The Velykoanadolskyi Forest. The Paradise Corner of "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
Seven years of war and the proximity of military action could not but affect the state of the complex. Now entry to this ecologically clean spot in an industrial region is open to all comers, and a walk around the grounds of Forest Park will be interesting and safe.
At the checkpoint on the eastern side of the park there is an information board with a layout plan and the complex's opening hours.
The resort has operated since 2004; it was built on the site of the abandoned children's camps "Lisovyi", "Yuvileinyi" and "Soniachnyi" and occupies an area of 45 hectares.
The complex is located on the banks of two ponds formed in the channel of the Kashlahach river. A little to the south, this small river of the Dnipro water basin has its source and flows into the Mokri Yaly, a tributary of the Vovcha.
Part of the shore is landscaped; on weekends there is no room to swing a cat on the sandy beach. But in recent years the toadstool shelters have been left without their shade canopies, and one can hide from the scorching rays only in the shade of the green expanse.
Holidaymakers occupy the wooden gazebos with little tables and barbecues.
On the gently sloping left bank rises a stone crag, laid up from sandstone and granite. Inside, a grotto has been arranged, and at the top a viewing platform has been created, reached by steps. The reservoir, the forest and the grotto-waterfall were created by human hands, since nature did not endow the Donetsk steppe with such riches. Since 2014 the mirror streams no longer wash the man-made rock, and the stones are gradually overgrowing with grass. Since 2013 the grotto has been supplemented by a sculpture of the Archangel Michael, symbolising the union of the earthly and the spiritual. The author of the figure is a local resident, Valerii Ilyin. May St. Michael be the guardian angel of this Eden-like corner in an industrial region.
The artificial rock and the sculpture of the Archangel Michael
Using the pristine beauty of natural stone helps to create a unique landscape design. The free arrangement of boulders on the alpine meadows creates aesthetic delight and a feeling of space and the boundlessness of the world.
In the reeds, anglers wait for a catch.
A wooden bridge leads to the camping zone, where all the complex's infrastructure is concentrated.
On the grounds of Forest Park there are a comfortable five-storey hotel, seven cottages, and blocks with conference halls, restaurants, and medical and entertainment centres.
Until 2014, holidaymakers were offered physiotherapy and balneological treatments, even radon baths.
Sports grounds, areas for playing paintball and tennis courts have been created.
Unfortunately, in 2019 not all the buildings are in use, but the estate is kept in order and awaits its guests.
Car parks, barbecue areas, children's playgrounds and summer terraces are all in operation.
The buildings are sheltered from sun and wind by the crowns of pines, oaks, limes, larches, ash trees and willows.
Exotic shrubs have made friends with the forest's natives.
Landscape specialists have laid out the avenues and set out the flower beds.
Stone is widely used to decorate the grounds. From granite and sandstone cobbles, dry fountains, paths, kerbs, slides and stone streams have been created.
From a worked-out clay quarry near Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka there rolled into the park fragments of petrified araucarias, ancient trees from the Carboniferous period.
The arched bridge is used for romantic photo shoots.
The sculpture of the two Graces looks very sublime.
By the fountain there are now three figures, symbolising, in medieval art, Beauty, Virtue and Love.
A heavily armed knight in metal armour guards the peace of the castle.
Among the thujas and pines are hidden sculptural depictions of animals, the inhabitants of the Velykoanadolskyi Forest.
Lions do not live in the forests of Ukraine, but the stone predator feels herself the queen of the beasts on a glade of Forest Park.
On a stone boulder there is a bas-relief image of the symbol of love and fidelity, like a mute reproach and a reminder that until 2014 mute swans lived on the park's ponds.
The designers did not forget the founder of the Velykoanadolskyi Forest and the forestry school, Viktor Yegorovich von Graff.
Quite unexpectedly, on the bank of the pond Pushkin and Dantes have staged a duel. The sculptors dedicated their works to depicting the classic of world literature in tandem with Natalie Goncharova, Arina Rodionovna, Onegin and Derzhavin. Paired with the killer of the sun of Russian poetry — he can be seen only in Forest Park. While the duellists were settling their scores, they both lost their right arms.
The metal creations of the smiths on the avenue of wrought-iron sculptures are heroes of fairy tales, fables and cartoons.
One would like Forest Park to resume its full operation soon and never again close its doors to visitors.
Holidaymakers in Hrafske should be sure to visit Ukraine's only forest museum. The resort's address: the village of Hrafske, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region. Soniachna Street, 20. Entry is open from 09:30 to 21:30.
Hrafske. The "Forest Park" hotel and health centre
No comments:
Post a Comment
Leave your impression