Cherkasy. The tourist potential and what to see in the city

Cherkasy is a regional city in the very centre of Ukraine, situated on the right bank of the Kremenchuk reservoir in the channel of the Dnipro. The settlement arose in the times of Kyivan Rus, when fortified settlements and defensive forts had to be built for protection against nomads. Neither the fortress nor other historical buildings have survived to our day, but in the youngest regional centre of Ukraine one can see many other landmarks, for which one or two days off are quite enough.

Cherkasy. Branch of Ukrsotsbank. The former "Slovianskyi" hotel. The city's architectural calling card

Let us begin with the industrial symbols of this industrial and cultural centre.

Cherkasy. Shukhov's hyperboloid water tower

About 10 avant-garde structures by the engineer Shukhov have survived in Ukraine. One of them, a hyperboloid water tower, rises on the territory of the Cherkasy water utility.

In Cherkasy a transport complex crossing the Kremenchuk reservoir has been built on the Dnipro.

Cherkasy. The Cherkasy dam

The largest dam in Ukraine, 13-13.5 kilometres long, has about 11 thousand vehicles pass over it a day. The road was duplicated in case of war, and copies of the structures were stored in Zolotonosha, a beautiful city with interesting landmarks.

In the old part of the city the streets stretch along the bank parallel to one another and intersect at a right angle, which is not often encountered in Ukraine.

Cherkasy. Shevchenko Boulevard

By analogy with the Kyiv Khreshchatyk, one of the main thoroughfares of Cherkasy received the same popular name back at the beginning of the 20th century. Officially the most sumptuous street was renamed with the proclamation of Ukraine in 1992.

Cherkasy. Khreshchatyk

At the intersection with Heavenly Hundred Street stands one of the pearls of Khreshchatyk — the sumptuous Shcherbyna mansion, built in 1892. Now the Art Nouveau building with openwork arches and columns houses one of the most beautiful registry offices in Ukraine.

Khreshchatyk. Registry office. The former Shcherbyna mansion. 1892

Not every regional centre has a puppet theatre. In Cherkasy, performances for young theatre-goers take place in one of the oldest buildings, the former forester's house, built in the 1870s.

Khreshchatyk. Puppet Theatre. The former forester's house. 1870s

In this city of cultural traditions several museums operate. The Cherkasy Art Museum is one of the youngest museums of this kind in Ukraine.

Cherkasy. Art Museum

The Vasyl Symonenko Literary Memorial Museum is housed in the building of the former Public Bank, built in 1914.

Khreshchatyk, 251. Editorial office of the "Cherkaska Pravda" newspaper. The Vasyl Symonenko Literary Memorial Museum

The world's only museum of a single book is dedicated to the collection of poems by T. H. Shevchenko and contains rare editions of the "Kobzar".

Khreshchatyk, 217. The Tsybulskyi House. The museum of one book, T. H. Shevchenko's "Kobzar"

In a building specially constructed for the regional museum of local lore, a collection of materials and documents on the history, ethnography and culture of the Cherkasy region is presented.

Cherkasy. Regional Museum of Local Lore

The Cherkasy Philharmonic is the spiritual and cultural centre of the city and region.

Khreshchatyk. Philharmonic

On the building of the Philharmonic, memorial signs have been unveiled to the authors of the Ukrainian requiem "Across the Steppe, Across the Steppe...", Mykola Nehoda and Anatolii Pashkevych, as well as to the People's Artist of Ukraine Raisa Kyrychenko.

Memorial sign to the authors of the song "Across the Steppe, Across the Steppe", the poet Mykola Nehoda and the composer Anatolii Pashkevych

Philharmonic. Memorial sign to the People's Artist of Ukraine Raisa Kyrychenko

Near the musical institution, at a height of 7 metres on a taut cable, sits a violinist — the only such sculptural image in the air in Ukraine.

Cherkasy. The sculpture in the air "High Note"

The Narbut Children's Art School is housed in a building of 1910, constructed for a Jewish gymnasium.

Khreshchatyk, 214. Narbut Children's Art School

A rich exterior decoration is possessed by the branch of Ukrsotsbank, the former "Slovianskyi" hotel, built at the end of the 19th century. With the effects of evening illumination the architectural dominant resembles a blue palace and is the calling card of the city.

Branch of Ukrsotsbank. The former "Slovianskyi" hotel

On Castle Hill, on the site of the former castle with four towers, the "Motherland" monument has been erected. At the foot of the memorial hill, on memorial slabs, the names of 3,500 soldiers of the Red Army who liberated Cherkasy in 1943 are immortalised.

The Hill of Glory

From the hill a panorama of the city opens up, with wonderful views of the Dnipro and the valley of roses, which is especially striking in the flowering season of the queen of flowers.

On the territory of the present-day Hill of Glory, in 1671, the Holy Trinity church was built, which was the city's main church. In the godless times the shrine was demolished, and already in 1991 the Holy Trinity Cathedral was consecrated next to the sacred place.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral

On Khreshchatyk, at the service of guests and townspeople, the "Khreshchatyk-City" shopping and entertainment centre is open, with a full complex of goods and entertainment.

Cherkasy. The "Khreshchatyk-City" shopping and entertainment centre

One more structure of the 19th century deserves the attention of connoisseurs of architecture. In the Shkolnykov complex, decorated with brick patterns, there are residential flats and communal services.

Khreshchatyk, 189-193. The Shkolnykov complex

The landmark stands opposite the children's park, through which one can cross to Shevchenko Boulevard. The children's park saddened me with its neglect, gloomy sculptures, closed rides and the absence of a children's cafe. Most of the objects require restoration.

Children's Park

The cascade pond with a destroyed bottom of mosaic and stone is a dangerous place for little ones to walk.

Children's Park. The cascade pond

The longest boulevard in Europe is in Cherkasy. The city's main thoroughfare, more than 6.5 kilometres long, stretches for 22 blocks.

Shevchenko Boulevard

The boulevard is planted with chestnuts and poplars, and a trolleybus runs along it; there is no tram line in Cherkasy. On the alleys, rest zones with benches and lamps have been created.

Shevchenko Boulevard

On the boulevard numerous cafes, banks, shops and shopping centres are open.

Shevchenko Boulevard. A bank branch and a cafe. The former Lysenko house. Architectural monument

Shevchenko Boulevard. Shopping centre

Unfortunately, the building of the T. H. Shevchenko Regional Academic Music and Drama Theatre has not yet been restored after the fire, and the troupe demonstrates its mastery on the city's other stages.

Shevchenko Boulevard. Shevchenko Regional Academic Music and Drama Theatre

On the boulevard are located the city council and the regional administration.

Cherkasy. City administration

Cherkasy. Regional State Administration

The landmark building of 1885 has been restored, and a House of Books has been opened in it.

Shevchenko Boulevard, 173. House of Books

To orient tourists for getting acquainted with the notable landmarks, arrow signposts have been installed at the crossroads, and by the architectural masterpieces — information boards with a historical reference, the date of construction and the architect's name.

Signposts to landmarks and information plaques

The fountains of various forms and kinds, not dried up, pleased me with their freshness.

Fountain on the territory of the water utility

Fountain near the regional administration

Fountain near the city administration

Fountain near the regional administration

Undoubtedly, the tourist potential of Cherkasy is not fully revealed, but it is worth coming here to get acquainted with the landmarks of this historic city of Cossack glory. A few more photo curiosities.

Monument to a plumber on the territory of the water utility

Manhole — property of the city community

Fire and Rescue Station No. 2

Mosaic panel on Shevchenko Boulevard

One can come to Cherkasy by train from Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson. By a suburban train — from the Taras Shevchenko station, Khrystynivka, Hrebinka.

The railway station