Bila Tserkva. The 'Oleksandriia' Arboretum

The "Oleksandriia" Arboretum is a paradisiacal corner of nature, created by the elements — water, earth and air — and polished by the imagination and the hands of architects, gardeners and sculptors. Perhaps it is not the most hyped or first-rate of the monuments of landscape-garden art, but it is no less stunning, and in age, area and number of plants it is a record-holder in Ukraine.

Bila Tserkva. The "Oleksandriia" Arboretum

Opishnia. The Source of Ukrainian Pottery and Art Nouveau

The Poltava region is famous not only for its Gogol places, the Myrhorod waters and the Sorochyntsi Fair. Thirty kilometres from Poltava lies the world-recognised capital of Ukrainian pottery — the village of Opishnia.

Opishnia. Poltava region. The Museum of the Krychevskyi Family

The Velykoanadolskyi Forest and the 'Forest Park'

Forest Park is a resort town in the south of Donetsk region, in the very heart of the Velykoanadolskyi Forest. This paradisiacal corner is located 65 kilometres from Donetsk and 6 kilometres from the district centre of Volnovakha (12 kilometres by road). Until 2014, the top management of Donbas was a frequent guest of the hotel and health complex; a helipad was built for the wealthy visitors.

Hrafske. Donetsk region. The "Forest Park" hotel and health centre

Hrafske. No Fairy Tales of the Velykoanadolskyi Forest

Like a green sea amid the waterless steppe in the south of Donetsk region spreads the Velykoanadolskyi Forest. The largest man-made forest tract in Europe saturates the air with healing energy amid the smoking factory chimneys and slag heaps. How the green wealth of Donbas was created, and how the memory of its creators is preserved, can be learned in the village of Hrafske in the Volnovakha district, at the forest museum.

Hrafske. Volnovakha district, Donetsk region. The Velykoanadolskyi Forest Museum

Ivano-Frankivsk. The Tourists' Choice Award

Every day tourists arrive in Ivano-Frankivsk from every region to set off on a hike into the Carpathians. If a traveller has 2-3 hours to spare, it is worth taking a stroll through this cultural and economic centre of Ukraine. One of the finest regional cities of our country has preserved the architecture of the Austrian and Polish periods; in Frankivsk, as it is lovingly called, there are many parks, museums and landmarks. And, of course, creative cafes, caramel workshops and souvenir shops.

Ivano-Frankivsk. The Market Square. The Town Hall