 |
Capital of the Bukovyna region, dating back to the 12th century
with a population of over 250 000, Chernivtsi is situated of
the banks of the Prut River. The striking campus of Fedkovych
University was once the residence of seat of Catholic Bishops.
The actual building dates back to 1864 and is a mix of Romanesque
and Byzantine styles. The Church of Dormition (beginning of
the 19-th century) and the Holy Spirit Church (end of 19-th
century) and the Theatre Square ensemble are also fine examples
of architectural art. Do not miss the Philharmonic Concert Hall
(1876), where Enrico Caruso and Solomiya Krushelnytska once
sang. The city is filled with 18-19th centuries small houses.
This is a regional political and cultural center of Bukovyna
ethnographical region. Located in the far South-West of Ukraine
(near the Romanian border) on the banks of the Prut River. The
city lies in the close vicinity to the Carpathian Mountains.
Population: 300,000 inhabitants. The city was first mentioned
in 1408. In the 18th century Chernivtsi passed first to the
Turks and then to the Austrian Empire. After World War I it
was occupied by Romania, and in 1940 the city was acquired
by the Soviet Union. Its complicated political history has
led to a very mixed population including Poles, Jews, Russians,
Hungarians, Moldavians, although Ukrainians make up about
three quarters of the total.
Getting acquainted with the city you will be impressed by
architectural monuments of various epochs and architectural
styles: Byzantine, Gothic, Baroque, Art Noveau etc. Chernivtsi
harmoniously combines old and modern architecture. Among the
main architectural attractions there are: University complex
(former residence of Bukovynian Metropolitans, 1864-1882),
Music and Drama Theater (1904-1905), Armenian Church, St.
Michael Cathedral, Market Square etc.
The city has six museums. The Museum of Folk Architecture
and Folkways, the Museum of Regional Ethnography, the Museum
of the Ukrainian Diaspora and Art Museum are especially popular
among foreign guests.
George Heinzen, an Austrian writer, whose articles were very
popular in Austria a hundred years ago, wrote the following
about Chernivtsi: “Chernovitz” (Chernivtsi) is a town, in
which Sundays start with playing or listening to Schubert
and end with duels. This town, situated half-way from Kyiv
to Bucharest and between Krakow and Odessa, is a major cultural
center, to which the best coloratura sopranos come to sing,
in which cabman talk to drivers of fiacres about early medieval
poetry, in which the sidewalks are swept with bouquets of
roses rather than by brooms, and in which there are more bookshops
than cafes. It is a town in which dogs are given names of
the Olympian gods and in which chicken peck at the discarded
little volumes of bad poetry. Chernivtsi is a pleasure boat
with Ukrainian crew, German officers and Jewish passengers
sailing under the Austrian flag from East to West and from
West to East”.
Chernivtsi now, a hundred years later, still preserves some
of the features, that fascinated the 19th century journalist.
At present the streets of Chernivtsi are not swept with bouquets
of roses, neither they are washed with soap. But the spirit
of the town “a marvel of Europe” lives on.
You can explore Chernivtsi in the marks of Lviv-Inturtrans
Classic Group Tours:
“Grand Tour of Ukraine”, “Carpathian
Golden Ring”, “Ukraine`s Best”,
“Folklore & Leisure.
Our special interest tour Castles & Fortresses of the
Western Ukraine will acquaint you with fortification objects
in near Chernivtsi (Khotyn, Kamyanets-Podilskyy).
For more sightseeing itineraries and options see also Lviv-Inturtrans
Sightseeing & Excursions in/from Chernivtsi.
|
Kolorove Nebo