Attractions of Chernivtsi

The cozy Turkish Well (Turetska Krynytsya) Square is a new landmark of Chernivtsi, emphasizing the multi-ethnicity of the city.

In the 17th century, a Turkish community lived in this area of the Lower City, immediately outside the city walls. Next to the old wooden well, the Turks built a stone fountain. From time immemorial, there was a city bath here, which operated even in Soviet times.

The ensemble of the square consists of the Turkish bridge (XIX century), a restored oriental-style pavilion above the spring, and a round arcade with a fountain. The decoration of the square is a flower clock, opened in 2008.

In 2009, during Blacksmiths' Day, a forged bicycle was installed on the square. Ancient houses around the perimeter continue to be restored.

Turkish Well Square is especially beautiful when illuminated in the evening.

The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, designed by the Czech architect Josef Hlavka, was built for the Armenian community of Chernivtsi.

The architecture of the Armenian church combines features of the Romanesque, Byzantine and Gothic styles.

With the arrival of Soviet power in Bukovyna, the church was closed and used as a warehouse. The sculptures of Saints Peter and Paul, which decorated the entrance to the church, also disappeared. Already during the period of Independence of Ukraine, they were found in a cemetery in a neglected state by the researcher Valery Kvitko. The sculptors Petro Lemskyi, Mykola Lysakivskyi, Dmytro Horshkovskyi, artist Volodymyr Hrypko took part in the restoration of the sculptures. In 2010, the sculptors returned to their place.

The excellent acoustic hall has been used since 1992 for classical and chamber music concerts. The organ for the church was made by the Czech firm "Rieger-Kloss".

The Roman Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which has the status of a minor basilica, was built in 1814 by the personal order of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, who during his visits to Chernivtsi was outraged that the Catholic community of the city had only a small chapel at its disposal.

Despite the financial and political support of the monarch, the construction of the temple was delayed for three decades. In 1818, the first clock was installed on the tower, which was then twice replaced with new ones. And on the side wall of the basilica there is a sundial.

The building acquired its modern appearance after the reconstruction in 1910.

In Soviet times, the Church of the Ascension in Chernivtsi was one of the few active Catholic churches on the territory of the USSR, due to which the interiors were completely preserved.

The church was granted the status of a minor basilica on July 19, 2014.

Concerts of classical and sacred music are held in the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross before significant dates.

The Botanical Garden of Chernivtsi National University is one of the oldest in Ukraine. Founded in 1877 by Professor Eduard Tanhle on the initiative of the Chernivtsi city magistrate.

There is a collection of more than 920 plants from different continents. Today, the botanical garden has departments of dendrology, tropical and subtropical plants, park science and herbaceous plants.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the first stone Greek-Catholic church in Chernivtsi.

In Austrian times, it was called the Ruska Church (that is, Ruthenian - Ukrainian). The street leading to the cathedral from the main square is also called Ruska.

The Church of the Assumption in Empire style was built on the initiative of a wealthy citizen Thaddeus Turkul for the Greek Catholics of Chernivtsi, consecrated in honor of Saint Thaddeus. In the 1930s, the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style according to the project of the architect Volodymyr Zalozetsky and rededicated in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A luxurious carved iconostasis created by Italian masters has been preserved.

In Soviet times, the building was used as a chemical warehouse.

Assumption Cathedral was returned to the Greek Catholic community in 1990. The main shrine is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Chernivtsi "Hope of those who have lost hope".

The construction of the City Hall on Rynok Square in 1847 cemented its status as the center of Chernivtsi.

The construction of the Chernivtsi City Hall was supervised by the architect Andreas Mikulich with the participation of regional engineer Adolf Marin. The architecture of the building shows features related to the departure from the principles of classicism and the turn to the Italian Renaissance: the facade is designed in a classical style, while the clock tower shows Renaissance motifs.

The building is still used for its intended purpose - it is where the Chernivtsi City Council meets. The facade is decorated with the coat of arms of the city.

Every day, a trumpeter in Bukovyna folk costume climbs the 126 steps to the 50-meter clock tower and at exactly 12:00 p.m. performs from the balcony the melody from the song "Marichka" - the musical business card of Bukovyna.

Upon prior agreement with the Tourist Information Center of Chernivtsi, it is possible to climb to the observation deck, which offers a wonderful panorama of the city and its surroundings (groups of up to 5 people).

The facades of several Austrian-style buildings, which in the 19th century housed the city's best hotels: "Under the Black Eagle", "Golden Lion" and others, also overlook the square.

Chernivtsi Regional Art Museum is located in an imposing building, built in 1901 by architect Ayzenberh for the Bukovyna Savings Bank.

The building is considered one of the best examples of the Viennese Art Nouveau style in Eastern Europe. The upper part of the facade is decorated with a majolica panel, which symbolizes the economic prosperity of Austria-Hungary. The coat of arms of Bukovyna on the chest of one of the allegorical figures gives reason to believe that other figures also symbolize the various provinces of the empire.

Now the building exhibits rare canvases of Bukovyna artists, from Turkish times to the present day (XVIII-XX centuries): Epaminond Buchevskyi, Yevhen Maksymovych, Avhusta Kokhanovska, Leon Kopelman, Mykola Ivasyuk, Yevzebiy Lipetskyi, Huho fon Retstsori, Artur Kolnyk and others . Opanas Shevchukevych plastic collection - miniature figurines made of terracotta - is also presented.

There is a souvenir shop and a literary cafe on the first floor of the Chernivtsi Art Museum.

Chernivtsi Open-Air Museum is one of the few museums of folk architecture and life in Ukraine.

On the territory of two exposition zones (Khotyn region and Western Transnistria) wooden residential and farm buildings typical for the villages of these regions are collected. The interiors in which household items, tools, national clothes, etc. are exhibited are plausibly recreated.

Numerous thematic exhibitions are held on the basis of the Chernivtsi Museum of Folk Architecture and Life.

The Chernivtsi Regional Museum of Local Lore occupies a two-story building of the former Orthodox Religious Foundation on the pedestrian street Olha Kobylyanska, next to the cathedral.

The funds have 90 thousand exhibits. The exposition of the museum presents rare samples of Slavic literature, including the sometimes exhibited Ostroh Bible of Ivan Fedorov. Of great interest are the numismatic collection and exhibition of weapons of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Among the historical rarities of the Museum of Local Lore is the flag of Chernivtsi, made for the 500th anniversary of the first written mention of the city, which was celebrated in 1908.

Icons of the 16th-18th centuries, the works of prominent Bukovyna artists Mykola Ivasyuk, Yustyn Pihulyak, Yevhen Maksymovych, Avhusta Kokhanovska form the basis of the collection of works of fine and decorative and applied art.

The Church of Saint Paraskeva of Serbia is the first Orthodox stone church in Chernivtsi.

It was built on the site of a wooden parish church according to the project of architect Antin Pavlovsky.

In 1864, on the third anniversary of Taras Shevchenko's death, the Chernivtsi Ruthenians first commemorated Kobzar in the church of Saint Paraskeva, thus recognizing themselves as Ukrainians.

In Soviet times, a chess club was located here.

Since 1992, the church has acquired the status of a cathedral. Since then, the Church of Saint Paraskeva has been the cathedral of the Chernivtsi Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The Defense Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Chernivtsi is the oldest brick Orthodox church in the city. Recognized as an architectural monument.

It was built in the early 1760s on the site of an old wooden church on the territory of the Orthodox male monastery "Horecha" (1712). The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was built in the Baroque style, was used as a fortress, along the second tier there is a battle gallery.

After the closure of the "Horecha" monastery in 1784, the church became a parish church. The church was seriously damaged during the First World War. In the post-war period, the temple was renovated. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin remained active even in the Soviet period. In 1992, the temple was thoroughly renovated. In 1995, the "Horecha" monastery was restored and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin became a monastery again.

The frescoes of the 17th century have been preserved.

The house of the governor-general of Bukovyna, Baron Karl fon Entsenberh, became the first stone residential building in Chernivtsi.

Baron Entsenberh greatly contributed to the economic development of the city and the entire region. In particular, regular construction of the center of Chernivtsi began under him.

The Russian emperor Oleksandr I stayed in the general's house during his visit to Chernivtsi in 1823 for a meeting with the Austrian emperor Frants I.

The Museum of the History and Culture of Bukovyna Jews is dedicated to the phenomenon of Bukovyna Jewry in the period from the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century.

Opened for the 600th anniversary of Chernivtsi in the premises of the former Jewish People's House (now the Central Palace of Culture).

The exhibition is spread over two halls on three levels. The upper circle (architectural) - friezes with photographs of Jewish religious and public buildings in Bukovyna. The middle (zodiac) circle represents the Jewish religious year marked by the signs of the Zodiac. The lower kgur (informational) - 12 wall tablets, on which the period of the existence of the Jewish community for two centuries is presented chronologically.

The Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi was built on the initiative of Metropolitan Yevhen Hakman (he was buried in the cathedral, a monument was erected).

The construction was carried out under the supervision of the regional engineer Adolf Marin and the Viennese architect Antin Roll. In 1860, the facade of the church was rebuilt according to the project of the architect Yozefa Hlavka. The Holy Spirit Cathedral is modeled on Saint Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg in the Neo-Renaissance style. The architectural composition is dominated by a monumental dome 46 meters high. The 19th century frescoes by the Viennese painter Karl Yobson have been preserved

In Soviet times, the premises were used as a warehouse, then as an exhibition hall.

In 1989, the Holy Spirit Cathedral was returned to the Orthodox community of Chernivtsi, restoration was carried out.

Hotel "Bristol" in Chernivtsi was built during the times of Austria-Hungary at the expense of burghers Josef Landau and Max Meissner, becoming one of the most luxurious in the city.

According to legend, the most expensive Chernivtsi prostitutes served the gentlemen in their rooms. There was a restaurant in the basement of the hotel. A four-story building in the Art Nouveau style with a stylized tower became the architectural dominant of Theater Square.

Currently, this building houses a dormitory of the Chernivtsi Medical Institute, and a fast food restaurant is located on the first floor.

Reconstruction and return of the hotel building to its original profile is planned.