Yaroslav Yadlovsky, Honoured Journalist of Ukraine
Exclusively for Prime Excursion Bureau ltd
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Photo 1, Uzhgorod. Old Town
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Uzhgorod is one of the oldest towns not only in the Transcarpathian oblast but in all Ukraine. The first mention about it dates back to the year of 872. It stands on the Uzh River, hence the name – Uzhgorod. Uzhgorod is located in the western part of the Transcarpathia not far from the Ukrainian-Slovakian border which is the borderline between Ukraine and the European Union. The area of the town is almost 40 sq. km., the population is about 117 thousand. In Uzhgorod are represented 70 nationalities, mostly Ukrainians, Hungarians, Russians, Romas, Slovakians and Jews. Most used in the town are Ukrainian, Russian, Hungarian and Slovakian languages, as for confessions – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Jewish. Considerable part of the town occupies the right bank of the river (Old Town), which is a little bit larger then the left bank – New Town. Modern Uzhgorod is conventionally divided into three historical and architectural parts: the town of the Hungarian period, the town of the Czechoslovakian period and the one of the Soviet period.
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The town-fortress emerged out of a settlement on the Castle Hill. The town is mentioned in the Hungarian Chronicle “Gesta Hungarorum” as Ung. The Ung fortress was the residence of Prince Laborets, executed by Hungarian soldiers on the bank of the Svirzhava River, now the Laborets River in eastern Slovakia. With the time passing the fortress changed into one of the strongholds of Hungarian feudals in the Transcarpathia. The first mention of the Uzhgorod castle is in 903. In the centre of it there is a castle palace. In the course of centuries the castle had a lot of restorations, so until now out of the oldest stone structures there preserved only part of foundation which one can see in the underground as well as fragments of cornices with roman ornaments. In 1775 the Austrian Empress Maria-Theresa gave the Castle to the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy. At present there is the Oblast Museum of Local Lore.
During its centuries-old history Uzhgorod was part of a few countries – royal Hungary, Austro-Hungarian empire, Czechoslovakia, the USSR, and at last – independent Ukraine. This town is beautiful any season. The climate in the town is moderate continental, warm summer and mild winter. The Carpathian Mountains influence the Uzhgorod climate protecting the town from cold northern winds. Not accidentally that Uzhgorod is considered a popular tourist centre of Ukraine. There are a lot of exotic trees thanks to favourable climate in Uzhgorod, such as trees from Japan, Argentina, Canada, the USA, Afghanistan and others. There is one of the best botanical gardens in Ukraine where there are about 3.800 species of plants. The Transcarpathian flora is represented by 400 species. There is a great collection of flowers: 120 species of roses, 50 - gladioluses, 25 species of chrysanthemums, 10 species of palm trees, 250 species of cacti.
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Photo 2. Uzhgorod Fortress
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The popular place for strolls in Uzhgorod is the longest linden boulevard in Europe which extends along Independence Embankment. Especially beautiful the town is when sakuras are in bloom. It looks as if you are in Japan where these strees are holy. Being the “capital” of Transcarpathian region which borders on neighbouring states – Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary – Uzhgorod plays a significant role in the international life of Ukraine. It often becomes the place where international events are held. It is expected that in 2010 Uzhgorod will host Small Olympics – the international sport games of secondary school students. Besides Uzhgorod has mutual partner relations with foreign cities – Yaroslav (Poland), Darmstadt (Germany), Niredgaza and Baykeshchaba (Hungary), Kosice and Michalovice (Slovakia), Ceska Lipa (Czech Republic), Corvallis (USA), Moscow and Orel (Russia), Harsens (Denmark), Satu Mare (Romania). Sister cities exchange delegations and experience in different areas of life.
One of the oldest active church is of central Europe is St. Ann’s horyanska rotunda of the 12-13 centuries. Frescoes are created by northern Italian Masters in Proto-Renaissance manner. In the 15 cent. they added the rectangular church of St. Nicolas’ to the rotunda. Worth seeing for visitors in Uzhgorod are also other churches – Exaltation of Holy Cross founded in 1640, catholic church of St. George – first mentioned in 1332, the Reformation church, Orthodox Intercession church built by Russian emigrants in 1930. In People’s Square near the local government building is the monument to Taras Shevchenko which is at present a place of all patriotic events.
Uzhorod is included into several tourist routes developed by the Chair of Tourism of the National University. In particular these are wine and gastronomic tours. The first acquaints with well-known wine makers of the land, gives addresses of wine cellars and wine tasting rooms, where one can taste aromatic Transcarpathian wines. One of the most popular wine tasting rooms is “Chardonnay”. Those who like gastronomic tourism will be offered national dishes of ethnic groups represented in Uzhgorod, that is Ukrainian, Hungarian, Slovakian, Romas, German and Jewish cuisine. We can’t help mentioning the Uzhgorod coffee. They prepare it everywhere.
After having eaten and cheered by the Transcarpathian wine and coffee we recommend you to take a tour around Uzhgorod during which you will also visit the old cemetery Kalvaria. Take a stroll along Korzo street, the favourite place of local bohemia and you will sure want to visit Uzhgorod once again.
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Photo 3 Uzhgorod, The Oblast Philharmony
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12.08.2011 A million dollars for “the fifth element”: charming native of Kiev Milla Yovovich
Inessa BLYUM, journalist
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”
Her full name is written in different ways in various sources. Or rather names, to be more exact. Militsa Bogdanovna (or Borgievna) in Russian and Ukrainian tradition, Militsa Natasha in Montenegrin tradition of her father, nice girl Milla and the Hollywood rescuer of the humanity — all these definitions are true for the native of Kiev Milla Yovovich.
19.07.2011 Sister-cities of Kyiv
Evgeniy SKIBIN, pathfinder
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”
April 28 is the World Day of Sister-cities. There exist two versions about the appearance of the phenomenon. The first one points out the initiative of veterans of the French Resistance in 1957 when in Paris the first international non-governmental organization – the World Federation of Sister-cities was established.
13.07.2011 The Monument to the Founders of Kyiv
Inessa BLYUM, journalist
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”
Kiev has many symbols, starting from St. Sophia`s Cathedral and St. Andre`s Church to the bell tower of Kiev Pechersk Lavra and the Motherland Mother monument. “Ladya” — the monument to the founders of Kiev: brothers Kiy, Schek, Khoriv and their sister Lybid — has been on this list for three decades. This monuments doesn`t just embody the old legend. It holds its special place in the capital...
14.04.2011 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Denmark in Ukraine Uffe BALSLEV: “WE HAVE BROUGHT “FAIRY-TALES” OF THE STATE OF DENMARK TO UKRAINE”
For many Ukrainians Denmark is associated with the image of a fairy-tale country. Not only because this oldest kingdom in the world gave humanity the great author of fairy-tales Hans Christian Andersen and the magic Mermaid, who meets guests on the seaboard of Danish capital Copenhagen and has become the unofficial symbol of the country. What surprises most is the miraculous combination of monarchy, democracy, market economy and real socialism — the subject of national pride of Danes.
25.03.2011 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of France in Ukraine Jacques FAURE: “I MEET COSSACK IVAN SIRKO ALMOST EVERY DAY…”
The French Embassy in Ukraine is located quite near St. Sophia`s Cathedral. Let`s turn over other common pages in the history of our two countries together with the Head of the Diplomatic Mission — the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of French Republic in Ukraine Jacques FAURE.
07.02.2011 Hard destiny of the residence: the main palace of the capital and peripetias of its “life”
Inessa BLYUM, journalist.
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”.
When Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, who must have been the only Russian ruler, who treated Ukraine with respect, decided to build her palace in the city, it froze in expectation. The former capital of the Rus land finally got a chance to become governmental residence again. But these intentions were not realized…
18.01.2011 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Bulgaria in Ukraine Dimitar VLADIMIROV: “INTERTWINED FATES OF OUR NATIONS CAN BE RETRACED FROM DISTANT PAST”
Every year on the 1st of March with great constancy Bulgarians pin so-called “martenica” – a little interlacement of white and red threads in bright tracery with a heart or a flower - to their clothes. Such tradition has been well-known only in Bulgaria for a long time. Although it is respected by all Bulgarians throughout the country, but most attention is paid to it by peasants – probably, it is them, who go through biggest difficulties in the epoch of changes at all times. That is why from times immemorial local peasants decorate even animals in their farmsteads with red and white threads of “martenica”: this serves evidence and hope that new spring, new changes in nature will bring joy and prosperity into the house.
06.01.2011 Defense Attaché of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine Christoph BROON: “EACH CITY AND REGION IN UKRAINE OFFERS MUCH INTERESTING TO THOSE, WHO ARE ORIENTED TO LEARN MORE IN THE FIELD OF GEOGRAPHY, CULTURE AND HISTORY”
Switzerland is real paradise in the center of Europe. The country, associated with such notions as bank system, watches, chocolate, knives and ski resorts, attracts as the place of respectable pastime, a cozy area with high level of life, where, from the point of view of an ordinary Ukrainian, people live, wallowing in luxury. What do Swiss think about our country? How do they imagine Ukraine? What do they feel when they come here?
27.12.2010 Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine Ivan YURKOVICH: “PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN GUARANTEES OF THE DIGNITY, WHICH THEY WERE ENDOWED WITH BY THE CREATOR”
Present-day Vatican, turning the eyes of its laymen towards tomorrow, often repeats Apostle Pavel`s words: “We are saved in hope”. And explains them: we obtain certain sense in hope. According to the Pope Benedict the Sixth, realization of dreams of Christianity is only possible outside “the prison of “I”, only within the unity called “we”. And if it is true, than our attention should be paid to the fact that in process of development of civilization there appears greater risk because of inadequacy of adoption of moral heritage of humanity by new generations. That is why it is so important to warn the world that “moral growth of humanity is necessary for progress to be real progress”.
20.12.2010 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Finland Christer MICKELSON: “SUCCESS OF FINNISH PROSPERITY WAS DETERMINED BY LIBRARIES AND SYSTEM OF EDUCATION”.
Almost a hundred years ago we lived in one state. Today Ukraine and Finland are separated not only by years, but by substantial distance in level of life of the two nations. Nowadays, Finland is one of the most developed countries of the world with the high level of income per head. And although its part in world production is not big, but it takes one of the first places in the world in size of gross national product (over 20 thousand $ per year).
18.12.2010 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Republic of Cuba in Ukraine Felix Leon CARBALLO: “WE ACTUALLY CAME FROM DIFFERENT SHIPS AND BUILT A SHIP OF OUR OWN – NATIONAL”
It seems not long ago that no New Year passed for us without mentioning distant Cuba. Each time it felt like we entered a new year with cheerful smile of Cubans. On the Island of Liberty much was told about the 1st of January – Liberation Day in holiday editions of local newspapers, radio and TV. Unfortunately, the tradition of common New Year has perished. But many Ukrainians keep good and grateful memories about the island of Cuba − a “ship” in endless ocean.
18.09.2010 “The city of a hundred thousand roses”
Vladimir CHERNOV, journalist.
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”.
Cities are much like people: there are not two similar ones in the world and some have pseudonyms along with their names. So, Sumy is called “City over Psel” and “city of a hundred thousand roses”. About 200 years ago, in this comparably small regional center tens of thousands of these tender flowers really delighted everybody with their odor. Then there came times, when local authorities neglected flowerbeds and loans and roses disappeared. But the pseudonym “the city of a hundred thousand roses” survived.
25.05.2010 Mystical places of Kiev
Mikhail KALNITSKIY, historian.
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”.
The most famous site in Kiev for performing different weird witches’ Sabbaths in Slavonic folklore is likely Lysaya Hora (Bald Hill). At the same time it is acknowledged that its “classical” location is under Kiev. Even in the respectable prerevolutionary paper Kiyevlyanin one could read: “According to a popular belief on Bald Hill in Kiev witches from all over the world gather to celebrate, together with vampires, a Sabbath and ride in the air..; here new witches get acquainted with old ones and learn various magic from them”.
09.02.2010 The building of the National Academic Ivan Franko Drama Theatre
Mikhail Kalnitskiy - historian
Special for Prime excursion burau ltd.
The building of the National Academic Ivan Franko Drama Theatre is in the same name square near Khreshchatyk. Not long ago it turned 111 years old, which is quite an age for buildings of old Kyiv. But intense historical memory and great significance for development of theatrical art in Ukraine makes the theatre building in Ivan Franko square one of the most interesting Kyiv relics.
10.12.2009 Khersones Taurical
Lidiya ZOTOVA, journalist.
Specially for “Prime Excursion Bureau”.
Khersones is a unique coastal natural monument at the Crimean foothill. Khersones was founded in 422-421 B.C. by Heracliots who had come from the south Black Sea coast city. It was called Khersones Taurical (from the Greek 'Chersoneses' − a peninsular). The Greeks named the whole region (modern Crimea) after its inhabitants, the Tauri.
Town on the Uzh River
