In industrial cities you very often come across half-ruined industrial zones, wastelands and unfinished buildings. And suddenly enterprising, creative people appear, capable of turning desolate and wild sites into beautiful parks and recreation areas that become landmarks and tourist attractions. Parks come in many kinds. Often it is not just a green zone with amusement rides, but also an educational centre. In Druzhkivka the park of stone sculptures became an exhibition ground for fifty sculptural depictions of real and imagined heroes.
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| Druzhkivka. Donetsk region. The Park of Stone Sculptures |
In a residential district of industrial Druzhkivka, next to the "Sviatohir" sports club, an unusual park was laid out in 1995 on six hectares of a former wasteland.
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| Cossacks and bogatyrs together defended their native land from the enemy invasion |
It can be called an open-air museum, where the exhibits are bas-relief depictions of the characters of ancient legends and famous historical figures.
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| Bogatyrs — the heroes of fairy tales and legends |
The idea belongs to the sportsman and city patriot Yuriy Artemov. This Druzhkivka bogatyr had read many fairy tales and legends since childhood and knew the history of Kyivan Rus.
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| They defeated the Khazars and the Pechenegs |
Inspired by the idea of creating a wonderful park, the athlete and public figure, in co-authorship with the artist Viktor Fedorenko and the sculptor Yuriy Topuz, created a unique creative project that has no analogues in Ukraine.
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| A brave knight created from stone — a defender of Kyivan Rus |
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| Boian — an ancient poet and seer |
The enthusiasts' aim was to awaken in the residents and guests of the city a sense of patriotism, love for their native land and knowledge of history through art.
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| The Sviatohirsk Dormition Lavra in stone |
A plot roughly 300 metres long and 200 metres wide was cleared, and in its centre a symbolic burial mound was heaped up.
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| The burial mound in the centre of the park |
From the hillock, 8 alleys radiate outward, forming an Orthodox and a Vedic cross, which in turn unite in the centre and create an eight-pointed star — the Slavic cross.
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| Exhibits of the stone skansen in peaceful Druzhkivka |
At the summit rises a female figure — Princess Olha of Kyiv and her son Sviatoslav, the future prince, commander and warrior.
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| The symbol of the Motherland |
One after another, sculptures made of sandstone from local quarries were installed.
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| Sandy monoliths serve to create stone pictures |
The unconventional stone pictures are not very complex in execution; all the heroes are recognisable and the masters' intent is clear.
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| Volodymyr Vysotsky — poet, actor, singer |
On one square there have come together Orthodox saints, bogatyrs and Cossacks, hetmans and commanders, poets and seafarers.
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| Ihor Talkov — a singer-performer of authored song |
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| Yuriy Gagarin — the first cosmonaut |
Here you can meet Taras Shevchenko and Oleksandr Pushkin, Princess Olha and Volodymyr Monomakh, Peter I and Oleksandr Suvorov.
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| Oleksandr Pushkin — a classic poet |
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| Mykhailo Lazarev — naval commander, admiral |
Children especially like the animals and fairy-tale characters.
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| Heroes of folk art |
The swan — an ancient symbol of rebirth, wisdom, love and magical power. This image is found in the myths and fairy tales of many peoples of the world.
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| The swan — a special bird in folklore |
On the pedestals are carved texts with the names of the principalities of Kyivan Rus, historical dates and events, and sayings of famous people.
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| Lists of famous figures who served the Motherland and the people |
The monoliths with bas-reliefs are surrounded by young trees, which need careful treatment.
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| The birch — one of the most revered trees among the Slavs |
Despite the authors' appeals to protect nature, the aesthetic pleasure is overshadowed by the litter left behind. Not all the people of Druzhkivka understand that such a wonderful park cannot be a place for walking pets.
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| The lion — the king of animals, a symbol of courage, power and bravery |
The creation and expansion of the park is a cause around which townspeople and all who are interested in it can unite.
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| A flower of stone, but with a soul |
On the whole the park leaves a positive impression, and for a photo session it is better to choose the afternoon, when the sunlight comes from the south-west.
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| In myths and fairy tales birds often act as heralds |
And in the morning hours tourists can visit the quarry with preserved fragments of petrified trees, 250 million years old. Visitors are asked to protect the monuments of nature and the man-made spiritual treasures.
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| A symbol of love, rebirth and spring |
The Park of Stone Sculptures is located on the southern outskirts of Druzhkivka; the entrance is from Kozatska Street.
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| The Tsar Cannon at the entrance to the park |
Coordinates: 48°35'57"N 37°32'12"E
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