Travel to Kachanivka national park near Kiev.

 That's a good idea for restless vagabonds to spend one day on Kachanivka national park whilst staying in Kiev.  It lays just in 2 hours driving to north-east towards Sumy. To be mentioned, final 30 kilometers of road are in terrible condition even for Ukraine standards and full of potholes and grooves. But the goal worth all the efforts spent.
Kachanivka palace was founded almost 300 years ago for Russian governor of Ukraine - at that time Ukraine was treated like autonomous territory with fair share of independence. Later this country seat was purchased by earl Tarnavsky who put a lot of efforts and funds to create here one of renown cultural centers of Ukraine. Almost all famous ukrainian  artists, poets and musicians
lived and worked here enjoying gorgeous nature, tranquility and hearty earl's hospitality.
The focal point of Kachanivka park is old and picturesque 18th century palace proudly standing over the lake shore among age-old oaks and chestnuts.
Two-storey palace building is decorated with small towers and balconies, there are two rear outbuildings in one of which works local hotel. Definitely, it is not the luxury one, but prices correspond  the quality and old-soviet style - 1 night costs approximately 10 USD. Palace is open for visitors and features art exhibitions along with restored old-world interiors, nobiliary furniture and houseware.
Another attraction of this place is national park around the palace with renovated walkways, belvederes, park bridges and even small lake enbankment where bouts and katamarans can be hired.
Central alley leads to small beautiful orthodox church. If coming to Kachanivka on weekend, you will meet a lot of tourists strolling around the park from all corners of Ukraine, fishermen and avto tourists from Kiev.
This trip will not only entertain you but also reveal another beautiful corner of Ukraine, full of history, legends and myths.

Bukskyi Canyon

Sofiivka park in Uman' is well known in Ukraine and overseas place, quite interesting for tourists. And it is hard to believe there is one more natural wonder of Ukraine located nearby the Uman' - less then in 20 kilometers and still remaining unknown to the majority of  tourists. This is Bukskyi Canyon with river Horskyi Tikych waterfall. The Canyon got its name  from a  small village Buky vere it originates from. Everyone is impressed encountering steep granite rocks among pacific ukrainian meadows and green forests.
Canyon's length is about 5 kilometers and this is one of the most breathtaking places in Ukraine indeed. High granite cliffs, deep precipices with streaming river in the middle between craggy banks. Here you can find deep well with cold pure water. Exploring this canyon can easily take 4-5 hours. Not a lot of tourists are coming here, this place is almost unknown for traveling Ukrainians, not to mention foreign tourists. In general, visiting Bukskyi Canyon surely catch your eye and will accomplish and complement your travel to Uman'.
Just one thing to add: making beeline to Bukskyi Canyon plan your route through Man'kivka (another village nearby) - it is not the shortest path but with more or less quality roads .
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Bukskyi Canyon

Remains of old building

Canyon in late fall.

The tree breaks through the stone

Well with pure cold water

Bukskyi Canyon in summer

Ruins of Korets castle

On the middle way from Kyiv to Lviv we came across opportunity to visit one unusual but quite picturesque place - Korets.
Korets is small town, the center of Korets district, with faceless chaotic village development typical for Ukraine. However, unique lineaments of nature and still existing due to miracle
remains of historical castle can be the point of concern and a tourist attraction. On this place local river Korchyk is bending the hill leaving high cliffs. And this is the place where Korets
castle was built in 14th century. Archaeologists say that right on this hill was ancient slavic town destroyed by mongol invaders.
Korets castle evolved from well-fortified fortress of Middle-Ages to  luxurious palace in 19th century.But accident fire demolished the palace on 1831 and owner did not
have enough money to recover building, wich is staying abandoned over 150 yars, serving as source of stone material for local peasants. Now castle is only huge brick ruins with amazing bridge and one tower partially existing.But even these pint-sized particles of history are very romantic and gorgeous.
Also Korets is know as the residence place of Natalia Honcharova - women Pushkin fell in love with and wanted to marry her. But her family objected and imposed her french diplomat. Natalia lived here a long period after returning from France and bequeathed all her estate to Korets women's monastery.

vegetation around the castle

castle bridge with gate tower

view over the river Korchyk

what remained from defensive walls

Sofiivsky park, Uman

On the half way from Kyiv to Odessa situated Uman - typical tiny Ukrainian provincial city, famous throughout the world mainly just for two things: the grave  of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, the founder of Hasidic movement (this grave attracts thousands jewish pilgrims yearly) and Sofiivsky dendropark established by order of Count Pototsky and dedicated to his wife Sofia. Here we concentrate our attention on park exploration only, as soon as this wonderful place worth being among the best Ukrainian miracles. They started building of Sofiivka in 1796th but such a grandiose project is not possible to complete during the life of only one generation. Major works continued about 150 years, thousands of people were engaged. Just to mention that each Russia Emperor visited this park and funded the continuation of works. And this process is still on.
A lot of human efforts were spent to transform originally beautiful corner of nature into a fantastic artificial park. Everything is present: rocks, lakes, waterfalls, caves, forests and meadows, generously decorated with antic sculptures, bridges and pavilions. Even underground river called Akheront in honor of Greek myth river. Tourists are invited to join a boat tour along Uman's Akheront.
One thing more to add: it is better to visit Sofiivsky park during a week but not on weekend since a number of excursions are coming around and crowds of people can disturb you while  enjoying all the splendor of this magnificent park.
You will be fascinated by walking in Sofiivka and surely spend here about 3-4 hours.

Lake with boats

Lake with swans

The heart of Sofiivsky park

Waterfall

Cave in Sofiivka park where you can make a wish

Berdychiv - old Jewish settlement

This small and not conspicuous at first glance town is located on the road from Kyiv to Kamianets-Podilsky.  Long period it was renowned as jewish center on Western Ukraine. However, now almost nothing except old jewish cemetery reminds us about this. The main noteworthy of Berdychiv is its catholic fortress-monastery on the hill above the lake and river called Hnylopiat', built on 17th century and been besieged numerous times. Also each Berdychiv inhabitant will tell you the story about Balzac (french novelist) been merried here in local church - it is true. 

After wedding a tailor  approached to Balzac, carefully reviewed his suite and asked: where did ou get such a nice suite?

-in Paris

-Where is Paris?

- 2000 miles from here

- Amazing! Such a long distance but they know how to sew nice suites.

  The fortress is quite picturescue as well as the nature around and it's the single attraction of Berdichiv. About 100 years ago, the border between Russia Empire and Austria layed near Berdychiv  so this town also was known because of its resourceful smugglers. This page of history is far away now but archaeologists report about numerous multi-miles smuggler underground passages and corridors towards former border.

entrance to the fortress

The church inside of fortress, where Balsac had his wedding

view from the lake shore

buildings indide the fortress walls

old jewish cemetery in Berdychiv

typical building of Berdychiv center

Coming to Kyiv

Almost 100% of western tourists are coming to Ukraine through Kyiv (Kiev) and spend a couple of days there strolling around and even making beeline to Prypiat (Chernobyl). Wide range of hotels are offering accommodation in the center but prices are quite high. This one-bedroom apartment costed us 110 USD (the same hotel suite was at least 3 times more expensive) We rented this apartment in Kiev from Grata agency and recommend to everyone.

 

Khotyn stronghold

Just 20 kilometers from Kamyianets-Podilsky towards Romanian border lays Khotyn - now small village but 300 years ago insurmountable barrier on the way of Turkish expansion in the Europe. Khotyn fortress is situated on the tall bank of Dniester river and now serves as museum and movie  decoration. You can spend 3-4 hours exploring Khotyn castle.

entering museum

inside the fortress

Gate tower and walls

Walls outside  are covered by protective symbols

Kamianets-Podilskyi - fairytale place

Situated on the distance of some 500km to the west from Kyiv. This small picturesque town attracts tourists because of charming architecture and breathtaking nature. Extremely low prices for hotels, open, helpful and sincere people.

Kamenets fortress stands on the granite promontory  and was almost unreachable for enemies

Abyss around the dowtown area

Yes, this was a minaret once upon a time, but now catholic church. Maria stands on crescent

river Smotrych surronds Kamenets-Podylskyi

This is a great place to see, worth at least one-say stay, and not far from other tourist places - Khotyn, Medzhybizh, Ternopil. Kamenets is overflowed by polish tourists.