Attractions of Odesa district

The "Masks" theater in Odesa was opened in 2003 by the famous Odesa comedy troupe "Masks" in the premises of the former "Druzhba" cinema.

Performances of "Masks", based on the rich classical traditions of the Theater Del Arte, the Theater of the Absurd, comedians "Big Dumb", European clowning - are fireworks of fresh unbridled fantasy, embodied in the form of pantomime, choreography, drama, trick, where each actor develops his own unique image.

The theater has a "Masks" cinema, which shows the best arthouse and festival films every day. Creative parties and children's matinees take place in the art cafe "Mana-Mana Restaurant", the interior of which was created by the members of the "Masks Show" troupe.

The Transfiguration Cathedral is the main Orthodox church of Odesa, rebuilt from scratch in 2002 after it was blown up in 1936 by the decision of the Soviet authorities.

Contemporaries were impressed by the magnificence of the interior of the temple. After the reconstruction in 1903, the Transfiguration Cathedral was one of the largest churches in the Russian Empire and could accommodate up to 9,000 people. Its dimensions in plan were 90 by 45 meters, and the height of the belfry was 72 meters.

In 2005, the remains of the governor-general of the Novorossiya region Prince Mykhaylo Vorontsov and his wife were reburied in the restored church.

On the night of July 23, 2023, Russia launched a massive missile attack on the historic center of Odesa, as a result of which the Savior and Transfiguration Cathedral suffered significant destruction. A Russian rocket hit the central altar, as a result of which the cathedral building was partially destroyed, the three lower floors were covered, the interior decoration and icons were significantly damaged, and the service premises of the lower part of the cathedral were completely destroyed.

The Church of the Transfiguration in Velykodolynske is an architectural monument of local importance.

The history of the temple begins in the middle of the 19th century. At that time, the German colony of Gross Liebenthal was located on the territory of the village of Velykodolynske. The church building is the former Evangelical-Lutheran German Church in the name of the Apostle Peter. Its construction was started by German colonists in 1845, and in 1846 the church was consecrated. Kirkha was considered an architectural masterpiece. It had octagonal columns, inside was Engelmann's organ.

In 1993, the abandoned church was handed over to the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. As a result of the reconstruction, its appearance has completely changed. In particular, the dome was built and the bell tower was rebuilt.

The Ukrainian Cossacks Development History Museum in Odesa was founded in 2006 by the Interregional Public Organization "Black Sea District. Zaporizhzhian Cossacks". The institution is located in a restored building of the 19th century in the central part of the city, on Peresyp.

In three halls on an area of 120 square meters, there is a permanent exhibition, which presents about 1,000 exhibits and various dioramas.

The "Ukrainian Cossacks Heroic" hall tells about the prerequisites for the emergence of Cossacks, the creation of Zaporizhzhian Sich, the liberation movements of the XVII-XVIII centuries, the destruction of Sich and the creation of the Black Sea Cossacks, the liberation of southern Ukraine from Turkish-Tatar influence, the role of Cossacks in the First and Second World Wars. The dioramas "Assault of the Turkish frigate by the Cossacks", "Settlement on Peresyp", "Assault on the Khadzhybey fortress", "Outpost on Shkodova Hill" are presented. The decoration of the exhibition is a copy of Illya Repin's painting "Zaporizhzhians writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan" by an unknown artist.

In the "Cossack life and works of art" hall, typical Cossack clothing, crockery of the 18th-19th centuries, ancient icons, as well as the works of the sculptor Petro Kravchenko are exhibited. The "Ukrainian room of the 19th Century" hall recreates the life of Ukrainian peasants and displays everyday items, including a collection of embroidered and home-woven towels and shirts from more than a century ago.

Museum employees organize tours of Cossack sites in Odesa, as well as thematic tourist and excursion programs with master classes.

The winery was founded in Velykodolynske, 20 kilometers from Odesa, in 1999 with the planting of the first vines.

Certified seedlings of direct clones of grape varieties of French and German selection from producers Hyacinthe Raymond (France) and Reben Sibbus (Germany) were used to plant the vineyards. Today, the winery's own vineyards occupy an area of ​​over 140 hectares.

The Vintrest winery was built in 2004 and is equipped with modern European equipment from leading industry manufacturers in Italy and France. The enterprise specializes in the production of champagne and table wine materials, but since 2015 the production of dry varietal wines under its own trademark Grande Vallee has been started. The line includes 8 items: "Riesling Grande Vallee", "Chardonnay Grande Vallee", "Pinot Blanc Grande Vallee", "Traminer Grande Vallee", "Pinot Meunier Rose Grande Vallee", "Pinot Noir Rose Grande Vallee", "Merlot Grande Vallee", "Cabernet Grande Vallee". Since 2018, the Grande Vallee line has been replenished with sparkling wines: both using classical technology and the Charmat method.

Tours with tastings are held at the Vintrest Winery, during which you can get acquainted with the wine production process.

The Palace of the Governor-General of the Novorossiya Region Mykhaylo Vorontsov in Odesa was built in 1827 in the Empire style according to the project and under the direction of the architect Frants Boffo.

The interiors of the palace, designed by the outstanding sculptor and painter Karl Scotti, are the best examples of the preserved interiors of Odesa from the empire era. Prince Vorontsov arranged elegant balls here.

In Soviet times, the premises were occupied by the Palace of Children and School Youth.

The belvedere colonnade on the embankment is considered one of the symbols of Odesa. In 1994, the "Day and Night" fountain by Mykhaylo Reva was installed nearby.

In May 2022, during the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Vorontsov Palace was damaged by Russian missile fire.

Excavations at the site of the hillfort, which some researchers also associate with the 18th century Turkish fortress of Yeni-Dunya.

The hillfort is located near Cape Sychavskyi to the west of the mouth of the Tylihul estuary, near the Pivdenne city and the Koshary village.

According to one version, the Koshary settlement is much older, and it can be identified with the ancient city of Odesos, which gave its name to the present Odesa.

Odesa Zoo "Biopark" is another project of the owners of Nemo Dolphinarium. Located on the bypass road in the western part of Odesa, in the "Two Pillars" area.

The zoo is equipped with modern, spacious enclosures designed in accordance with the animals' natural habitat. Giraffes, Himalayan bears, Ussuri tigers, lions, chimpanzees, lemurs, gibbons, llamas, alpacas and others live in the Biopark.

The youngest visitors can interact with domestic animals in the petting zoo. There are playgrounds and animation shows for children, photo zones, public catering points.