Wüsten, eine überflutete Welt und andere erstaunliche Fakten, die Sie nicht über die Ukraine wussten

Die Ukraine hat viele magische und außergewöhnliche Orte, die nicht nur in Europa, sondern auch in der Welt ihresgleichen suchen. Erfahren Sie mehr über die Wüste inmitten Europas, die Wohnstätte der Götter in Podillia, die antike Siedlung, über die Herodot schrieb, und andere einzigartige Orte, die es nur in der Ukraine gibt

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Ukraine has a thousand-year history and many unique monuments of natural and man-made origin that are known all over the world. These include the Oleshky Sands, Odesa catacombs, and the remains of the Mankovets state. Some monuments are thousands of years old - we are talking about the gypsum caves of Podillia and the ruins of the Greek polis of Olbia. Read about the most interesting sights of Ukraine, which have no analogues, in the article.

Oleshky Sands - a desert in the middle of Europe

This unique natural area was formed due to natural conditions and developed due to human activity. Researchers call this place a semi-desert, and the media calls it a ‘desert in the middle of Europe’. The Oleshky Sands area is a part of the Ukrainian part of the Emerald Network, a network of protected areas whose main goal is to preserve species and ecosystems that are rare in Europe. Currently, it is impossible to get to the Oleshky Sands because the Russian Federation uses them for military purposes, destroying a unique natural monument.

Photo: Artem Yevtushenko / Pinterest

Bilske settlement - a settlement described by Herodotus

The Bilske settlement covers an area of more than 5,000 hectares. It is one of the largest early Iron Age settlements in Eastern Europe. Once upon a time, Scythian tribes lived here - the ancient Greek historian Herodotus tells us about them as residents of the city of Helon. Researchers continue to excavate the site, finding new artefacts every year. Tourists come not only to see the excavations, but also to enjoy the natural sites nearby.

Gypsum caves of Podillia - home to primitive people, mythical creatures and gods

Podillia is famous for its caves, which create a system of labyrinths that has been studied by cavers for decades. The longest gypsum cave in Europe, the Optimistic Cave, is located here. But the caves are known not only for their diversity, they are also an important historical source - rock paintings tell about the life of primitive people. If you take a closer look, the drawings depict not only people, but also mythical creatures and even... gods. Who then lived thousands of years ago in Podillia?

If you want to see the drawings of our ancestors with your own eyes, choose a special tour on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Odesa catacombs - an underground network thousands of kilometres long

Almost every city in the world has underground tunnels that were built centuries and millennia ago. In most cases, their purpose was military: to hide provisions, hide partisans, and retreat in case of defeat. But not all cities in the world have underground tunnels stretching for thousands of kilometres. Odesa is one of the world's leaders in this field - its catacombs are partly natural and partly for economic purposes, primarily related to limestone mining. But it's not just industry. Partisan camps in limestone mines, wineries, underground museums, karst caves and lakes - all of this can be seen with your own eyes in the dungeons of Odesa.

The synagogue in Ostroh is one of the largest in Eastern Europe

In the 17th century, many Jewish families came to the territory of Ostroh at the invitation of the Ostroh counts. At that time, one of the largest synagogues in Eastern Europe was built. Over the centuries, it has suffered significant damage and is currently undergoing reconstruction. For more than 20 years, it has been restored by a local resident, ethnic Jew Hryhorii Arshynov, who has invested more than $180,000 in the reconstruction.

Photo: Ostroh.info

Olvia - the largest ancient Black Sea polis

More than 2 millennia ago, Greek city-states existed on the territory of the modern Odesa region. Olvia was the largest polis at that time. Nowadays, these are the ruins of a majestic ancient Greek city that attract fans of Hellenism from all over the world. The site has an official status - since 1926, it has been the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve ‘Olvia’.

Photo: IGotoWorld

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Mynkovets State is the birthplace of the Otrokiv festival

In the 18th century, the landowner Ignatius Scibor-Markhotskyi did the unthinkable - he formed his own state in Podillia. He united 15 villages that he inherited in the then Ushytsia district of Podillia province and proclaimed them the Mynkovetska state. The state had its own laws and constitution, and serfdom was abolished here first in Ukraine. Today, this territory is the venue for the Otrokiv festival. It is organised by businessman and philanthropist Igor Skalsky, who wants to revive the traditions of the Mynkovetska state.

Khortytsia - the cradle of the Ukrainian Cossacks

In the 16th century, free Cossacks founded their own state with their own laws and traditions on the island of Mala Khortytsia. The first defensive fortress in the history of the Cossacks was built here. As a result of military operations, the fortress has changed locations many times, but Khortytsia is still the well-known cradle of the Ukrainian Cossacks. The descendants have preserved the traditions of the Cossacks - today you can see the Sich huts, visit museums, join traditional training for boys or try Cossack dishes.

If you want to learn more about Khortytsia, follow the link.

Photo: Official website of the Khortytsia Island Reserve

Ostvytsia - a descendant of the semi-legendary Aratania

The Ostvytsia historical reenactment park began to develop actively in 2020. Currently, you can see replicas of ancient boats, join the historical reconstruction of an ancient Russian settlement, take part in archery tournaments and battles between Rus' and Varangians, and see collections of ancient Russian weapons, utensils, jewellery and games. According to legend, several thousand years ago, modern Rivne was called Suronzh - ‘the city of the sun’ - and was the capital of the semi-legendary Volyn state of Aratania.

Bakota - Ukrainian Atlantis

A flooded village 50 km from Khmelnytskyi is often called ‘Ukrainian Atlantis’ by tourists, and it is included in all possible tourist tops every year. Some linguists say that the name translates from the Old Slavonic language as ‘a desirable place’. Anyone who has been here at least once will agree with this statement. Its history goes back more than 1,000 years, but the village became ‘Atlantis’ in 1981, after the construction of the Novodnistrovska hydroelectric power station.

Findall the details about Bakotska Bay on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Photo: TourBaza

Schönborn Castle - a unique palace based on the calendar principle

Schönborn Castle is located in the village of Karpaty, Mukachevo district, Zakarpattia region. The majestic palace was built in the Neo-Romantic style. However, the castle is best known for its astrological principle: 365 windows, like the days of the year (+ one bricked window - remember the leap year); 52 rooms - according to the number of weeks in the year; 12 entrance doors - according to the months; 4 towers, reflecting the 4 seasons.

You can find out thehistory of Schönborn Castle and the most interesting facts about it here.

Ukrainian Stonehenge - did hobbits live here?

The Kamiane Selo geological reserve, a cluster of boulders, each up to 5 metres high, is often called the Ukrainian Stonehenge. British researcher Andy Jones believes that the Ukrainian geological site is of extraterrestrial origin and is a platform for aliens to land on. Ukrainians, on the other hand, think that God himself left his mark here.

Kamianets-Podilskyi Fortress - defending Europe

Today, one of the most popular fortresses in Ukraine, Kamianets-Podilskyi became extremely famous in the 15th century, when it performed important defensive functions in Eastern Europe. Since 1928, the fortress has been a key element of the Kamianets National Historical and Architectural Reserve, and since 2007 it has been one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. The first walls of the fortress were laid in the 11th century, but it was completed by the 16th century.

Readmore about the exposition of the most powerful fortress in Eastern Europe on Visit Ukraine.

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