Dubno Castle

Dubno Castle is located on a promontory on the Ikva river in the Dubno, Rivne region. It was built by Prince Konstantin Ostrozhsky in 1492 on the place of ancient fortifications. However, the castle was rebuilt by Janusz Ostrozhsky in the Late Renaissance style in the early 17th century. Later on it was owned by the princes Zaslavsky, Sangushko, Lyubomirsky. The castle was never conquered during the entire period of its existence, despite attempts by the Tatars, Cossacks, Russian and Swedish troops. The Dubno Castle is now a national historical and cultural museum and a favorite place for tourists.

Photos by viktor-koldun.

Khersones Tavriysky near Sevastopol

Khersones Tavriysky is a unique archaeological site and historical place in the south of Crimea. The ancient city of Chersonesus was built there for over 2.5 thousand years ago. During its long history Chersonesus has experienced many wars and was a city of many of the ancient states. It was renamed to Chersonese, Chersonesos, Cherson and even Korsun. Now this place is a state historical museum where are monuments of many eras and cultures.

Photos by Michael Kryukov

Vorontsov Palace in Alupka

Vorontsov Palace is one of the main attractions of Alupka, Crimea. It was built in 1848 by architect Edward Blore. Palace construction lasted more than 20 years. There is also a beautiful park near the Vorontsov Palace. It was created by a talented German horticulturist Karl Kebah. Palace with a garden was owned by the family of Vorontsov before the 1917 revolution. Then it was nationalized, and soon there was a museum.

Photos by Al

Pidhirtsi Castle near Lviv

The glorious Castle was erected in the village Pidhirtsi in 1640. It was built by Polish Hetman Stanislaw Koniecpolski after he has bought there manor. The castle was built by the architect Andrea del Aqua, and defensive fortifications were created by Guillaume Levasseur de Beauplan. Pidhirtsi Castle is restored now, but it attracts more and more tourists.

Photos by roman020281

Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater

Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre is the most beautiful city landmark of Odessa, and Opera building is the majestic ukrainian architectural monument. Great composers Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff conducted the orchestra on the stage of the theater in their time. Great opera singers Enrico Caruso and Feodor Chaliapin played within its walls too. Odessa opera theater was included in Forbes magazine in the list of most important sights in Eastern Europe.

Photos by Susan.

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv

St. Sophia Cathedral was built by order of Yaroslav Mudry in the 11th century in the center of Kyiv. However, the the cathedral was rebuilt in the 18th century in the Ukrainian Baroque style. A lot of original frescoes and mosaics of the 11th century, including the famous mosaic of Virgin Orans, preserved to this day.

St. Sophia Cathedral was the first an architectural monument in Ukraine which was added on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The original appearance of the cathedral of the 11th century is depicted in Ukrainian banknote UAH 2.

Photo by Yulenochekk.

Andriyivskyy Descent in Kyiv

Andriyivskyy Descent is one of the oldest streets of the Ukrainian capital. At first it was a narrow road that connected the city center and shopping area of Podil. Then artists and other creative people settled there. So narrow road turned into a picturesque street. And now Andriyivskyy Descent is one of the major attractions of Kyiv. Art exhibitions and other cultural events take place there all the time.

First photo by Sandra and second photo by Wwalya.

Castle in Kamenets-Podolsky

Historic Landmark Castle in Kamenets-Podolsky preserved since the times of Kievan Rus. Stone castle was built by Lithuanian dukes Koriatovich in the 14th century. It was the main defensive works in many wars over the centuries. Castle in Kamenets-Podolsky is now a state museum. The film "Taras Bulba" was made within the walls of the castle.

Photos by Sergey_Nik_Melnik.

House with Chimeras in Kyiv

House with Chimeras on the Banking Street is a brick building in modern style. It got its name because of sculptural decoration that depict mythical creatures. The building is located in front of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration. It was built by architect Vladislav Gorodetsky in 1903. Milanese sculptor Elio Sala made sculptural decoration. House with Chimeras is being used as the residence of the President of Ukraine.

Photo by massimo.

St. Nicholas Church in Sevastopol

St. Nicholas Church was built in 1856 on the hill of the Fraternal Cemetery in Sebastopol. The temple was built in honor of the fallen soldiers, Sevastopol defenders in the Crimean War. The project of this temple was designed by architect A. Shtakenshneider. He took as the basis a form of the Egyptian pyramid. The pyramid of the temple has a height of 89 ft. The grounds of the temple is a high skirting 68x68 ft. It built from limestone blocks and rapped out from lead of bullets that was collected in the field of battle. The pyramid is topped the massive 22 ft cross.

Photos by Lilia.