Churches and monasteries of Yaremche region

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Vorokhta)

The old church is situated on the hill in the center of Vorokhta. It was built in 1615 in Yablunytsia village and transported to Vorokhta in 1780. It was put near the new cemetery where the founders of villages Yanky and Vorokhta were buried. In 1860, the church was transported to a new location where it is still located. In two centuries, in 1980 the oldest church of this region was restored. In front of the church there is the first memorial cross which was laid by the Church Council in 1785.

Church of St. Demetrius of Solun (Tatariv)

The church is situated near the central road. This church in Tatariv village was built in the 1870s and was first mentioned in schematism of 1880. The church was designed by the architect F.Menchynskyi. It is one of the oldest architectural sites of national significance that still exists. The church has an original structure and is an interesting work of Hutsul School of folk architecture.

Church of the All-holy Trinity and the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnytsia (Mykulychyn village)

The old church in Mykulychyn used to be situated near the cemetery above Falchi settlement, while the priest’s house – behind the Prutets in Tsaryna. It is said that around 1860 the church was destroyed in a storm. The modern church was designed by Yaroslav Chaikovetskyi, a royal architect-engineer of Nadvirna Powiat Government. The architecture of this church represents the Hutsul type of sacred art. The church construction was finished in 1868 and it was consecrated on St. Paraskeva day. Near the church, there is an old bell-tower, which is an interesting monument of minor sacred architecture.

Church of Miracle by St. Michael the Archangel (Dora village)

The church is situated in Kamyanka settlement. The old church dates back to 1726, while the modern church of Dora was built in 1844. The church is an architectural site of Yaremche region of the 1900s. In the church interior there are ornamental paintings of the 1919 to 1920 period on the walls.

Church of St. John the Merciful (Yamna village)

The church is situated in Yamna village. The building and the bell-tower belong to the monuments of sacred art of Hutsul type. The first record of the church is in the list compiled by Lviv bishop Yosyf Shumlyanskyi in 1701, where it was named in honor of the All-Holy Trinity. According to some sources, the church is mentioned as a church of St. Michael the Archangel built in the 1818- 1819 period. According to another source, the church was built with the new consecration to St. John the Merciful in 1766 (schematism of 1832). This church is a masterpiece of Hutsul church architecture.

Church of Dormition of the Theotocos (Yablunytsia village)

The church was built and consecrated in 1895 and is an architectural site of local significance. The old church that was at this place was transported to Lazeshchyna (Rakhiv District).

Church of Dormition of the Theotocos (Yaremche town)

The church was built in 1911 at the place of a liturgical chapel of Dormition of the Theotokos, which dates back to 1898. There is an iconostasis of the 1800s to the early 1900s painted by an unknown iconographer.

Church of St. Prophet Elijah (Dora village) and monastery of the monks of Studite Brethren

The construction of the wooden church was completed in summer of 1938. The church built in Hutsul style, covered with shingle. In the church there is an untypical iconostasis of oval shape. The icons on the iconostasis are pokerwork and they are partially decorated with flat relief carvings. The activity of the church is closely connected with the life of the monastery of the monks of Studite Brethren which belongs to Univ Holy Dormition Lavra. The monastery was established in 1935 by Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi and Hegumen Klymentiy Sheptytskyi. A new chapel and a bell-tower were built in 2001.

Monastery of Mission Conglomeration of St. Andrew and church of St. Peter and Paul

It is situated in Dora village near the river Kamyanka. Nearby there Is Horod Muchenykiv (the City of Martyrs), a symbolic grave at the foot of which sculpture-busts of clergy of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church were erected. A particular value for the monastery Is Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi Museum.

Apartment for rent in the Ivano-Frankivsk city center

Medieval Stanislaviv (Ivano-Frankivsk)

According to the official data, on March 21, 1662 Stanislaviv got the right for conducting trade fairs, and on May 7 the same year got the status of the city with Magdeburg rights. Andriy Pototskiy assumed to be the founder of the city.

For more understanding of the history of the city, we give the fact that its owners were the Pototskies: Andriy (1661-1691), Yosyph (1691-1751), Stanislav (1751-1760), Vincent (1761-1770), Yosyph (1770-1771), Kateryna, one of the Pototskies, Kossakovska (1771-1792), Prot Pototskiy (1792-1801).

In 1801, Stanislaviv became the property of Austria, and in 1848, it was bought back by the right of the former owners. Thereupon it got the title of Free Kingdom City.

The main stage of development was during the governing of Andriy and Yosyph Pototskiy. At that time the formation of Stanislaviv as a fortress took place and main buildings (the part of which we can see nowadays) were erected.

In 1732 the population of the city was 3321 people.

The first city architects were engineers François Korassini from Avignon and Karol Benoe. The building of every medieval city began with fortification strengthening. Ivano-Frankivsk was not an exception and it was to be built according to François Korassini s plan of “The Ideal City” in 1672. The notion that was influenced by the Renaissance style in Western Europe, especially in France, meant the creation of such a variant of city fortification that would be well protected and have quite a lot of places for population security and beating off the attacks of the enemy, would also have convenient placement of living areas and sacred buildings.

There were only few such cities in all Europe. It was connected with the fact that the city was to be built on empty place or on the place devastated by foreign enemies and this required many expenses for its building. There were only three such cities in Ukraine – Zhovkva, Brody and Stanislaviv.

Using the “Diary” of Ulrikh Fon Verdum (a famous European traveler of that time), we know that the city of that time in 1672 was situated on a flat square on the place of former Ukrainian village Zabolottya. From three sides the city was surrounded by lakes and bogs through which the small Bystrytsya River ran, flowing in to the city ditch. Fortification consisted of six strong bastions on the lower side of which was palisade made of oaks. There was a wooden Roman-Catholic church where masses took place until a beautiful stone church (nowadays a Fine Art museum) was completed. Armenians, Russins and Greek-Catholics had also their own church per each community. The city Town Hall was in the center of a market square. Voyevoda (a governor of the province) established a high school with five professors when he lived in a wooden castle of that time. However, construction of a big palace made of stone which was to be erected in the southeast part of the city (now Shpytal’na Street) had been planned. Voyevoda wanted to make it with towers and other fortifications as a citadel. Such was Stanislaviv city at that time.

Nowadays only one bastion fragment of the powerful medieval fortress is saved (Fortechnyy Side-street).
From the mentioned above temples only one has been preserved – The Immaculate Conception of God’s Mother Collegiate Roman-Catholic church, designed by the project of Korassini and Benoe from 1672 to 1703. It was built in Renaissance style in the form of a cross. The church is a family tomb of the Pototskis.

Andriy Pototskis son of Yosyph decorated the Catholic Church after his father s death. In 1721-1737 he did everything to enrich the interior of the church. By 1737 masters Thomas Gudder and Konrad Kutchenrayter from Bavaria set luxurious side altars in Baroque style there. Decorative Rococo style architectural details were also done. In 1877, a famous artist Fabiyanski Rudolf Erazm painted the interior of the church. Above the main entrance, where the choir loft is, there was a very melodic organ. One could hear it first on November 11, 1900, when professor Tepfer from Dresden played the organ. From May 18, 1980 the Catholic Church has become a Fine Art museum.

The most valuable things of religious honor in the church were relics of St. Vincent. Stanislav Pototskiy brought the relics in 1679, who soon after that died at war battle under the rule of king Yan III.
Saint relics “…got Stanislav begging the Pope Innokentiy XI during his trip to Rome”, as his brother Yosyph Pototskiy wrote in the preserved Act of the 18th century. According to the later document, Stanislav Pototskiy asked the Pope Innokentiy to give him St. Vincent relics that were taken from Roman catacombs.

In the Catholic Church in Stanislaviv, there were also relics of saint martyrs of Yevstahiy, Florian and Mavrytsjy. Nevertheless, St Vincent’s relics were known for its miracles. According to the priest Baronch everyone who came there with faith and had some anxiety or trouble felt much relieved. Even come-and-go people trusted this place and glory about unusual events connected with the relics made St. Vincent known as a patron of Pokuttya.

Now let us have a look at some miracles that are also a part of that time life in Stanislaviv.
The first one happened even before the relics came to Stanislaviv. After getting a valuable gift from the Pope, Stanislav Pototskiy went to Poland by sea. However, during his voyage one event had happened which was described by his brother Yosyph in such a way: “in the hold of the ship there was gunpowder; and the people were careless with the fire and that was the reason for explosion. Nevertheless, my brother and some people with him who were standing near saint relics were saved while others were burnt by fire and drowned. So my brother with the people having been saved by fishermen went successfully to the shore with St. Vincent’s relics which were brought to our city”.

This event was described in some historical essays and the poem by Romanus de Gouge. This poem gives an exact place of that disaster. It was near village Willebroek not far away from city Mechelen in Belgium.
Saint Vincent’s relics were rather approachable, but sometimes one could not easily get to them. Head was rarely given to be kissed. Instead, the mass took place above the head of the martyr.
Polish proverb “In anxiety people turn to God” in Stanislaviv sounds as “In anxiety people turn to St. Vincent”.

From 1747, information about St. Vincent’s miracles was lost. However, the whole city gave honor to this martyr.

Now let us go further.

We can see the building where priests used to live who had masses in the Roman-Catholic church (now 41 Halytska Street). When we turn to the central part of Halytska Street we will face one of the oldest city buildings – the Roman-Catholic church hospital, which later became the house for poor. Now it is a house building (14 Halytska Street). This building was erected approximately in 1737.

Having a look at the crossways of Halytska – Novhorodska 1 Dnistrovska streets let us close our eyes and imagine that we see a famous The Galician Gates, a bridge across the ditch and exit out of the city. Nowadays a trade center “Merkuriy” and pavement are on the part of the gate base.

Now let us have a look at a newly built house under number 1 on Trinitarska Street. One of the first wells which supplied the city with the water is based under this building. The well had been discovered in 2001 when an old building was destroyed. An interesting thing is that there was still water in the well. Its depth was 8.5 meters. Resently it was filled up by 16 m3 of concrete.

From 1732 to the first half of the 19th century on Trinitarska Square there used to be the Roman-Catholic church of Trinitariy monks and convent which are preserved to our days (2 Starozamkova Street). After the closure of the convent, the building was used as a court and jail. An interesting fact is that there are some tunnels under the building. Using one of the tunnels one could get to the City Tower. According to the legend, criminals went through this tunnel to be executed.

One of the important attributes of the fortress is a palace. Until our days, an essential element of the Pototskis’ palace (designed by Karol Benoe in 1682) is the main entrance gateway. In the far side of the complex, there is a three-storeyed building where the Pototskis lived, and some other buildings that are now fully rebuilt.

So what was interesting connected with this palace?

The guests of the palace were such famous people as Polish king Jan Sobieski, Transilvanian prince Ferenc Rakoczi. According to the as¬sumptions of ethnographer, M.Holovatyy there used to live Anna the wife of the Ukrainian hetman Pylyp Orlyk who was in exile and was an author of the first constitution of the Ukraine. She emigrated with her husband after the defeat in the battle near Poltava. She lived under the guardianship of Yosyph Pototskiy, who was her husband’s ally from 1732.

A story that came across all the publications about Ivano-Frankivsk concerned Yoseph Pototskiy s funeral, which in 1751 was visited by many people. Commemoration was very pompous. During only one dinner, 20 barrels of Hungarian wine and 11 barrels of champagne were spent. Menu of the event was so delicious that all tables with food couldn’t be placed in the palace and the most sincere weepers lived there for three months.

Near side gates of the palace one can see small metal round forms. Some people said those were digged cannons. However, in fact those things were used to support the chains that were elements of the mechanism of opening and closing of the gates.

One of the most progressive medieval streets in Stanislaviv – Virmenska Street which takes you to the former Armenian church, nowadays The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church. According to some sources, this street was among the first one to be paved in Stanislaviv. Armenians used to live on this street and on modern Melnychuk Street.

In 1665 a wooden Armenian church was built where constantly conducted religious services. On August 22, 1742 the icon of God’s Mother started to shed tears there. After that many evidences about miracles had arose that happened near the icon.

From 1742 to 1762 a stone church was built exactly for this sacred image. It came to our days and preserved a lot of valuable sculptures made by Matviy Poleyovskiy who was the follower of famous Johan-George Pinzel’. There were also saved Tan Soletskis frescos, which after unsuccess¬ful renovation are nowadays covered by bright paints.

In 1938, the Pope crowned the icon. The divine worship on this occasion lasted 44 hours. In 1946, the sacred image was taken to Gdansk, which is still there, and on the facade of the church, we can observe the copy.

We will finish our excursion through medieval Stanislaviv in the cathedral of St. Resurrection, which is the main Greek-Catholic church in the city. It was built in 1753-1763. An interesting fact is that in different times it was a sacred place for all Christian confessions of the city. In 1763-1773, it was the cathedral for Jesuits, from 1849 to 1946 and from 1990 until our days, it is a Greek-Catholic cathedral, and in 1946-1990, it used to be a Russian Orthodox Church.

Despite this polyconfession the cathedral successfully illustrates the canons of interior decoration of the Orthodox Church. The most magnificent thing in the church is the five levels iconostasis made in 1901 by such famous Ukrainian masters as Y. Makarevych, A. Monastyrsky and M. Sosenko.

Names of many famous Ukrainian people are connected with this cathedral. First, let us mention bishops of Stanislaviv eparchy that was opened in 188S. Among them, there was Yulian Pelesch, a famous historian and theologian, who was the first bishop, two metropolitans Yulian Sas-Kuilovsky and Andrey Scheptytsky who also were bishops in our city. Then we can mention lots of martyrs; among them Hryhory Khomyschyn, bishops of secret Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church – Ivan Slezyuk and Symeon Lykach. Ivan Lyatyshevsky was the only vicar in the history of eparchy. There is a burial place of Sofron Dmyterko in the cathedral who did a lot to regenerate our eparchy from underground.

Stanislaviv under Austro-Hungarian Direction

Austrians had brought a peace into people’s life as a result the population of the city was increased (in 1849 it was 11 000). Many peer started to settle in the suburbs, outside the fortification. In 1820, a great part of fortification had been destroyed and suitable conditions for territorial development of the city were created. There were 4 squares and 24 streets in the city of that time.

In 1782, the city became a residence of rule for one out of 19 Galician districts.

In 1786 there had been founded a circuit court (forum nobilium) for civil cases and in 1797 a criminal court established in the city. Then it follows to remember in sanitary industry a simple hospital had been built in 1841 and four years later there was set up Jewish hospital.

The period of stay of Stanislaviv in composition Austro-Hungarian Empire was marked a flourishing architectural styles of the city also. This period can be parted into two stages divided by one event, which had come into the history with metaphorical name “Fruit Jelly Fire“. It happened in 1868 when on modern Schevchenko Street fruit jelly had been boiled by hostess. The wind-scattered embers so far away, that 25% of all buildings of the city were burnt and the rest buildings were damaged. That’s why only some buildings of that period (1772-1868) have been saved: 2 Starozamkova Street, 14 Mel’nychuka Street, 14 Shevchenka Street, 12,14,35,37,39 and 41 Halytska Street; 7, 8 Rynok Square; 2,4,6 Scheremety Street and some others.

The rest buildings belong to the second half of the 19th century-first half of the 20th century. These buildings are characterized by various architectural styles: Neo-Classicism, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, Eclecticism, late Romanticism, Secession, Modernism and the beginning of Constructivism. This period is also famous for the first parks in the city.

This time has been described in details in several monographic and tourist publications, so we will focus our attention on the most interesting buildings only and some interesting facts connected to them.

Railway connection through Stanislaviv came in 1866, on 3 years earlier than that in Kharkiv and on 4 years earlier than that in Kyiv.

In 1866, railway station was built and on September 1, it was solemnly opened. The building was erected in Rundbogenstil, which is a part of Austrian-German architectural school. Interior of railway station was characterized by symmetric forms, without domination of central line and was decorated by frieze on arcades. None of the railway station buildings erected at that time preserved its original view to our days.

The railway station in Stanislaviv was rebuilt in 1904-1908 by the project of Ernest Baudisch, a senior adviser of Austro-Hungarian rail track building Ministry. Ernest Baudisch also had worked on the building for direction of railway (2 Halytska Street). The railway station in Stanislaviv and some other cities of Halychyna was rebuilt due to the increase in passengers and the necessity to provide better conditions tor the people. For this reason foremost was increased central vestibule, the forms of the waiting hall changed and the building itself acquired some traits of modernized Renaissance.

At that time the population went up from 14 786 in 1869 to 30 400 in 1900. During the period from 1890 to 1900 the population growth is 10 000 persons.

At the cross-ways of Gryunvaldska and Vasyliyanok Streets one can find Saint Stanislav Kostka Jesuit temple with the memorial sign above the entrance which says it was built in 1894-1895 in Neo-Baroque style. The author of the project was Stanislav Kryzhanovsky from Krakow. It is the only Neo-Baroque temple in the city. Jesuits chose that style in order to show that they were in the city from the 18th century and their former temple was built in Baroque style. Nowadays only choir loft remains authentic in the temple interior. During the times of the USSR regional archives were there, and in the 90ies the temple became the cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv patriarchate.

The next building we will pay attention to is the house of state tax inspectorate and direction of treasury on 31 Hrushevsky Street. It was built by Francis Skovron in Neo-Baroque style. It has been decorated by numerous of plant ornament and chimerical mascarons. Inside the building there is one of few stained glass windows in our city.

When we go to Strachenykh Street we can see the only functioning synagogue in Ivano-Frankivsk. It was built in 1895-1899. Earlier one could find Church of Resurrection of the Ukrainian community, which had been built in 1670 there. The history of this synagogue began in 1888. On order of Jewish Sacred Society, an architect Maksymilian Schloss started to put the plan of the synagogue into practice. He designed two variants of the temple, which were sent to the architect Wilhelm Styasny to Vienna for correc­tion. After his improvements in 1895, the building works had been launched and was completed in four years. The original style of the temple is eclectically-moorish. Unfortunately, in the 40ies of the 20th century the cupolas of the synagogue were destroyed. Now the building itself is used for different purposes but on the second floor there is a functioning synagogue.

On November 29,1891 the city theatre built by Y. Lapitsky’s project was opened. The interesting fact is that the theatre is the only build­ing in our city, which has two balconies in the audience hall. As the memorial plaque states Mariya Zankovetska, Mykola Sadovskiy Solomiya Kryschelnytska were on the stage of this theatre at different times. On November 14, 1943, a tragic event happened there. The premiere of Yaroslav Bamychy’s operetta “Scharika” which told about the life of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen was interrupted by Gestapo agents who broke in to the theater. Then they executed a mob law of shooting 27 Ukrainian rebels near the synagogue in front of the theatre. All historians distinguish brevity of Ukrainian elite who met death with the words “Glory to Ukraine!” and sang Ukrainian hymn.

Only in 1998 people in Ivano-Frankivsk could see operetta “Scharika” (by director F. Stryhun, Lviv Opera theatre named after of Zankovetska) in the theatre again – nowadays Philharmoniya. During the operetta, people honored the memory of those who had died there. Then it was decided to establish the monument at that place which was done by a local sculptor V. Dovbenyuk.

There is a public square named after Adam Mickevych with the monument to the poet near Philharmoniya. This monument is one of the oldest preserved in Ivano-Frankivsk (1898 by sculptor T. Blotnycky).

Not far away from each other have been situated buildings projected by Jan Kudelsky, one of the most famous city architects. This is a House of The District Council (4 Mickevycha Street) in Neo-Baroque style, 1894-1895; also Stanislaviv sections of The Krakow Community of Mu­tual Help (7 Hrushevsky Street) and a bank (4 Hrushevsky Street) in Neo-Renaissance style, 1907.

There are two houses almost in front of each other – a former hotel “Union” (4 Nezalezhnist Street) the first five-storeyed building deco­rated with the sculptures of M. Antonyak, which is a forerunner of Constructivism style.

On opposite side of the street there is a prototype of Constructivism Hauswald’s building erected in 1913 (11 Nezalezhnist Street). Both buildings were built according to the project of Frederick Janusch, an architect who outran his epoch having introduced Constructivism in the architecture of Stanislaviv.

3 Nezalezhnist Street – is a former Gartenberg’s passage, which was built in 1904 by the project of G. Koschytsya who was from Vienna. Local skilled workers Boublik and Kydelsky also took part in the project. In front of the passage there was an old Stanislaviv park “Kratterivka” founded in 1825 by the assistance of the burgomaster Francis Kratter.

The Gordynskiy Street is famous for its two buildings, the one of which is God’s Mother Assistance Church built in 1904 by Kryzhanovskiy’s project in Neo-Gothic style. The interesting thing is that during the public worships play there another keyboard instrument was used instead of organ – harmonium. In Ukraine, this instrument was very rare. Another interesting building on this street is the school named after a queen Sophia that was erected in 1895 according to Jan Lempitsky’s project. It was a successful attempt to make an administrative building in Neo-Gothic maintaining all style canons and using only brick to decorate the facade of the building.

There is the building of Ukrainian grammar school at 44 Shevchenko Street, erected in 1908. The author of chimerical figures on facade is a sculp­tor M. Bryns’ky.

The street ends up with the city park named after T. Shevchenko, founded on the place of the former Zvirynets grove and Radetskyy field in 1896. The oldest building there is a house of barons Romaschkanivs (1842) who were the owners of this territory in the 19th century.

Ivano-Frankivsk memorial square on Nezalezhnist Street, behind the hotel “Nadiya” is one of the oldest cemeteries in Galicia, the first buri­als of which were in 1782. This necropolis was far outside the city, as it had demanded Austrian rulers so in order to prevent infectious diseases.

Nowadays only some tombs have been preserved. Among them, we can find the monument of a famous composer – Denys Sichynskiy who was the organizer of the first musical school for children in Stanislaviv. The author of the monument is Mykhailo Zoriy. He made it as a symbol: in the form of a bandura the lower side of which contains a cube in which the author “encoded” the music, its chords and sounds. Therefore, the music is still alive there even in the stone.

On the opposite side one can find Lev Bachynskiy’s tomb. He was a political leader and public figure, a lawyer, vice president of Western Ukrainian (WUNR), an ambassador to Austrian and Polish parliaments, the author of many laws.

The highest tombstone (7 meters) belongs to Zygmynd Mrochkovski, a chief doctor of the city hospital. He died in 1888 saving people lives during the epidemic of abdominal typhus.

There are also the tombs of Y. Zhelekhivsky – a famous Ukrainian linguist, founder of “Prosvita” branch in Stanislaviv; M. Bychynsky – a folklorist and notary public; I. Yachno – a pedagogue, doctor of philosophy.

The cemetery was almost destroyed in 1983.

In front of the modem drama theatre there was the German Church built in Neo-Gothic style in 1885. A bishop Theodor Tselder had masses there. He did much charity in Stanislaviv and built a peculiar town in the center of the city, which included houses, a church, an educational establishments and asylums for children and a factory. The church was destroyed at the beginning of the 70ies.

Moreover, at the end let us have a look at “Mayzli” area where there is a Neo-Gothic style the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph. It is the last out of three nowadays-existing churches of Austro-Hungarian period, which was erected in 1910-1913, and the tower finished in 1925 by project of Felician Bayan.

The economical life of Stanislaviv 27.7% of the population made their living from artisanship, manufacturing and mining industry, nearly 15% were craftsmen – tailors, shoemakers, bricklayers, carvers, metalworkers, whitesmiths, bakers and artists.

Locomotives and carriages could be repaired at the rail plant. 800 people worked there.

Small industrial establishments were not counted.

Beside there was cotton factory in Kryhivci and institutions for ceramic manufacture in village Patsykiv.

Examples of fake Ukrainian passports

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Check Ukrainian passport

Hunting in the Carpathians

Traditions bind manly companies. Some men play regularly with their friends football once a week every Friday or visit a sauna on Saturdays. Or they get together every Sunday or oftener for a glass of beer. Generally there exist numerously various clubs according to the interests. One can regard hunting as the oldest men s collective hobbies. In ancient times it was considered a dangerous, but necessary condition of human survival, but in the past centuries it has transformed everywhere to a recreation, hobby and relatively expensive relaxation. Many consider that hunting awakes terrible instincts in the depths of human being and develops a tendency to cruelty. Hunters themselves talk about noble manly friendships and a close association with nature. So or otherwise, hunting exists and the ecologic and moral aspects are always determined by three conditions: where you hunt, what you hunt and how you hunt.

Pay money for wolves

It is autumn in the mountains – it is not the bright colouring of the mountain landscape, changeable weather and mushroom glades. In the Carpathians from the 1st September to the 26th December the individual hunting of deer, roe and wild boars is allowed. During the 90-ies many roes perished during the very cold winters, but now the number has increased to the previous stand. Special limits for hoofed animals are determined by a commission for each state hunting ground. The period of collective hunting is more limited: from 26stNovember to 26th December. Indeed the individual hunting of male roes is possible from the 1st June. At the end of November the male roe drops his horns and stops to interest the real hunter, who foremost is worried about the trophy – about what he can boast about at home before guests: size of the horns of the roe, fangs of the wild boar, hide of the wolf.

By the way, for the kill of a wolf in the Ukrainian Carpathians one can receive a state reward of 100 Hr., when in Poland for the same act one can land in prison for three years. However to obtain the reward, one has to hand in the hide, which has a market value of 100 USD. Environmentalists are certainly indignant at the financial stimulation for the killing of the “sanitary agent of the forest”. However the head of the administration of the hunting department in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk Yaroslav Oliynyk declared that on the territory of the region presently live ca. 80 wolves. This number is difficult to record exactly, but the region is able to absorb not more than 50 wolves. Besides, the hunt on the known predator is usually executed in passing, in the case that a license is obtained for other game. To meet a wolf and shoot him, is almost incredible, but also illegal. To walk on forest paths with a hunting gun one requires not only a license, but one has also to be accompanied by hunter. If you have entered a forest and you have a gun – you are a hunter only if you have a relevant license. If you obtained a license for roe, deer or wild boar, you may obtain a license for hunting a wolf. It is necessary to underline, that to succeed in wounding a wolf it is very rare. This predator is very strong, clever and well adapted to existing next to people. The hunting of wolf and fox is possible also outside of the season, but only with a separate license for this purpose.

For the largest Carpathian predator, the brown bear, one finally found space in the Red Book of Ukraine. Any hunting on him is forbidden. There are presently on the territory of Ukraine not more than 200 of the “claw-footed” – in zoos and in the mountains.

Hunting during the mating

Hunting in the Carpathians differs from the hunting in flat-land due to the considerable physical requirements. A Carpathian hunter must foremost be a sportive person able to walk not only one kilometer climbing and descending at different heights, even through deep snow. Known are cases when the fan of hunting suffers a heart attack. Although in to-day s rational and hard world such a thing can happen on a municipal pavement…

Experienced people say that a true hunter consists not only of ardor and goes hunting not only to shoot someone. It is pleasant to wake up early, watch the sunrise in the mountains standing in his room listening to the birds singing, admire the landscape and feel part of the wild nature. Besides the hunter should be interested in the maintenance of the forest fauna, so that his children and grandchildren can hunt too. A forest without animals is dead forest.

One of the most emotional types of hunting is that on hoofed animals. Before World War II Polish hunting magazines sufficiently often published features of a hunt on Carpathian deer and a few of the then achieved trophies were entered into world catalogues. From middle September to middle October, when the hunt is on the noble deer, when he with a load roar informs the forest about his greatness, calls out potential rivals to fight and shows off before females. The “harem” of the deer consists of between five and seven females. When mating the deer sees nothing and is almost deaf, because he is trapped by his own “singing.” Then one can approach him as close as 15 meters. The best photographs in the world of the deer were snapped during the mating. But it is not simple, because the females do not lose their diligence and on a feeling of danger alarm the male deer immediately. It is therefore possible to forgive an “insidious hunter” that tries to take advantage of the euphoric state of the deer.

With permission of the reader I will return to the concept of a true and false hunter, which the regional state forestry official Yaroslav Oliynyk mentioned. The state official, who hunts since childhood, explained what a conscience of a hunter is. A person, who shoots a rabbit, when it is swimming in water, will never gain respect in society. The rabbit is not a swimmer and in water finds itself in trouble. Unwritten laws prohibit the shooting of a wild boar, when it is stuck in deep snow and is exhausted. Even when you set off to hunt a wild boar and paid for your license, then you will return home, bring some potatoes and mais and allow the animal to free himself. We will meet again, you will say to yourself. That is the attitude of a true hunter. That is a Carpathian hunter s conscience. A true hunter was the known grandfather Mazay.

Collective hunting of wild boars

This is the most popular hunting in the autumn. Usually a group of five to 10 hunters (allowed is up to 15) agree to meet at the hunting ground on a agreed date. Collective hunting is a serious affair and it demands discipline. One begins with the instruction which all participants undersign. Important is the instruction as to accident prevention. Written and unwritten rules of the collective hunt are known and need not be repeated here.

The dog-leaders “lift” the wild boars and drive them in direction of the hunters who stand each in their position and wait. No smoking is allowed and silence is observed. The approaching of the wild boar can be defined by loudness of the barking dogs. The hunter shoots from a distance of 50-60 meters, but only that hunter whose area the wild boar enters. All questions are decided by the leader of the hunt.

Today hunting organizations try to orient hunters to use smooth-bore weapon, because a bullet from a carbine rifle flies a greater distance and can injure other participants. Due to aan optimal relation of price and quality the guns of the Russian manufacturers in Izhevsk and Tula are most popular among Ukrainian hunters. They cost ca. 400 USD.

There are hunting sections in every Carpathian state forestry. As a service the forestry offers accommodation, offroad-transport, leadership of the hunt and hunting-dogs, vetinerary services and the preparation of trophies. For our readers that wish to participate in a hunt in the Carpathians we have an additional information with telephone numbers as to a “hunting weekend.”

Fairy tale landscape in Ukraine for painters seeking time travel into unique scenery

Intro

Try to imagine life a hundred and fifty years ago with the same customs. We still hand milk cows, goats and sheep. You will see wagons, hay stack making and herding of animals.

Why you should go to the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains

There’s no other place like the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains, because we still bring the cows for milking and cheese making.

What is the best time to come?

Spring and fall seasons makes for ideal landscape scenery. Painters who love summer and winter are always wellcomed.

Things to see/explore/inspire during the painters tour

Just walking you will see unique practices of farming. And the food is indescribable because there is nowhere in the world that compares to us. Eat the freshest blueberries, meat on the open fire, fresh caught fish and fantastic beer.

Logistics: how does it work (guides, transport, hotels, meals)

Our guide will pick you up at the airport and transport you into our beautiful world. There are no problems with transportation (airplane, train, all kind of cars and horses). We offer first class accommodations. Either hotel accommodations 5* or private homes where you will be treated as family.

Ready to go?

Please contact us.

Pictures of beautiful landscape in Ukraine for painters

Transfer from Lviv airport to Ivano-Frankivsk

Green Ukraine offers a transfer from Lviv airport to Ivano-Frankivsk. Collection at Lviv airport is possible for both private travelers and groups. Private or shared Lviv airport transfer to Ivano-Frankivsk is possible by minivan (up to 10 people) and car.

You can book a transfer from Lviv airport to Ivano-Frankivsk with English speaking driver. We offer door-to-door service when you are flying into Lviv but need to get down to Ivano-Frankivsk.

Today Ukraine is a popular ski destination, more and more skiers choose the Ukrainian Carpathians. During the winter season, you can use our Lviv airport transfer to Ivano-Frankivsk and Bukovel. We don’t charge an extra fee for carrying skiing or snowboarding equipment.

Collection at Lviv airport to Ivano-Frankivsk performed by Green Ukraine is a convenient and comfortable transport solution at Lviv Airport in the Ukraine.

Prices

Payment is made when you meet the driver at the Lviv Airport. We except payments in US dollars, Euro and UAH (Ukrainian grivna) according to the actual cash rate.

Lviv International Airport (or officially Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport) is located 6 km from the center of Lviv. It is the closest Ukrainian airport to the Polish border.

The airport transfer provided by Green Ukraine offer reliable door-to-door service to your hotel (in Ivano-Frankivsk or Bukovel) or other stated destination both to and from Lviv airport.

Popular destinations from Lviv International Airport:

Ivano Frankivsk – dist.:140.00km, time:02:20

Bukovel – dist.:240.00km, time:03:50

Chernivtsi – dist.:275.00km, time:04:20

Truskavets – dist.:80.00km, time:01:25

Uzhgorod – dist.:270.00km, time:03:50

Ternopil – dist.:140.00km, time:02:10

Rivne – dist.:220.00km, time:03:00

Lutsk – dist.:160.00km, time:02:30

Uman – dist.:535.00km, time:07:20

In December 2015, the Poles will start up the train Warsaw – Lviv

Train Warsaw-Lviv. Schedule

From mid-December 2015 the Polish railway operator PKP Intercity introduces a new international train’s schedule. One of the innovations is starting up the direct train connection between Warsaw and Lviv.

Direct trains from Wrocław and Warsaw will travel to Lviv through Krakow. Their schedule will not be changed. This information is not yet shown in the schedule. The wagons from Warsaw will be integrated into the train that runs between Wroclaw and Lviv.

The trains from Wrocław and Warsaw will run through Krakow arriving to Lviv at 6:03 or 7:15 in the morning, depending on the date. The schedule of the trains running backwards is not yet published.

The run “Przemyśl-Lviv-Przemyśl” will depart from Lviv at 8:10 by Kyiv time and arrive to Przemyśl at 9:48 by Warsaw time. You can change this train to the other one running to Krakow, Wrocław and Zelona Gura. The train will depart from Przemyśl at 17:50, and arrive to Lviv at 21:25. You can change this train to the other one running to Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa, and Kharkiv.
The first run of the new train is expected on December 19, 2015. The rout will be served through Ukrainian wagons purchased in Poland.

Lviv Express. Train Wrocław-Lviv

Now only one night train “Lviv Express” runs to Lviv. It runs every day from Wrocław through Krakow. The train leaves Wrocław at 16:54 (local time), and arrives to Lviv at 6:03 or 7:15 (depending on date). The departure from Lviv is at 22:59, the arrival to Wrocław – at 10:55 (local time). By July this year the train had been running on a cut route Krakow-Lviv.

10 bicycle routes through the Ukrainian Carpathians which are worth a try for everyone

If you believe that in the Carpathians you can only go skiing and there is nothing to do in the summer here – you are very mistaken. In addition to beautiful mountains’ places, waterfalls and villages you can have a terrific time in the mountains trying one of the many bicycle routes. In our today’s article we give the information about the most interesting routes in the Carpathians, which can be passed by bicycle.

“Bahrivets” Yaremche

Sights: Probiy waterfall, restaurant Hutsulschyna

Length: 7 km, time: 1 h, climb: 269 m, maximum height: 702 m, complication: medium

The route starts from the central market. Its start is similar to the route 305. At the crossroads of the routes 305 and 306 (see Description of the route 305) we go straight. Then we reach the river bridge and go across it. The asphalt road ends and at the same time the first rather lengthy climb begins. The main thing is to known your own strengths. After climbing for a while we come to the village Bahrivets. Straight away after climbing a short descent follows, after which we go along the rural road to the second and the last ascent. Ascent surface is a mixture of rocks, soil and clay, so it is not so easy to go up, especially after rain.

But a reward for your effort will be incredibly beautiful landscapes at the top of the hill. Then the steep descent along the asphalt road to the recreation Carpathians waits for us. Passing the recreation we go along the main road and having crossed the bridge, short of the highway we turn left to a quiet street leading us to the restaurant Hutsulshyna and souvenir market. Also, you can swerve to the left from this road and reach the meadow with the healing spring near the river, where you can spend time.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=blmjydxnkotlgqbg&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Maiden’s tears” Yaremche

Sights: enclosures, waterfall Maiden’s tears

Length: 6 km, time: 1 h, climb: 250 m, maximum height: 662 m, complication: medium

It is a short, not difficult route. The route starts from the highway near the market in the center of Yaremche. Here we tern off the main road and go up to the market, after crossing the railway we turn left and go along the asphalted road. Then we reach the crossroads: the route 306 goes straight, the route 305 turns to the right. We turn right to a small ascent covering with concrete slabs. There is another crossroads at the end of the ascent: the road to the left is the direction to the waterfall Maiden’s tears. We have to turn left. The surface becomes earth-stone here and goes on up to the waterfall. Next we go to the rest complex “Bears’ Mountain”, and then to enclosures where you can rest and watch deer and boars. Then we continue our journey straight up to the waterfall.

It should be noted that the greatest part of the route goes through the forest and is in shadow most of the time, so swamp can be left even a week after the rain. Later we go through a small and not deep stream. Then we go on the main road up to the crossroads where we need to tern to the left. After the short descent we are almost at the goal of our trip – the waterfall. To the waterfall we should go down on foot. It is a great place for bathing in a hot day. There is also a beautiful summer house where you can sit down and rest. We go back the same way we have come.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=rcftkznuqqmpubnm&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Observational” Yaremche

Sights: Elephant Rocks

Length: 6 km, time: 1 h, climb: 181 m, maximum height: 632 m, complication: simply

It is an interesting route that allows you to see Yaremche quite in a new light. Cozy streets, the Prut River with its rocky banks, ascents and descents, forests and city views wait for us on our route. The route starts from the market, then we go to the highway, turn to the left and in a dozen meters we go off to the right as the road sign shows. We follow carefully the signs and soon we come down to the bank of the Prut River, where you can refresh yourself and rest a little. Next we go on the path along the bank, pass a small stream and go back to the central road. We go to the left and approximately in 20 meters we turn right, where the more interesting part of the route starts.

First we go up along the asphalt road, then move higher and higher, until the asphalt road changes to the earth road and leads us into a small forest. In the forest the road turns sharply left and goes up again. Climbing for a while, we find ourselves at the top of the route where we can stop and admire views of Earache. The route goes on along a horizontal road. We have to follow the signs in order not to miss the turn after which a steep interesting stone descent begins. At the end of the descent we go to the finish point of the route, which is in the same place as the start. The route can be overcome also in the opposite direction.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=mzphzbfknfidkkna&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Presidential” Tatariv

Sights: Huk Waterfall

Length: 17 km, time: 2.5 h, climb: 447 m, maximum height: 855 m, complication: simply

The quiet, not difficult route suits for those who want to have a nice and useful time. The route starts from the railway station in Tatariv. Then we go along the road to the side of Yaremche. In about 3 km before the bridge over the Prut River there is a pointer to the waterfall Huk. Alternatively you can go a while longer on the highway and cross the river over a hanging bridge. Here a smooth ascent until the very waterfall begins.

First the road has a good asphalt pavement, but in time it goes into the earth-stone road. On the way we meet estates of Ukrainian officials, in particular, Yushchenko’s summer cottage. Perhaps because of this fact the route has got its name. At the end of the route one of the most beautiful waterfalls of Ukraine – Zhenetskyj waterfall with height of water falling in 11 m waits for us. We go back in the same way.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=apupbuzcdyyyafiy&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Vorokhta’s” Vorokhta

Sights: Vorokhta’s vicinity

Length: 16 km, time: 2.5 h, climb: 479 m, maximum height: 989 m, complication: medium

It is an interesting route of medium complication with beautiful views of the Carpathians. The route starts from the railway station of Vorokhta. First we take the route 315 (see Description the route 315 – Under the old bridges) to the village Voronenko. Then we continue our travel along the route 313 (see Description of the route 313 – Yablunytsja’s horizon). At the end of the ascent there is a crossroads near the church: the route 313 turns right, and we go to the right. The road always goes straight through rural pastures. Here you can admire the picturesque views of the Carpathian ranges, in particular of the mountain Khomiak. Later we climb to the highest point of the route, where we turn right and go down the road that leads us to the center of Vorokhta.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=gcqsxpgtypcxpuvu&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Observational” Bukovel

Sights: Bukovel’s vicinity

Length: 3 km, time: 1 h, climb: 115 m, maximum height: 940 m, complication: simply

This route is for those who want to see Bukovel in a new light. The route starts at the central square. Next, we go up along the parking. We cross the skiing track and go down the asphalt road. We go to the reception, where the interesting serpentine ascent begins. At the end of the ascent we cross the wide skiing track N2 and go down to the road. We go back to the central square.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=jlhzlrnntytvijgt&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Observational” Yablunytsia

Sights: Yablunytsia’s vicinity

Length: 7 km, time: 1 h, climb: 286 m, maximum height: 1018 m, complication: simply

It is a short, but nonetheless interesting route around Yablunytsa. If you want more to admire the views of the Ukrainian Carpathians, more to rest and less to pedal – this route is just for you. From the highway we go the new way towards Bukovel, but we do not speed up too much, because in 100 m we need to turn left at the first of two ascents of this route. The ascent is not long, so it does not take a lot of energy. Next we go down the earth road and turn left. Then we go along the road and after 600 m we turn left on the second ascent of the route. This ascent is longer and heavier than the previous one, but you can do it. At the top you can find a place for a rest and observe the neighborhood. Next we need to go left and after 150 m we come out to the main road and go back to our starting point.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=lthbyltbnltvjuhn&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Old railway” Mykulychyn

Sights: Mykulychyn’s vicinity

Length: 15 km, time: 2.5 h, climb: 256 m, maximum height: 711 m, complication: simply

It is an easy pleasant route, which runs mainly on the asphalt road. The climb is negligible and practically imperceptible, so this route is suitable for beginners and for those who just want to relax. The route starts close by the cemetery near the Prut River. Here we turn off the highway. The road is quiet without significant movement and goes in the beginning through the residential area. In time there are fewer buildings, and the road changes sometimes into the forest one. We go always straight, without turning anywhere. At the end of the route there is a beautiful meadow near the river – a great place for relaxing and swimming in the warm season. If you wish, you can continue the journey: down the road you can see oil fields existing up to now. We go back the same road.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=ioqmmedlvqvailsk&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Kulnyj” Vorokhta

Sights: Vorokhta’s vicinity

Length: 22 km, time: 3.5 h, climb: 882 m, maximum height: 1437 m, complication: difficult

Everybody who seeks adventures, who does not desire to spend one day more by sitting at the computer or TV – this route is exactly what you need. There will be everything: protracted climb and steep descent, forest roads and open meadows with endless views. The route starts from the railway station in the village Voronenko. You can start from Vorokhta, but in this case you get the village Voronenko using the route 315 (see Description of the route 315 – Under the old bridges). From the station we go along the track till the ascent. The climb takes the long time therefore we go at the moderate pace to our goal, which is the mountain Kukul.

The first part of the ascent is quite steep, besides the road is partially worn down by timber carriers, but having reached the ridge the road turns to the left and then our climb up to the mountain Pid-berdia becomes smoother. Here we can rest, admire the incredible views of the Ukrainian Carpathians, including the highest point of Ukraine the mountain Hoverla. The rest of the route will be much easier than before. We continue our travel along the ridge towards the mountain Kukul. Reaching the mountain valley Labjeska, the road turns left to the final part of the route – the descent to Vorokhta. Here you decide whether you have enough strength and inspiration to win the mountain Kukul. Alternatively, you can leave someone with the bicycles at the foot of the mountain and to climb the mountain by foot. The 10 kilometer descent to Vorokhta brings you unforgettable impressions that you will keep in your mind as a pleasant memory for a long time. The only place that should not be missed is the crossroads approximately 2 km after the start of the descent. There is an ascent to the mountain Kychera to the right, and a traverse road to the left. We have to turn left, that will be enough climbs for today.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=lhxwdirwguabybpe&isFullScreenLeave=true

“Yablunytsia’s horizon” Vorokhta

Sights: Vorokhta’s and Yablunytsia’s vicinity

Length: 25 km, time: 4 h, climb: 708 m, maximum height: 1032 m, complication: medium

The route starts in Vorokhta. The first part of the route runs similar to the route 315 (see Description of the route 315 – Under the old bridges). Reaching the village Voronenko and crossing the track we turn right. Here the climb begins. First, the gradient is small, but the farther, the steeper it becomes. Before reaching the church we overcome the last meters of the ascent. From the church we turn left and rest a little when going the almost horizontal earth road. After a few hundred meters, the “main” road turns right. We go along the ridge where formerly the state border followed, and now it forms the border between Ivano-Frankivsk and Transcerpathian regions.

Soon we get the mountain valley, which opens very beautiful views, especially on the mountains Petros and Hoverla. You can rest here a little. Next there is a short but sufficiently steep descent and we go on the highway, which goes through the Yablunytsia pass. Those who want to visit the Transcarpathian region can go to the left hundred meters along the road. The route goes right along the highway. Then we go about 4 kilometers and follow closely the signs in order not to miss a turn to the right. We go down to the earth road. We go along it, then take a left and reach the ridge with a good earth road. We follow this road along the ridge up to the top station of the longest chairlift in Ukraine. Then the most interesting part of the route begins, namely, an exciting, a bit extreme and very technical descent down to the lowest point of the lift and from there we go the way across the bridge and get to Vorokhta.

Map: http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId=aefbavrrtakkoqfe&isFullScreenLeave=true

Ralf tour. Lviv and Carpathians 9 days. ALL included

Dedicated to Mr. Ralf, our guest from Germany, who has made the same trip in September 2016 and inspired us to work out this tour.

Dear Guest, during 9 days you will explore the best of Western Ukraine – Lviv, Kolomyya, Kosiv, Verkhovyna, Ivano-Frankivsk and Carpathian Mountains.

Our guide will pick you up from the airport and stay with you during the entire journey. He will help you to understand Ukrainian past and present, show you the beauty of Ukraine and local life.

The tour is a mix of interesting activities: visiting different museums, churches, meeting with local artisans, horse riding, sauna, ATV, paragliding, just chilling and many more.

The Ralf tour is comfortable. You will stay in the best hotels, eat the best Ukrainian food in nice restaurants. Transportation is always by private car. ALL included.

Tour program

Day 1

Getting to Lviv from your city. We arrange the flight tickets
Meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel
Check-in Atlas Deluxe hotel 4* in Lviv

Day 2

Lviv
Our guide picks you up from the hotel
Lviv Old City tour (3 hours)

Day 3

Lviv
Excursions in Lviv with our guide: Austrian Lviv + Coffee in Lviv (3 hours)

Day 4

Transfer by car from Lviv to Kolomyya
Visiting Kolomyya (Easter Egg Museum and Museum of Hutsulshchyna)
Lunch in Kolomyya
Paragliding in Kuty
Stay per night in Kosiv
Dinner

Day 5

Visiting local craftsmen in Kosiv, which is something unbelivable. Skin, leather, metal, wood – they make great things
Lunch in Kosiv
Museum of Hutsulshchyna in Kosiv
We move from Kosiv to Verkhovyna
On our way to Verkhovyna we visit Kryvorivnya village (typical house Grazhda and Old Hutsul Church)
Check in Verkhovel Hotel 4*
Dinner

Day 6

Horse riding in Verkhovyna (4 hours) with BBQ for lunch
In the evening sauna or chan
Stay per night in Verkhovel Hotel 4*

Day 7

Rafting in Dzembronya village (if not enough water chilling in VODA club Bukovel)
ATV adventure in Mykulycnhyn village (3 hours route)
Stay per night in hotel in Mykulychyn, Karpatska Villa Hotel
Dinner

Day 8

We move from Mykulychyn to Yaremche
In Yaremche we visit the waterfall and souvenir market
Visiting Ivano-Frankivsk, sightseeing tour, 2 hours
Lunch
Transfer to Lviv
Check-in Atlas Deluxe hotel 4* in Lviv
Dinner

Day 9

Flight home. End of the tour

Tour price: 1948 EUR for 1 person, 2353 EUR for 2 persons. For bigger groups please make a request
Included: all hotels, all meals, all excursions, all transfers, constant support of the guide
Not included: flight tickets to Lviv, Ukraine. The price of the tickets will be included into the tour price once you let us know your airport of departure. We will offer you the best flight options (less connections and better price). The ticket price will be added to the tour price. Therefore, you can pay all together.
How to book this tour? Please contact us and inform about your airport of departure. After we confirm the flight options and tour price, we will send you our payment details for online payment. You can pay for the tour with your credit card.

Mushroom tour in the Carpathians

Our all inclusive mushroom tour into the Carpathians includes your constant escort by a personal English-speaking guide, flight to Ukraine, transfer to the Carpathians, accommodation, meals and excursions. Online payment is possible.

The procedure is as follows: a client confirms the application and tour date, we make offer on the flight and confirm the budget, and the client pays the tour. Our guide meets you in a certain Ukrainian airport and takes you to the Carpathians by car; you enjoy mushrooming with an experienced guide, at the end of the tour you return home escorted by the guide.

Intro

Ukrainian Carpathian forests are rich in ecologically clean mushrooms and berries. There are many mushrooms in the mountains in autumn, especially after warm rains. In the Carpathians, there are many pine boletuses, not to mention aspen-mushrooms, chanterelles, etc. In general, more than 200 kinds of mushrooms grow in the Carpathians. You can find more than 300 mushrooms a day in the Carpathian forest.

People take pleasure in picking mushrooms. This pleasure is always proportional to the number of the mushrooms picked. In addition, when picking the mushrooms you can admire Carpathian nature and beautiful sceneries.

Our guide will take you to a glade, where you can enjoy wonderful views; also, he will show how to distinguish the edible and poisonous mushrooms. You will also learn how to can and dry the harvested mushrooms.

A fascinating journey along forest paths will give you great pleasure and open many interesting things of Ukrainian nature.

A mushroom season in the Carpathian region begins in late July. At this time depending on rainfalls, various mushrooms grow with intervals from several days to several weeks. The mushrooms stop growing with the beginning of the first frost, which, unfortunately, comes in the Carpathians earlier than on the plains.

The Carpathian region is a real paradise for mushroom pickers. The experienced mushroom pickers advise to go to Verkhovyna in Ivano-Frankivsk region. 57 kinds of mushrooms grow among beech and coniferous forests in the Carpathian National Nature Park. The right places for mushroom hunting are around Verkhovyna, villages Zelene and Dzembronya.

Mushroom tour in the Carpathians. Program

Day 1

Meeting a guest (a group of guests) at the airport or railway station. Transfer to Verchovyna by car

Hotel check in

A free day for getting acquaintance with Verkhovyna and the Carpathian region:
• Local museum (“Hutsulschyna”, “Khata-Grazhda”, “Museum of Musical Instruments”)
• Horse riding
• A walk to the observation tower
• Saunas (wet or Finnish)
• Valylo (local Hutsul Jacuzzi)
• ATV
• Bicycles
• A local market
• Souvenir shops
• Kolybas
• Restaurants

Day 2

Early wake up (5:00 am).
You will have an opportunity to enrich yourself with the energy of the dawn sun, walk barefoot on the dewy grass and set your mind to positive. After the morning rituals, we start for mushroom hunting in the Carpathians. We will teach you to not only look for the mushrooms, and get contact with them, identify mushroom places and find whole families of the mushrooms, and even fraternities.

On this day we propose to pick the mushrooms within the frame of Kryvopilskyi pass (18 km from the hotel). When picking the mushrooms you will have an opportunity to pick thyme from the mountain valley, taste authentic Hutsul dishes in nature: kulesha, banosh with the mushrooms, brynza, cheese, vurda.

Tasting alcoholic liqueurs of wild Carpathian herbs and berries is an inalienable tradition. After a square meal, we return to the hotel. You will be given a master class on gilling and pickling the mushrooms (for all comers), and for those who keep their forces the locals will cook the mushrooms with pleasure. Then you will have a free time for a rest.

Day 3

You will make a journey up to the mountain valley located at an altitude of 1,000 m. above sea level and having a wonderful view on Hoverla (2061 m). Here you will uncover secrets of cheese preparation, get acquaintance with a lifestyle of shepherds, taste sheep cheese, brynza, and vurda. You will see a technology of making cheese, and if you wish, take part in the process. Then you will enjoy lunch on the mountain valley (banosh, mushrooms, leaf lard with garlic, herbal tea).

On the back way to the hotel, you will have an opportunity to pick the mushrooms, wild herbs, turn to the source with hydrogen sulfide water.

Day 4

This day provides an excursus into historical times of the Carpathians, we will show you a real bunker hidden in the wood (it is located in the village Zelene – 25 km from the village Verkhovyna, the mountain valley Staiky).

You can enjoy the real beauty of the untouched Carpathian Mountains. Having overcome a difficult road you will stop, halt near the bunker, and listen to stories about the war years. Then you will taste tinctures and healing tea prepared by the local people.

Lunch cooked on an open fire.

Return to the hotel.

Gilling, salting, drying mushrooms. Master class on cooking Carpathian dishes with the mushrooms.

Day 5

On this day, you will have an opportunity to express your impressions, proposals, say some pleasant words in good memory to the Carpathians and finally exclaim in a loud voice: “I am happy!”

Breakfast

Checking-out, transfer to the airport

Tour price

769 EUR for a single traveler, 972 EUR for two travelers. For bigger group please make a request

The price includes:
• A constant escort by a personal guide
• All transfers through Ukraine
• Staying in a 4* hotel in Verkhovyna
• Meals
• Excursions

The price does not include
A flight to Ukraine. We are glad to offer you the best choice of flights for any travel dates chosen by you. After confirmation, the price per flight will be added to the cost of the tour.

How you can order a mushroom tour in the Carpathians
Please contact us, give the necessary information about the tour date and your location. Our specialists will make a personal offer for you in a shortest time.

Tour payment
After agreeing all the nuances of the tour program, we will make out an invoice for you to pay online by credit card. There are no extra fees or hidden charges.

Other
A mushroom tour in the Carpathian Mountains is always a private tour for you or your group. This means that the tour program is completely flexible. At the planning stage you can change the program adding various entertainments, extend the duration etc. Anything on your taste.

See you at mushroom hunting in the Carpathian Mountains!
Contact us right now!

What to do in the Carpathian Mountains during a thunderstorm

Some years ago a thunderstorm in the Carpathian region took place in January. Therefore, we can forecast that the time corridor of the thunderstorm period is significantly expanded.

Thunderstorms are of frequent occurrence in the Carpathians, and unlike lowland storms, they are much more aggressive and can have more devastating and far more tragic consequences. Taking into account the fact of the climate change – the chance to be caught by a storm is quite high.

Why are the thunderstorms in the mountains more dangerous

Why are the thunderstorms in the mountains more dangerous than in the plains? The answer is obvious: if a thunder and a lightning are the greatest danger in the plains, a storm in the mountainous areas can cause a rash devastating flood or mud flow. Both are dangerous for tourists.

What to do and how to behave during a storm in the carpathians?

1. Plan your walk and trip time properly. According to statistics, most of thunderstorms in the mountains fall on summer afternoons. So if you are a passive holidaymaker, try to make your short trips into the mountains in the morning.
2. That concerns the passive tourists. If during a thunderstorm you are in a cottage or in a country seat, you should not chill out. First, close all doors and windows, especially small windows. No draughts should be in the room. Also disconnect (unplug) all appliances because they, like draught, attract a fireball. Also try to stay away from the electrical appliances.
3. If a storm caught you during the walk in the mountains, look for a place to wait out the storm. In no case hide from the storm on a rise, it is better to find a clump of scrub trees and to wait out the storm over there.
4. When looking for a shelter against the storm, pay attention to the tree condition. If a tree has signs of destruction by fire, such place is dangerous, because a lightning hit this tree and probably several times. It has been already proved that a lightning hits oak, poplar, pine and spruce. And the last grow in the Carpathians enough. Willows, maples and shrubs are less vulnerable to lightnings.
5. When choosing the shelter, avoid shores of mountain rivers, especially of mountain streams. The latter, according to EM, are extremely dangerous during the rains. The streams do not have reserves for overflow water, so in a few minutes they can turn into a deadly stream, washing away everything and everyone in its path. And this suddenness often leaves no chance for victims to react.
6. Now let us speak about a situation when the storm caught you on a mountain meadow or in open areas, and you are far from any tree. What should you do in this situation? Do not forget that you should avoid separately standing trees, because they are the perfect attraction for a lightning. In this case, look for some kinds of depression, hole or hollow. When there is a choice, we recommend you to choose the dry hollows, because wet earth more often gets fire gifts from Zeus. But it is too difficult to find a dry hollow in the open area, so when hiding in the wet hollow, in any case lie there in full length. This is necessary in order to minimize your contact with the surface, which serves as a conductor.
7. Someone hikes through the mountains, and someone travels with a helmet on his head and by bike or quad bike. So, if you are caught in the storm when going by these vehicles, the first thing is to stop immediately. Then read tips from first to sixth.

General safety rules

And there are a few concluding words about the features of the lightning’s. Today science knows that a lightning is an electromagnetic phenomenon of great strength and power, so its behavior is often dictated by the physical characteristics.

Searching the shortest path to the closing of the electrical circuit explains the attraction of the lightning to subjects allocated over the total surface, and this explains the attraction to the electric and magnetic-emitting devices. From here there are a few general rules that are important not only in the mountains but wherever there are thunderstorms.
• do not swim during a storm
• do not speak on cell phones during a storm

• while driving in a car during a storm take off all protruding decorative elements, especially a radio antenna.
If you meet these requirements, a mountain summer thunderstorm will not put you to troubles, and will cause interesting memories, impressions, and possibly of a new romantic relationship.
Because what appears after rain? That’s true! Rainbow!

Tour of doing nothing

We know that you work a lot and your work is a potential source of significant stress. We think it’s time for you to relax and forget about your problems for at least a few days with our “do nothing” tour. We’ll help you reboot both body and soul.

Why to relax in the Ukrainian Carpathians?

This is a new unique destination: pristine nature, very safe, no hordes of tourists, clean air … and silence. Just what you need to relax and rewind.

If you need company, we’ll provide the necessary support. If you just want to stay alone, we’ll arrange everything you need (a comfortable bed, the best local cuisine, a hot shower…) Or if what you prefer is a tent somewhere in the mountains or next to the river, we’ll arrange that too. Whatever you wish without a problem!

We are able to take you to places where phones and emails will not bother you, and during our “do nothing” tour in the Carpathians, you can simply enjoy the peace and quiet of nature: the sounds of the mountain river, of cows in a distant meadow, rain and snowfall. Find peace and dream about the ways things used to be.

Our “do nothing” tour does not offer 5* hotels. We know you can find luxury at home. What we offer is the opportunity to go back in time and escape modern life, albeit with hot showers and clean accommodation.

As a non-comprehensive list of some of the things you can do:
– spend couple of days with a local family in remote Carpathian village
– fishing on the river or lake
– spend a few days high in the mountains with shepherds, where you’ll be treated like a brother
– enjoy being in the wild by staying in a tent or a separate cottage / bungalow (with or without a pool)
– horse riding
– sauna (chan)
– massage

We’re very flexible. If you decide to change the atmospere and want to go to a nightclub, we can arrange it. Want some extreme activities – ATVs, jeeping, paragliding? No problem. Otherwise, why not simply read a book, listen to the river or … do nothing.

You are in safe hands.

We organise all necessary logistics before you arrive and will meet you at the airport with a car to take you to the Carpathians. Out guide/interpreter/driver will accompany you (if necessary) every day of your stay, with pleasure, allowing you to make the most of your stay. There are no language problems, no stupid questions, no security problems and inconvenient situations. Only complete and total relaxation.

Book this tour at any month of the year and see how much this beautiful region changes by the season. No trip too long or too short and everything available at short notice.

Write to us, make a request and give us an idea about what you want. We will deliver!

Don’t waste any more time. Book now!

ATV tours near Lviv and the Carpathian Mountains

If you miss real adventures, bright impressions, we’ve got a super-idea for you – the ATV-tours under the off-road conditions!

We are located 15 kilometers from Lviv, in Western Ukraine, which has unique and breath-taking landscapes, historical and natural monuments, which we would like to show you. There is no better way to show you all this than the ATV tours.

You will enjoy the adventurous ATV tours around picturesque Lviv Region and the mountains of Carpathians, during which you will feel yourselves a real conqueror of the Carpathian ridges and boggy forests, or the exciting short ATV trips around Lviv.

Take your friends, your beloved ones, your relatives and let’s go on the exciting ATV tours full of adrenaline buzz and unforgettable emotions.

Our ATV tours will open the picturesque views, interesting natural and historical monuments of our region for you.

User-friendly ATV

If you have never driven the quad bike – don’t worry! – its quite easy. Due to the automatic transmission, even the inexperienced drivers will manage it. Our instructors will conduct a simple training and will accompany you on the route on a separate quad bike, and the tour guide will tell you many new and interesting things.

The price includes:
– renting of the two-seat quad bike (you may drive alone or with the second person)
– Fuel
– Protective clothes
– Helmet with the inner helmet;
– Motorcycle Protection (“turtle”);
– Gloves;
– The quad bike driving instruction
– Instructor’s escort on the separate motorcycle
– Excursion escort (English-speaking tour guide) during the tours ( 5-10 hours)
– Dinner during the tours (5-10 hours)
– Entrance tickets to the excursion objects

Routes and prices

ATV tour “Off-road to Kamula Mountain” – 7 hours – 208 EUR

ATV tour “The Devil’s Rocks – historical riddle” (near Lviv)- 5 hours – 175 EUR

ATV tour “Through the mountain ridges to Tustan Fortress” (the Carpathian Mountains) – 10 hours – 308 EUR

ATV tour “The Vynnyky Forest” – 60min. (near Lviv) – 53 EUR

ATV tour “Honcharska Mountain” –  60min. (near Lviv)- 53 EUR

ATV tour «Adrenaline” – 90min. (near Lviv)- 80 EUR

What should you take with you?

– Clothes according to the season, convenient change shoes. Optionally, you will be given the wellingtons.
– you should have the passport with you.

How to order the ATV-tour?
– You may contact and book the time and day which is convenient for you.
– Registration for the driving is necessary a couple of days before the planned driving.
– Come to the “Kvadro Park”, village of Vinnichky,15 km from Lviv centre.
– Fill in the quad bike renting agreement
– Undergo the training in the quad bike driving.
– After the training – we set off!

Driving requirements
– The driving participants shall not be less than 18 years old. Passengers behind – at least 10 years old.
– the driving license is not necessary
– the persons under the alcoholic or narcotic intoxication will not be admitted
– Alcohol drinking is strictly forbidden during the tour.

Where are we?
– village of Vinnichky 15 km from Lviv centre.

During the safari-tour on the ATV you and your joyful company will get flood of emotions and immense energy boost, impressions which will stay with you forever!

Contacts:

+38 (063) 6000 772
+38 (067) 6000 772

E-mail: quadro.prokat@gmail.com

www.quadropark.com
www.facebook.com/quadropark
www.instagram.com/quadropark_lviv
www.vk.com/quadropark

Horseback tour to Pip Ivan Observatory. 2-day trip

The Observatory on Pip Ivan Mountain is a visiting card of the Ukrainian Carpathians. We offer a two-day horseback ride to the top of Mount Pip Ivan.

Pip Ivan is the third highest mountain in Ukraine (2022 m), also known as Black Mountain (Chornohora). On its top there’s a Polish astronomical/meteorological observatory named White Elephant (Biały Słoń).

The route to the Pip Ivan Observatory from Shybene village is one of the most difficult and most beautiful in the Carpathians. Its length is 16 km, which is mostly a steep mountain slope. Therefore, ascending it on horseback is a good idea and another good reason to book our horse tour to Pip Ivan.

The local horses (of the Hutsul breed) are very calm. They walk slowly and steadily. Riding experience is not necessary. During the tour, a horseman and a guide/interpreter will always be alongside you.

Trip highlights:
– Hutsul horses
– Polonyna Vesnarka (a Carpathian traditional alpine dairy farm)
– lunch near the Maricheyka mountain lake
– experience the Observatory on Pip Ivan
– overnight in a hunting cabin in the mountains

Programme

Day 1
We meet in Ivano-Frankivsk. You can easily get there by overnight train/plane from Kiev or Lviv. We organize the transfer to Shybene village (30 km from Verkhovyna). The road journey from Ivano-Frankivsk lasts 4 hours. Transfers from other cities are also available.

In Shybene we meet the horses, pack our equipment on horses and go. Usually we start before noon.

We enter the territory of the Carpathian National Nature Park, next to Pohorilets tract. After around two hours’ riding we reach Polonyna Vesnarka (an alpine dairy farm). Here, from mid-May to mid-September (depending on the weather), Hutsuls (the special name of the local people) produce cheese as it has been made for hundreds of years. It’s possible to make a short visit and see how it looks and tastes.

Under half an hour from Vesnarka, we come to Maricheyka – a beautiful lake high in the mountains. Here we stop for lunch (bread, cheese, sausage, fish, vegetables…), and rest.

Continuing the horse tour, in about 2 hours we reach the top of Pip Ivan mountain, where we can explore the observatory, admire the scenery and take pictures.

After a rest, we return down the mountain. Approximately 3 km from the Observatory there’s a very nice hunting cabin, where we will stay the night. This is a wonderful place in the woods. The cabin has places for sleeping (in sleeping bags), a stove, table, firewood and water. Our horses will have a rest. We’ll light a cosy fire and have a tasty dinner and relax. There will be local snacks and moonshine to try, before a good night’s sleep.

Day 2
We wake up, have a good breakfast and make our way back to Shybene village at around 11 am, using the same path.

On the way back, where there are steep slopes, it is better to get off the horse and walk. It’s harder for the horse to go down than up.

At 4 pm we arrive back at the village, where our car is waiting for us. Transfer to Ivano-Frankivsk. End of the trip.

Prices for 2018 (in Euro)

What is included:
– transfer from Ivano-Frankivsk and back
– your horse
– the services of a guide/interpreter
– the services of a horseman
– meals (lunch and dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2)
– overnight in the hunting cabin.

What you need to take:
– your passport (it’s a border zone, a few kilometers from Romania, and there will be a checkpoint)
– waterproof jacket/trousers. In the mountains, the weather might change very quickly and often, or even rain all the time!
– sturdy walking boots
– a sleeping bag (we can arrange it if you don’t have).

Notes
– difficulty: moderate/difficult
– group size: max. 8 travellers. For a bigger group, please make a request and we’ll arrange that
– this horse riding tour is available from April to late September
– the route can be changed at your request
– it is possible to extend the tour.

Tour in Vyzhnytsa

We offer tours to Vyzhnytsa (Wiznitz, וויזשניץ). You will visit Vyzhnytsa with the best local guide, explore its history and amazing sites.

The first mention of the settlement on the Cheremosh River dates back to 1158. According to another version, the city’s name is mentioned in the Moldovan annals of J. Nekulche in 1501.

Vizhnitsa was part of the Moldavian principality, which was in vassal dependence on the Ottoman Empire. In 1767, Vizhnitsa received the Magdeburg right. Apparently, during this period the first Jews appeared here.

In 1774, Vyzhnytsa with the Bukovina region became part of the Austrian Empire. By that time, 56 Jewish families had already lived in Vyzhnytsia – 191 people. Soon Vizhnitsa received the status of a trading city.

Vyzhytsa – center of Hasidism

In the middle of the 19th century, when the city began to gain fame as a center of Hasidism, the Jewish community of Vyzhnytsia became independent from Chernivtsi.

In the oldest cemetery in Vyzhnytsya, the Soviet authorities built a stadium, but a new one, opened in 1863, is well preserved. It is located near the village of Chornoguzy.

Basically, the Jews from Vyzhnytsa were engaged in the usual business – trade and crafts.

At the end of the 18th century the town became an important point of trade in the forest (European yew). Threes were rafted along the rivers Cheremosh and Prut to Chernivtsi and from there they were transported to Bessarabia and Podillya.

The first wooden synagogue in Vyzhnytsa was built in 1777. In 1826, a Great stone Synagogue was erected. It was badly damaged during the First World War, but restored in a slightly modified form. Today the building of the Great Synagogue of Vyzhnytsa is one of the most notable in the town and is used as the Palace of Culture.

The heyday of the Jewish Vyzhnytsa began in 1854, when Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager settled here, the grandson and namesake of the founder of the Hasidic court in the town of Kosiv. Soon the young zaddik was rumored to be a miracle-worker, which attracted Jews from all over Bukovina and beyond. Hager establishes his own courtyard in Vyzhnytsa and becomes the ancestor of the Chassidic Vyzhnytsa dynasty, which today is one of the most numerous in the world.

At that time, the most famous Hasidic zaddik in the region was the famous Rabbi Israel Friedman of Ruzhyn, whose yard was located in the town of Sadgor (today,the district of the city of Chernivtsi).

Vyzhytsa and Baal Shem Tov

Generally, Vyzhnytsia can be considered the cradle of Hasidism, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager is not to blame. In the vicinity of the town in 1727 – 1734 lived a man, later known as the founder of this mystical teaching- Israel Ben Eliezer Baal Shem Tov or Besht. It was after these 7 years that Baal Shem Tov spent in the mountains, alternating work and meditations, he revealed himself as a miracle worker and a connoisseur of kabbalistic secrets. Somewhere in here, Besht met with Oleksa Dovbush – the leader of “opryshky” (Carpathian rebels). Near Vyzhnitsa, in the village of Vizhenka, on the same name river, he built himself a mikvah. Today the mikvah of the legendary zaddik is the object of the pilgrimage of Hasidim from all over the world.

During the tour you will visit the mikvah of Baal Shem Tov. You can stay there and meditate.

In 1880 there were 3,795 Jews here, which was 91% (!) of the total population, and by 1910 their number had grown to 5,080 people. The Jewish character of the city can be evidenced by the classic settlement of the central streets, though considerably damaged during the wars. In all Vizhnytsa whish, as of 1900, there were 14,002 Jews.

At the beginning of the 20th century there were 8 synagogues in Vyzhnytsa and the Hasidic courtyard represented a whole complex of buildings, including a synagogue, a yeshiva, several study rooms, a bursa, many auxiliary facilities and the residence of the tzaddik himself. The remaining synagogues were classified according to the professional or religious affiliation of their parishioners.

Book a tour to Vyzhnytsa

We can organize your trip to Vyzhnytsa as a seperate tour or with visiting of other places: Chernivtsi, Kosiv, Kuty, Kolomyya, Horodenka, Carpathian mountains, Lviv etc.

How does it work

Our guide will meet you anywhere you want (airport, train station, hotel) and take you to Vyzhnytsa by comfortable car/minivan/bus. It is safe. You can stay in hotel in Vyzhnytsa.

Other options for this tour are possible. We are very flexible.
To book a tour in Vyzhnytsa please contact us and make a request.

Tour in Horodenka

We offer tours to Horodenka (Gorodenka, האראדענקע). You will visit Horodenka with the best local guide, explore its history and amazing sites.

Things to explore in Horodenka

Horodenka is a town in Ivano-Frankivsk region, located 210 km from Lviv. Mikołaj Bazyli Potocki, a Polish nobleman left the most remarkable trace here. He was the customer, sponsor and investor of buildings, which became the main cultural monuments of Horodenka. Their creators were architect Bernhard Meretyn and sculptor Johann Georg Pinsel.

The name “Horodenka” derives from the word “horod” – fence made of land and wood (see the image on the modern emblem of Horodenka).

The first written mention of the city dates back to 1195.

In 1668, king John II Casimir granted the city Magdeburg Law.

Thanks to the Magdeburg Law, Horodenka becomes a significant trading center. Soon a large Armenian community appeared in the city. At that time Armenian merchants controlled a significant part of the trade operations.

The Armenian church, built in 1706, reminds us of the once numerous and rich Armenian community. It is the oldest building in Horodenka. This beauty was destroyed by the Communists, turning the temple into a warehouse. The turbulent 20th century left its mark on the outer walls. There we can see the holes from bullets. Nowadays, no one uses Armenian church, it’s empty and needs restoration.

Mikołaj Bazyli Potocki an end to the Armenian monopoly in the economy of Horodenka. In 1743 he allowed the Jews to settle in the town and gave them significant privileges.The Jews immediately began to crowd out Armenian competitors.

In the same year, the Polish nobleman founded the monastery residence of the Congregation for the Clergy of Divine Providence.

He commissioned the construction of a complex of monastery buildings (cells, refectory, library) and the temple to the star tandem of architect Bernhard Meretyn and sculptor Johann Pinsel (which was their joint debut). The temple was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Church of Immaculate Conception in Horodenka) and consecrated on July 2, 1769 by bishop Stanisław Rajmund Jezierski. This wonderful church is one of the most beautiful temples built on the territory of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Its bell towers instead of the usual crosses are crowned with “pyliava” – five-pointed cross, family coat of arms of Potocki.

After the war, the military unit was located in the monastic corps, and the temple was turned into a grain storage facility. The soldiers used the church’s wooden decoration exclusively as a fuel source. As the old-timers tell, the soldiers rolled over and laid on the wood everything they could. Sculptures placed just above escape such a fate. But then the monastery complex was given to the “bursa” – a vocational school for the preparation of machine operators for the surrounding collective farms.

The most valuable figures from the main altar, however, survived Stalin’s times. Even experienced atheistic bacchanalia of Khrushchev’s time. Recall that then, after the statements of Nikita Khrushchev (“the present generation will live under Communism”, and in the seventies on the TV “the last priest will be shown“), the mass closure and destruction of the surviving temples began.

Although Mikołaj Potocki was a Roman Catholic, he was very clear about the spiritual needs of Eastern rite Christians, which, moreover, constituted an absolute majority of his citizens. Near the church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands another sacral building – the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its construction is also attributed to the “duo” by Meretyn-Pinsel.

The churches funded by Potocki did not last long. In 1772, after the first partition of Poland, Horodenka (as all Galicia) was annexed by Habsburgs. Emperor Joseph II admired the ideas of the European Enlightenment and disliked clerics. In addition, monasteries have traditionally been centers of Polish resistance. In a while Vienna began to actively close the monasteries in the newly annexed territories. In the 1780s, both monasteries in Horodenka ceased to function.

According to local legends, Mikołaj Bazyli Potocki built the Assumption Church not occasionally, but as a sign of penance for the murder of beauty. Her name was Bondarivna – very beautiful lady from Chernyatin (the neighboring village of Horodenka), who refused the old rich in love.

In 1743, a Jewish community appeared in Horodenka. Local Israelis traded grain, forest, salt, handicrafts, brewery, kept the taverns, were tenants and estate managers. Already in 1765 in Horodenka and neighboring 14 villages lived about a thousand representatives of the Old Testament people. As of 1900, the Jewish community of the town consisted of 4,255 people (with a total population of 11,613 people).

Like in other towns in Galicia, the twentieth century was fatal for Jews. The first blood was shed in 1914-1915, during the Russian occupation. The Russians were quite anti-Semitic. Most Jewish houses were then plundered and burned. Russians hugged nine Jews as Austrian spies.

During the Second World War, Horodenka was originally in the zone of Hungarian occupation. Here Hitler’s allies staged a gigantic ghetto.

In September 1941, the town passed under German control. On December 5 in Horodenka, the Nazis shot more than 2,500 Jews. April 13, 1942 – about a hundred more. On September 10 of that year, most ghetto residents were killed, and the rest were sent to Bełżec death camp.

Nowadays, there are no Jews in Horodenka. Only an old cemetery with characteristic tombstones matsevot resembles a once-worthy community. Also, a Great Synagogue, built in 1743-1744 (right after receiving permission to settle in the city), has survived.

Before the Holocaust, in the town, in addition to the Great Synagogue, there were several smaller and half dozen prayer houses that belonged to various movements in Judaism (in particular, the Hasidim). The last ones appeared here in the 1760s. One of their leaders was the closest and most beloved student of the founder of Hasidism Baal Shem Tov – Rabbi Nahman from Horodenka (died in 1780).

Among the least known interesting spots of Horodenka (and until recently even the most secreted) is the former “center of space communications“. The main part of it was contained in a super-powerful multi-storied and branched bunker capable of withstanding even a close nuclear explosion. The above-mentioned bunker was built in the 1980’s

Book a tour to Horodenka

We can organize your trip to Horodenka as a separate tour or with visiting of other places: Chernivtsi, Kosiv, Kuty, Kolomyya, Vyzhnytsa, Carpathian mountains, Lviv etc.

How does it work

Our guide will meet you anywhere you want (airport, train station, hotel) and take you to Horodenka by comfortable car/minivan/bus. It is safe. You can stay in hotel in Horodenka, we’ll help you to find your relatives, graves, visit the local villages etc.

Other options for this tour are possible. We are very flexible.
To book a tour in Horodenka please contact us and make a request.