, exact moving copies of dozens of trains, hundreds of real buildings and natural objects of Ukraine, as well as about 1,500 figurines of people are presented. All objects on the model are made as realistic as possible on a scale of 1:87. In particular, you can see models of Olesko Castle, Ivano-Frankivsk Railway Station, Buky Canyon, Trypillia TPP, etc. The model has a system of automatic regulation of train movement and dynamic lighting that simulates day and night conditions.

The Miniland Museum is constantly replenished with new exhibits, which are mini-copies of real objects from all over Ukraine.

The pompous building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Mykhaylivska Square in Kyiv appeared in 1938 on the site of the ancient Church of the Three Saints.

It was the first building of the government complex of the capital of the Ukrainian SSR, which was planned to be built on the space from Mykhaylivska to Sofiyivska Square. In 1934, the Saint Michael's Gold-Domed Cathedral was demolished to clear the space under the Government Square, and the demolition of Saint Sophia of Kyiv was planned.

The first building for the Central Committee of the CP(b)U was built according to the project of the Leningrad architect Yosyp Lanhbard. The second twin building was to be built on the site of Saint Michael's Cathedral. A giant monument to Lenin was supposed to be placed between them. The implementation of these barbaric plans was prevented by the war. The Germans did not use the building. After the war, it again housed the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

Currently, it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The monument to Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi is one of the oldest and most outstanding city monuments, a business card of Kyiv.

The idea of its installation belongs to professor Mykhaylo Maksymovych, historian Mykola Kostomarov, poet Mykhaylo Yuzefovych and artist Mykhaylo Mykeshin, who convinced Tsar Oleksandr II to start collecting donations for the monument "to the one who returned the Kiev shrine to the Rus people, who saved, perhaps, Orthodoxy on the banks of the Dnipro".

The multi-figure composition of the monument conceived by Mykeshin had to be greatly simplified for financial and political reasons, excluding anti-Polish and anti-Semitic elements. The idea was embodied in bronze by St. Petersburg sculptors Pius Velionskyi and Artemiy Ober.

The city authorities decided to place the monument on Sofiyivska Square, where in 1648 the people of Kyiv met the Cossack regiments led by Khmelnitsky, who entered the city after the victory over the Polish nobility. Eight years were spent on disputes about the place of installation and placement of the monument, as a result of which the hetman began to "threaten" with his mace not Warsaw, but somewhere in the direction of Moscow. Only in 1886, the architect Volodymyr Mykolayiv began the construction of a pedestal from granite blocks that remained after the construction of the pillars of the Lantsyuhovy Bridge.

The opening of the monument took place on the day of the 900th anniversary of the baptism of Rus.

After the Soviet-Ukrainian war, the inscriptions on the pedestal "We want an Eastern, Orthodox tsar" and "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, one indivisible Russia" were replaced by one laconic one: "Bohdan Khmelnytskyi. 1888."

Since that time, the square around the monument has repeatedly become the scene of important social and political events, both in the revolutionary times of the beginning of the 20th century and now - usually, rallies and demonstrations of national patriots are held here.

The monument to tank soldiers on Shulyavka in Kyiv is better known among Kyivans simply as the "tank monument".

The legendary T-34 tank of the Second World War was installed on a pedestal in 1968 in honor of the 3rd Guards Tank Army, which liberated Kyiv from fascist occupiers during the Second World War.

The monument is a 43-meter-long concrete strip (a symbol of front-line roads), at the end of which is a T-34-85 medium tank with serial number 111, which participated in the liberation of Kyiv. It is interesting that a combat vehicle with a full crew and a calculation of paratroopers on board reached the place of eternal parking and climbed the pedestal on its own.

In 1982, the monument to the tankers was supplemented with stelae with soil from the hero cities of the USSR.

On April 10, 2022, immediately after the de-occupation of Kyiv Region during the Russian-Ukrainian war, activists and security forces of Kyiv removed the names of Belarusian and Russian hero cities, which received this title after the Second World War, from the ceilings near the monument. Instead, the names on the steles were replaced with the names of the hero cities of Ukraine: Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Volnovakha, Okhtyrka, Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel and Mariupol.