The legend says that Kyiv was founded by three brothers Kyi (who gave his name to the city), Shchek, Khoryv and their sister Lybid. Since the 9th century, Kyiv is the capital of a grand state – Kyivan Rus’. Therefore, we invite you to take a walk through the most ancient part of Kyiv, so-called Upper City with its three hrads (towns): the first of Volodymyr the Great, where the first stone buildings emerged; the second of Yaroslav the Wise, which expanded the city up to The Golden Gates making it 8 times bigger, and the third of Sviatopolk II Iziaslavovych, where St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery arose. It is right here, where we find the oldest monuments of Ukraine’s history and architecture from the time when Kyiv was the capital of a great state – Kyivan Rus. After the Siege of Kyiv in 1240, the Upper City ceased to be the administrative centre and had remained in decay until 1830’s. It is the place, where ancient architecture intertwines with the new buildings and modern street art.
Starting point: Lva Tolstoho Metro station.
GPS: 50.441979, 30.511365
GPS: 50.441979, 30.511365
Red University
Building 1843, architect: V. Beretti
The second university on the territory of Ukraine under the Russian rule was founded in 1834.
Most of Kyiv locals guess red color of the University is connected with our Communist past, in fact, it represents the color of the Order of Saint Volodymyr since it was named after him by the foundation.
At the end of the 19th century, a park with a chess court was opened opposite the build-ing. If you play chess, we suggest having a game with grandpas who are gathering in the corner of the park at any time of a year and weather. In the middle of the park, you can find a monument to a prominent Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko.
Red University
Building 1843, architect: V. Beretti
The second university on the territory of Ukraine under the Russian rule was founded in 1834.
Most of Kyiv locals guess red color of the University is connected with our Communist past, in fact, it represents the color of the Order of Saint Volodymyr since it was named after him by the foundation.
At the end of the 19th century, a park with a chess court was opened opposite the build-ing. If you play chess, we suggest having a game with grandpas who are gathering in the corner of the park at any time of a year and weather. In the middle of the park, you can find a monument to a prominent Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko.
GPS: 50.444611, 30.508622
1896, V. Nikolaiev
It is the main cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate. It was established in honour of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus by the Grand Prince of Kyiv Vo-lodymyr (988). The cathedral was built at the cost of common citizens and the building it-self lasted for 34 years.
During the Soviet period, the cathedral was functioning, although being an anti-religious museum for some time.
Since 1960, the relics of Holy Great Martyr Barbara, Protectress from Sudden Death, have been kept here. They were transported to Kyiv from Constantinople in the early 12th cen-tury being the part of the Byzantine Princess Barbara’s dowry, who was the wife of the prince Sviatopolk. The relics had been kept in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery until 1930’s.
We greatly suggest you go inside and enjoy the original murals of the celebrated painters like Viktor Vasnietsov, Mykhail Nestierov, Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi and others.
GPS: 50.444611, 30.508622
1896, V. Nikolaiev
It is the main cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate. It was established in honour of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus by the Grand Prince of Kyiv Vo-lodymyr (988). The cathedral was built at the cost of common citizens and the building it-self lasted for 34 years.
During the Soviet period, the cathedral was functioning, although being an anti-religious museum for some time.
Since 1960, the relics of Holy Great Martyr Barbara, Protectress from Sudden Death, have been kept here. They were transported to Kyiv from Constantinople in the early 12th cen-tury being the part of the Byzantine Princess Barbara’s dowry, who was the wife of the prince Sviatopolk. The relics had been kept in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery until 1930’s.
We greatly suggest you go inside and enjoy the original murals of the celebrated painters like Viktor Vasnietsov, Mykhail Nestierov, Wilhelm Kotarbinskyi and others.
GPS: 50.446610, 30.513133
GPS: 50.446610, 30.513133
1901, V. Schrioter
The second public theatre in Kyiv which was erected in 1867 in the place of a building destroyed by fire.
The citizens didn’t like the building at first and nicknamed it ‘tortoise’. In 1911 Russian Prime Minister Peter Stolypin was shot during the Intermission of ‘Tzar Sultan fairy tale’.
Historians believe this event changed World’s history.
1901, V. Schrioter
The second public theatre in Kyiv which was erected in 1867 in the place of a building destroyed by fire.
The citizens didn’t like the building at first and nicknamed it ‘tortoise’. In 1911 Russian Prime Minister Peter Stolypin was shot during the Intermission of ‘Tzar Sultan fairy tale’.
Historians believe this event changed World’s history.
GPS: 50.448818, 30.512508
1998, B. Mazur
Pantiusha is not an imaginary character. This cat lived in a nearby restaurant ‘Panta-gruel’, but unfortunately died in a fire.
You can notice a small hole in the monument. Once there was a bird, but souvenir lovers used to constantly sew it off.
If you stroke the cat and whisper your wish in his ear, it will certainly come true!
GPS: 50.448818, 30.512508
1998, B. Mazur
Pantiusha is not an imaginary character. This cat lived in a nearby restaurant ‘Panta-gruel’, but unfortunately died in a fire.
You can notice a small hole in the monument. Once there was a bird, but souvenir lovers used to constantly sew it off.
If you stroke the cat and whisper your wish in his ear, it will certainly come true!
GPS: 50.448941, 30.513439
GPS: 50.448941, 30.513439
11th century
Golden Gates is ancient Kyiv’s Triumphal Arch and one of 3 gates to the city.
It was built by the order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. It was called ‘golden’ by analogy with the gates in Jerusalem and Istanbul. The Kyivan Gates was destroyed during the Siege of Kyiv in 1240. The way you see the gates today it was built in 1982. Today it is a museum offering not only the information but also the observation deck.
Interesting fact: there is a monument to Yaroslav the Wise near the Gates. You can find three palms behind Yaroslav’s back and touch them for good luck.
We invite you to visit Zoloti Vorota metro station being one of the top 10 most beautiful stations in the world.
11th century
Golden Gates is ancient Kyiv’s Triumphal Arch and one of 3 gates to the city.
It was built by the order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. It was called ‘golden’ by analogy with the gates in Jerusalem and Istanbul. The Kyivan Gates was destroyed during the Siege of Kyiv in 1240. The way you see the gates today it was built in 1982. Today it is a museum offering not only the information but also the observation deck.
Interesting fact: there is a monument to Yaroslav the Wise near the Gates. You can find three palms behind Yaroslav’s back and touch them for good luck.
We invite you to visit Zoloti Vorota metro station being one of the top 10 most beautiful stations in the world.
GPS: 50.449330, 30.512044
1898, M. Dobachevskyi
The owner of the house was a Polish landlord Michael Pidhorskyi. Its romantic name appeared accidentally since the true baron was living in the house no. 3.
It looks like the building has 4 floors, but there are actually 7 of them. The ground floor was occupied by a cafe and a movie theatre, the rest of them were leased.
In the days of the Soviet Union, the house was divided into communal flats, but now it is a private property. A gallery of the miraculous icons from Mount Athos is on the ground floor.
GPS: 50.449330, 30.512044
1898, M. Dobachevskyi
The owner of the house was a Polish landlord Michael Pidhorskyi. Its romantic name appeared accidentally since the true baron was living in the house no. 3.
It looks like the building has 4 floors, but there are actually 7 of them. The ground floor was occupied by a cafe and a movie theatre, the rest of them were leased.
In the days of the Soviet Union, the house was divided into communal flats, but now it is a private property. A gallery of the miraculous icons from Mount Athos is on the ground floor.
GPS: 50.451284, 30.513899
GPS: 50.451284, 30.513899
2009, V. Kolinko, H. Kurovskyi
Hedgehog is the hero of a well-known Soviet cartoon ‘Hedgehog in the Fog’, which has won the ‘№1 Animated Film of all the Time’ award.
The creators applied an interesting technique to make the statue: they’ve wrapped a wire net around a stump and then used screws to represent the needles.
What’s interesting is that the monument itself is called Loshadka (diminutive of horse), af-ter the other character of the cartoon. You can turn round and see him as well.
2009, V. Kolinko, H. Kurovskyi
Hedgehog is the hero of a well-known Soviet cartoon ‘Hedgehog in the Fog’, which has won the ‘№1 Animated Film of all the Time’ award.
The creators applied an interesting technique to make the statue: they’ve wrapped a wire net around a stump and then used screws to represent the needles.
What’s interesting is that the monument itself is called Loshadka (diminutive of horse), af-ter the other character of the cartoon. You can turn round and see him as well.
GPS: 50.452665, 30.514556
11th – 18th century
Saint Sophia Cathedral is the most ancient building in Kyiv and the historic centre of the Metropolitanate of Kyiv. According to the latest research, it was founded by Volodymyr the Great. Its modern Baroque style look appeared after the rebuilding.
The cathedral was the main political-cultural centre of Kyiv in the 11th century, where the chronicles were written and the first school and library were founded. Today it is a museum displaying the ancient frescoes, the Virgin Orans mosaic, and the burial of Yaroslav the Wise, whose bones disappeared under the obscure circumstances.
We highly recommend you to climb up the 76-meter high bell tower before leaving the muse-um. Its 4th level has an extraordinary view of the city centre.
GPS: 50.452665, 30.514556
11th – 18th century
Saint Sophia Cathedral is the most ancient building in Kyiv and the historic centre of the Metropolitanate of Kyiv. According to the latest research, it was founded by Volodymyr the Great. Its modern Baroque style look appeared after the rebuilding.
The cathedral was the main political-cultural centre of Kyiv in the 11th century, where the chronicles were written and the first school and library were founded. Today it is a museum displaying the ancient frescoes, the Virgin Orans mosaic, and the burial of Yaroslav the Wise, whose bones disappeared under the obscure circumstances.
We highly recommend you to climb up the 76-meter high bell tower before leaving the muse-um. Its 4th level has an extraordinary view of the city centre.
GPS: 50.453592, 30.516417
GPS: 50.453592, 30.516417
1888, V. Nikolaiev, M. Mikeshyn
The monument to the Cossack hetman and leader of the National Liberation War (1647–1657) was erected at the cost of the citizens of Kyiv in the year of the 900th anniversary of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus.
The hetman is holding the symbol of power in his hand — a mасе, which is pointing towards Russia.
For 5 years, the monument had been in the peach building behind it — the location of police institutions in the 19th century. Consequently, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi was called ‘passport-less’ by his fellow citizens.
1888, V. Nikolaiev, M. Mikeshyn
The monument to the Cossack hetman and leader of the National Liberation War (1647–1657) was erected at the cost of the citizens of Kyiv in the year of the 900th anniversary of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus.
The hetman is holding the symbol of power in his hand — a mасе, which is pointing towards Russia.
For 5 years, the monument had been in the peach building behind it — the location of police institutions in the 19th century. Consequently, Bohdan Khmelnytskyi was called ‘passport-less’ by his fellow citizens.
GPS: 50.455459, 30.520530
1996, I. Kavaleridze, P. Snitkin, V. Rykov
The monument is the copy of 1911 original, destroyed by Bolsheviks.
It was meant to be the first of the 12 monuments showing the historical way of Russia meant to originate in Kyiv.
A statue of St. Andrew the Apostle, who has predicted the foundation of Kyiv, is on the left; Princess Olga, the first Christian in Kyivan Rus, is in the middle; the creators of Old Slavonic alphabet, Christian missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius, are on the right. All the figures symbolise the spread of Christianity in Kyivan Rus.
GPS: 50.455459, 30.520530
1996, I. Kavaleridze, P. Snitkin, V. Rykov
The monument is the copy of 1911 original, destroyed by Bolsheviks.
It was meant to be the first of the 12 monuments showing the historical way of Russia meant to originate in Kyiv.
A statue of St. Andrew the Apostle, who has predicted the foundation of Kyiv, is on the left; Princess Olga, the first Christian in Kyivan Rus, is in the middle; the creators of Old Slavonic alphabet, Christian missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius, are on the right. All the figures symbolise the spread of Christianity in Kyivan Rus.
GPS: 50.455864, 30.522941
GPS: 50.455864, 30.522941
1999, Y. Losytskyi
This is the modern reconstruction of one of the oldest monasteries of Kyiv, built in the 12th century by the Prince Sviatopolk, in honour of Archangel Michael — the heavenly patron of Kyiv. The monastery was restored in the Baroque style of the 17th — 18th centuries.
The temple was the first in Kyivan Rus to have the gilded dome starting such a tradition.
It was completely demolished by the Soviets in 1930’s to provide the place for building a government centre. The only original monument preserved is the refectory church of St. John the Evangelist.
Interesting fact: during the force dispersal of Maidan, the protesters were able to shelter inside the cathedral. On the night of 11 December 2013, the monastery rang the alarm for the first time after the 1240 Seige of Kyiv. It belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriar-chate.
1999, Y. Losytskyi
This is the modern reconstruction of one of the oldest monasteries of Kyiv, built in the 12th century by the Prince Sviatopolk, in honour of Archangel Michael — the heavenly patron of Kyiv. The monastery was restored in the Baroque style of the 17th — 18th centuries.
The temple was the first in Kyivan Rus to have the gilded dome starting such a tradition.
It was completely demolished by the Soviets in 1930’s to provide the place for building a government centre. The only original monument preserved is the refectory church of St. John the Evangelist.
Interesting fact: during the force dispersal of Maidan, the protesters were able to shelter inside the cathedral. On the night of 11 December 2013, the monastery rang the alarm for the first time after the 1240 Seige of Kyiv. It belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriar-chate.
GPS: 50.457577, 30.519371
2006, O. Derhachov
A jesting monument to the nose of an eminent Russian writer of Ukrainian descent Mykola Gogol.
According to legend, one autumn day while walking around Kyiv Gogol got caught in the rain near Saint Andrew’s Church and took a chill. Perhaps, the thoughts about the nose in-spired him to write the similarly titled story.
People say that rubbing Gogol’s nose can cure a cold.
GPS: 50.457577, 30.519371
2006, O. Derhachov
A jesting monument to the nose of an eminent Russian writer of Ukrainian descent Mykola Gogol.
According to legend, one autumn day while walking around Kyiv Gogol got caught in the rain near Saint Andrew’s Church and took a chill. Perhaps, the thoughts about the nose in-spired him to write the similarly titled story.
People say that rubbing Gogol’s nose can cure a cold.
GPS: 50.457743, 30.517378
GPS: 50.457743, 30.517378
10th century
This is the foundation of the first stone church in Kyivan Rus, which was built in the time of Volodymyr the Great and destroyed in 1240 during the Batui Khan’s invasion.
The Prince was giving a tithe of his income to the building of the church, hence its name.
The two churches have been erected in this place in memory of the lost one: one in the 17th century, and the other in the 19th century. Both have been destroyed.
Note: there is a linden tree growing near the foundation. The legend says that it has been planted by Metropolitan Petro Mohyla in memory of the Church of the Tithes. The tree is almost 400 years old. If you go around the tree 7 times and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
10th century
This is the foundation of the first stone church in Kyivan Rus, which was built in the time of Volodymyr the Great and destroyed in 1240 during the Batui Khan’s invasion.
The Prince was giving a tithe of his income to the building of the church, hence its name.
The two churches have been erected in this place in memory of the lost one: one in the 17th century, and the other in the 19th century. Both have been destroyed.
Note: there is a linden tree growing near the foundation. The legend says that it has been planted by Metropolitan Petro Mohyla in memory of the Church of the Tithes. The tree is almost 400 years old. If you go around the tree 7 times and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
GPS: 50.458016, 30.516378
This is a legendary hill where one of the founders of Kyiv — Kyi — has built his town (hrad).
On the observation deck behind the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, there is a stone proving that it is exactly here from where the history of the Upper City began.
You can see the reconstruction of an ancient heathen temple and a wooden idol on the hill: once it was the place of worshiping heathen goods. The temple is still functioning: the fol-lowers of the Slavic native faith gather here every Sunday to pray.
GPS: 50.458016, 30.516378
This is a legendary hill where one of the founders of Kyiv — Kyi — has built his town (hrad).
On the observation deck behind the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, there is a stone proving that it is exactly here from where the history of the Upper City began.
You can see the reconstruction of an ancient heathen temple and a wooden idol on the hill: once it was the place of worshiping heathen goods. The temple is still functioning: the fol-lowers of the Slavic native faith gather here every Sunday to pray.
GPS: 50.456414, 30.512236
GPS: 50.456414, 30.512236
1980’s, A. Miletskyi
The Alley is a path tracing the bulwark of the Upper City which once stretched above the Honchari tract.
In 2009, the Landscape Alley turned into a modern sculpture park. One can find here some creative playgrounds, sit on unique benches, take a photo of in the jaws of a cat-centipede etc.
It offers a wonderful panorama of Podil and Dnipro.
1980’s, A. Miletskyi
The Alley is a path tracing the bulwark of the Upper City which once stretched above the Honchari tract.
In 2009, the Landscape Alley turned into a modern sculpture park. One can find here some creative playgrounds, sit on unique benches, take a photo of in the jaws of a cat-centipede etc.
It offers a wonderful panorama of Podil and Dnipro.
