Chernivtsi. The history of the city over the Prut River begins
from the Old Rus fortress which was built to protect southern borders of the
Halych Principality in the second half of the 12th c. The name of Chernivtsi
comes from the Old Slavic word chern, i.e. black city, and is mentioned for the
first time in the documents of 1408. The contemporary appearance of the city
formed relatively recently, in the latter half of the 18th c., which ensured the
integrity of its architectural ensembles. The wooden St. Nicholas' Church (1607)
is the oldest architectural monument. The Ascension (17th c.), St. Spiridon's
(1773) and the Dormition (1783) Churches also have survived. Among the monuments
of stone architecture mention should be made of the monastery St. George's
Church (1767); the City Hall (1847); the Cathedral (1863) which now houses the
picture gallery; the Armenian Church (1875); and the Concert Hall of the Music
Society (1877).
In 1864-1882 the ensemble of the residence of Bukovyna Metropolitans was
constructed which now houses Chernivtsi University. In 1877 near to the
residence the dendrological park (at present the University park) was laid out
where a bronze bust of Czech architect Josef Hlavka, the creator of the
marvellous ensemble, stands. In the late 19th - early 20th cc. the Jesuit Church
was built (1894), as well as the contemporary Kobylians'ka Theatre of Music and
Drama (1905) and the railway station (1908).
The names of Ukrainian writers Y. Fed'kovych, O. Kobylians'ka, O. Makovei, I.
Franko and Lesia Ukrainka are associated with the city.
Bila Krynytsia. This village is associated with the pages of the
history of Russian Old Belief. In the 1770s, escaping from the religious
persecutions in Russia, Old Believers settled in Bukovyna with the permission of
the Austrian government. In the 1830s a monastery was founded here which became
the centre of Old Belief. In 1900–1908 the Dormition Cathedral was erected in
Bila Krynytsia after the design of architect V. Klik. Decorated in the
traditions of old Moscow style, it has a marvellous carved iconostasis executed
by Vladimir, Palekh and Novgorod masters.
Khotyn. The town appeared in the 10th c. on the site of Slav
settlements of the 8th - 9th cc. Troianovi
Ramparts stretching along the eastern outskirts of Khotyn have remained from the
fortifications of Early Slav times.
The first written mentions of "the town Khoten' on the Dniester" belong to the
14th c. Khotyn's advantageous geographical position on the important economic
and strategic route greatly contributed to its development.
In the 13th c. on the precipitous right bank of the Dniester the Khotyn Fortress
was built, one of the most
impressive historical and architectural monuments in Bukovyna, the pattern of
the fortification construction.
Khotyn is known as the centre of carpet making. Carpets made by Khotyn masters
can be seen in numerous museums and they are highly rated at various
international exhibitions.
Westwards of the town the picturesque Khotyn eminence spreads, a section of the
heightened area between the Prut and the Dniester where Rukhotyns'kyi and
Shylivs'kyi forests grow and the eastern boundary of the distribution of beech
forests lies. Here rises Berda Mountain (515 m), the highest altitude mark of
the flat part of Ukraine.
Luzhany. The settlement was first mentioned in 1453. In its
centre rises the Dormition Church (latter half of the 15th c.), a stone
structure unique as to its historical and artistic value, the oldest Bukovynian
intact religious structure. Its construction resembles Old Rus patterns of stone
building.
The neighbouring villages adjacent to the settlement also have architectural
monuments: the Dormition Church (1775) in Dubivtsi and St. Nicholas' Church
(1786) in Berehomet.
Putyla. The settlement was first mentioned in 1501. Putyla is
the native place of the well-known Ukrainian writer Yuri Fed'kovych (1834-1888).
At present his literary-memorial museum has been opened in his estate.
There is a wooden three-domed Church of St. Nicholas (1885), an architectural
monument of mountainous Bukovyna. Wood carving, inlay on metal, embroidery, and
carpet making are most popular arts and crafts here.
Vyzhnytsia. The town was founded in the late 15th c. and was
known from the olden times as a trade
settlement.
In the outskirts of the town rises the wooden Church of St. Demetrius (19th c.)
which belongs to a special type of churches found only in the mountainous
districts of this land. In the neighbouring village of Vyzhenka stand two other
interesting architectural monuments: the old stone chapel on the roadside and
the Church of St. John of Suchava (1792).
Vyzhnytsia is well known for its folk crafts - wood carving, metal working, and
carpet weaving. Picturesque environs, salubrious mountain air and water of the
rapid Cheremosh River make the town one of the most attractive tourist centres
in the region. Here numerous tourist routes start which lead into the heart of
the Pokuttia-Bukovynian Carpathians to such interesting objects of nature like
the Dovbush Cave, the Protiati (pierced) Stones, and the rocks called the
Dovbush Stone, the Toad and the Rich Stone Woman.
Vyzhnyts'kyi national park. The park was created in 1995 and
covers the area of 7,928 ha. It is divided into two parts - Seret and Cheremosh,
which have unique landscapes. The vegetation is the main wealth of the park.
Forests occupy more than 80% of its territory. This is a single place in the
Ukrainian Carpathians where grow all three kinds of ferns: prickly toothed,
Alpine rough and Braun's holly fern.
Oblast farmsteads