Ukraine is a beautiful country that has gone down in history. There are not only delicious dishes, and brave people, but also many picturesque places that are worth visiting. From the Carpathians to the steppes, from Polissia to the Black Sea, Ukraine offers many natural beauties that attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. I suggest getting to know them better!
1. Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress Kamianets-Podilskyi is a historical city in the west of Ukraine, located in the Khmelnytskyi region. It was founded in the 13th century on a mountain where the Smila River and the Lutsyk Stream meet. The name of the city comes from the word "stone" due to the large amount of stone in the soil.
The city has a rich history, and the fortress is its hallmark, where you will see beautiful nature and incredibly ancient architecture. The fortress was built in the 14th century on a mountain above the Smila River. It impresses with its scale and uniqueness. The fortress has many buildings: towers, turrets, and defensive walls that protected it from enemy attacks.
Today, the Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress is a popular place for tourists from all around the world. Here you can see many expositions related to its history and architecture, as well as attend various cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions, and festivals.
2. Synevyr National Nature Park
This is a nature reserve and national park in the Carpathians, north of the Zakarpattia region. The territory of the park belongs to the mountain massif of Inner Gorgan, Mizhhirsky district. The reserve is named after the largest mountain lake Synevyr. Lake Synevyr is one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, which has a unique beauty. It is surrounded by dense forests, mountain ranges, and waterfalls, which create an incredible landscape. In the park, you can meet many species of plants and animals that are characteristic of the Carpathian Mountains, such as roe deers, lynxes, badgers, and others.
Here you can find many picturesque places where you can take a walk and be inspired by the beauty of nature. The most popular of them are the White Beast waterfall and the mountain range of the Synevir Beskids. The park also offers opportunities for cycling and kayaking or visiting cultural and historical sites such as temples, castles, and ancient villages.
The legend of Lake Synevyr According to local legends, in ancient times, an authoritative count lived here with his daughter named Syn. She was named so because her eyes were soft blue. One fine day, a man and his beloved daughter went to the forest: he was on business, and Syn wanted to admire the beauty of nature. A beautiful girl was walking through the forest and did not notice how she came to a meadow with flowers, and there sat the young shepherd Vyr playing the pipe. Syn liked his game, and he liked her blue eyes. They fell in love and became inseparable, could not imagine life without each other.
Soon this became known to the strict father. He was enraged that his daughter had chosen a simple shepherd, and he ordered Vir to be killed. The loyal servants waited until the boy was alone and dropped a huge stone on his head. Has known about this, Syn ran to the place of the death of her beloved and cried a lot for a long time. Her tears formed a large lake, the water which had a shade similar to the color of the poor girl's eyes. In the center of the lake, there is a small island - the top of a stone that fell on the Vir.
3. Swallow's Nest This is a famous architectural structure of Crimea on the southern coast, not far from the city of Yalta, and has a very interesting history. During the Russo-Turkish war, a wounded general came to Crimea for treatment, and use was built for him. The first owner called this place "the castle of love". It can be seen in the paintings of famous marine artists: I.K. Aivazovsky, L.F. Lagorio, A.P. Bogolyubov.
The court physician A.K. Tobin became the second owner of this dacha. There are also very few mentions of him. After his death, the house was owned by a widow for some time, who soon sold the plot to the Moscow merchant Rakhmaninia. The "Swallow's Nest" got its current look thanks to the oil industrialist, Baron Shteingel. He really liked to rest in the Crimea. He bought a country plot on the Aurora rock and decided to build a romantic castle there, reminiscent of the medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine.
The project of the new building was ordered from the engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, the son of the architect Volodymyr Sherwood. As early as 1912, an original Gothic castle stood on the small site of Lymen Burun.
4. Askania-Nova This is a natural reserve in the south of Ukraine in the territory of the Kherson region. It is one of the largest national nature reserves in Europe. It was founded in 1898 to protect steppe nature and protect against the destruction of local animals and plants. There are many rare animals in the reserve, such as the prairie wolf, wild buffalo, Caucasian roe deer, roe deer, wildebeest, zebra, and others.
Also, on the territory of Askania-Nova, you can find more than 500 types of plants, among which there are such rare ones as marigolds, cuckoos, peonies, and others. Currently, the reserve is not only a research center but also a popular tourist destination. There is a nature museum here, where you can get acquainted with the life and nature of the steppe zone, and excursions are carried out on the territory of the reserve.
Unfortunately, the nature reserve is currently not working due to military operations on the territory of Ukraine. But one day we will all definitely come and enjoy the incredible nature! 5. "Svyati Gory" National Nature Park Nature park "Svyati Gory" is located in the Donetsk region, in the Bakhmut district of Ukraine. This unique natural complex combines mountain landscapes, rich vegetation, and animal life. Due to military operations in Ukraine, tourists cannot yet visit this park.
On the territory of the park, there are chalk caves, waterfalls, and mountain streams. The park has rich flora and fauna, and many species of wild animals such as wild boars, deer, foxes, and various species of birds can be found here.
Also, the territory contains many historical monuments, such as ancient rock monasteries and chapels of the XI-XVIII centuries. These churches and monasteries are located on huge limestone rocks and have a unique architectural style. The Park "Svyati Gory" is also an important place for tourism and active recreation such as hiking, mountaineering, skiing, and horse riding.
Ukraine has many beautiful places with beautiful nature and architecture. We invite you to visit these tourist spots after the war and see everything with your own eyes!