Destinations / The best capital cities in the world / Kiev

Kiev is the largest city and the capital of the Ukraine. It is located on the Dnieper River in the north-central part of the Ukraine. Kiev is a separate administrative unit, the cultural and the governmental center of the country, as well as the administrative center of the Kiev region. Kiev is a leading political, social, economic and scientific center. All nation-wide government and local governments, foreign embassies, the headquarters of the most national business organizations and associations, as well as the representative offices of foreign companies operating in Ukraine are located in Kiev.

Origin

The name of the town comes from the name of Kyi - the eldest of the three brothers who, according to the legend, are considered the founders of Kiev. This legend is preserved in the annals of the XII century. There is another hypothesis for the origin of the city. Kiev is so named because its first inhabitants were workers (Kiyani, kiyany), which served the crossing of the Dnieper. The ferry was a wooden floor on poles (kiya) driven into the bottom.

History

A legend says that Kiev was founded by three brothers Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv and their sister Lybid as the center of the glades tribe and it was named in the honor of the elder brother. According to some archaeological researches, the first urban settlements appeared here in the VI century. Some other sources confirm that the settlement on the right bank of the Dnieper River can be considered as a kind of a city which already existed in the VI-VII centuries. This concept, affirmed by the celebration of the 1,500th anniversary of Kiev in 1982, was regarded as common. However, some researchers pointed out that the discovered archeological sources do not provide sufficient grounds to put forward interpretations. In contrast to this concept some historians and archaeologists believe that Kiev formed as a city in the VIII-X centuries. Individual settlements merged into a settlement with urban character only at the end of this period. Kiev remained the real political center of the Russian land, at least until the death of Vladimir Monomakh and his son Mstislav the Great (in 1132). Kiev served as a constant object of struggle between the powerful Russian princes during the fragmentation. Kiev was destroyed by Mongol-Tatars in 1240. Kiev repeatedly passed from hand to hand, having a constantly changing power beginning with November 1917. At last Kiev became part of the Ukraine on June 12, 1920. The Ukraine capital was moved from Kharkiv to Kiev in 1934. Since December 1991 Kiev is the capital of the independent Ukraine.

Having a trip in Kiev you should start with Khreshchatyk, which is one of the widest streets in the world. It is particularly convenient to walk on Khreshchatyk in the weekends, when the street becomes a pedestrian. You can leisurely review, what Khreshchatyk means, appreciate the harmonious blend of different architectural styles and eras, sit in one of the many restaurants or cafes, and go shopping. Of course, you should visit the Independence Square (Maidan), which has undergone significant changes since the proclamation of the Ukrainian Independence. You can walk up the street Gorodetsky, past the theater I. Franko directly to the building of the President of the Ukraine Palace, which is located next to one of the architectural treasures of Kiev - the House with Chimeras. It is necessary to pass only one subway stop away from Khreshchatyk and get off at the Golden Gate, and you’ll find yourself in front of the monument, the reconstruction of the ancient Golden Gate, once served as the main entrance to Kiev. The St. Sophia Cathedral is situated not far from the Golden Gate. The architecture, the murals and the relics which are kept in St. Sophia Cathedral make a lasting impression on even the skeptics. If it is possible and you have time always visit it. Then, after the Sophia Square you may visit the Bohdan Khmelnytsky monument and you may also follow St. Michael's Cathedral. Those who are tired from a long walk may go from St. Michael's Cathedral down to the funicular Kontraktova Square - which is also a tourist attraction and Kiev’s pride. If you climb up from Kontraktova Square to the Vladimir slope, you will have the opportunity to see the magnificent panorama of Kiev, visit the Vladimir Hill where is the monument dedicated to Vladimir the Baptist, and close the loop, returning via the European area of the capital.

Extraordinary Attractions

The Golden Gate

The new Golden Gate opened on May 1982, during the celebration of the 1,500th anniversary of Kiev. The Golden Gate is one of the few buildings survived till nowadays. It is a unique facility of the city defense system established by Yaroslav the Wise. The Golden Gate was built approximately in 1017-1037 years (the gate was mentioned in chronicles from 1037). The Church of the Annunciation was built above the gate. The first Russian Metropolitan Hilarion gave the famous “Sermon on Law and Grace” here. The Golden Gate represented only ruins by the end of the XX century. So, in order to preserve the city's main attractions, the government decided to rebuild it in 1970. The reconstruction project developed by the special group of authors.

The House with Chimeras

The apartment house was built by the architect V. Gorodetsky, who lived and worked here. The building was constructed in the 1901-1903 on the project of the owner. The sculptural decoration (author E. Sall) represents the hunting hobby of Gorodetsky. It was used as a departmental medical facility in the Soviet period. The house was restored in the early 2000s and represents now the President of the Ukraine official receptions house.

The Castle of Richard the Lionheart

The apartment house, reclaimed as neo-gothic English castle, appeared on the Andrew's Descent thanks to the builder A. Krauss in 1904. The landlord died soon after the settlement. The house was sold and the tenants began to complain of a wild, plaintive howl at night. So a lot of mystical legends about "The Castle" appeared. There is an access to the hill behind the house. A wonderful view on Podol and on the Dnieper and the Left Bank opens from there.

The Lone Knight House or the Baron Steingel Castle

This spectacular building appeared in Kiev at the end of the XIX century thanks to the architect N. Dobachevsky. M.Podgorsky commissioned this building as an apartment house. This house blended permanently into the cities architecture and it is difficult to imagine the street Yaroslav Val without this building.

Mariinsky Palace

The Kiev royal palace was constructed in the period of 1752 – 1755 years. Further, the palace was reconstructed several times. Now, the appearance of the building is very close to the original - bright turquoise walls, intricate snow-white molding, and facades of rich plastic. There is a park with fountains, sculptures decorated with replicas of the XVIII century in front of the palace. The palace is used for government receptions today.

The Opera House

The construction of the Kiev Opera was completed in 1901. It is one of the most luxurious buildings of a theater in the world. It is a "French Renaissance" building, decorated with masks and actions, the sculptures of griffins and muses.

The Chocolate House

The Chocolate House was built in 1880 in the style of the Venetian Renaissance for the first Kiev guild merchant. The architect of this house was Vladimir Nikolaev, who was the Kiev chief architect during that period. The architecture of the house is beautiful and harmonious. In addition, the building was unusually colored. People know it painted in monochrome chocolate color. In fact, initially it was colored in several different colors of coffee and chocolate tones, to distinguish the facade elements. The predominance of the brown color gives the name known as "Chocolate House".

House "Rolit" or the most Writers House

Quite often there are memorials on the facades of Kiev houses as reminiscent of the famous tenants of these houses. But there is a house with a record number of memorials in Kiev, on the facade of which there are 27 plaques in the memory of the writers who lived here. At various times in this house almost all of the Ukrainian literary classics of the Soviet era lived. The house was named in the honor of the group that initiated the building - a cooperative of writers. Its construction was discussed since the mid-30s. Famous "engineers of human souls" needed quality accommodation. Today, a chapel is planned to be built close to the house in memory of the writers who were killed during the repression.

The House of Peter I

The House of Peter I is a monument of baroque architecture. According to a legend (that in fact is not confirmed), the Russian Emperor stopped in this Kiev old stone house, visiting Kiev in 1706. There were no more than five stone and spacious houses, suitable for the placement of royal personages.

The former Institute of noble maidens

The Institute opened in August 1838. Then the main building was laid. The schoolgirls moved in the luxurious four-story building in 1843. The Kiev University professors, who from the beginning "took patronage" of the institution, were invited to teach there. The Institute took 10 - 13 years girls.

Kiev Restaurants

Vidubichi Castle

The decoration of the castle and the attributes of chivalry Vidubichi meal create a sense of tale. You can taste the delicious dishes of the Middle Ages, amazing in its diversity and splendor. Castle chefs collected information about the old recipes and restored the methods for their preparation. The components of different dishes guarantee freshness. Fresh fish and crayfish live in the restaurant basins. You can go fishing, and your catch will be skillfully prepared and served to the table.

Taras

You can give preference to Taras restaurant both during the day and the evening. Being in the center of Kiev, in almost Khreshchatyk, the restaurant is still in the park area, in the midst of greenery. The kitchen is Ukrainian of excellent quality in the restaurant. The interior is made in the Ukrainian style. A distinctive feature is that you feel quite comfortable. Shows and live concerts are performed in the evenings.

Pervak

Pervak is one of the most popular restaurants in Kiev. It is noisy and crowded in the halls of the "Left" and "Right Khreshchatyk". The guests want to spend the time in a big company and have some fun, as they say, taste the life. There is a very different situation in the Hall "Drinking pharmacy". The guest, sitting on a chair in the original form of horses and sipping the proprietary medicine, feels most at ease. 3 tables in the form of tents are in the "Province". This makes a very comfortable atmosphere for a tête-à-tête communication. A banquet at the highest level can be hold in the "Old Lions" and "Library" halls. The restaurant visitor does not have time to be bored; he comes back again and again. This certainly points to a successful institution. The original interior, details of which can be considered infinite, is designed to ensure that generate interest and attention of the guests.

These are many important and interesting, but not all, noteworthy historical and architectural monuments that exist in Kiev.

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Maps of Kiev