Morshyn. From pump room to pump room. A health walk taking in natural, historical and architectural landmarks

Morshyn begins with the mineral-water pump room, around which all the roads, avenues and paths converge. It can serve healing water to 6 thousand people at once.

 

Morshyn. The pump room

After drinking the water, to activate the healing liquid effectively it is good to walk around the surroundings and get to know the area.

 

Beside the main treatment building begins a health-giving walk around this Precarpathian resort, taking in its landmarks.

 

Morshyn. Signpost of landmarks and streets

The new Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph was built in 2016; the former one was completely destroyed during the years of Soviet rule.

Morshyn. Church of St. Joseph

The chief natural healers will always be water and forest, and a walk through the "Morshynskyi" landscape reserve, created to preserve the green stock of beech, oak and hornbeam plantings, will bring both benefit and pleasure. The wild boars and deer kept in the enclosures will be glad of a treat of fruit.

 

Morshyn. The "Morshynskyi" landscape reserve

Near the "Hoverla" rehabilitation centre, the names of Konovalets, Bandera and Shukhevych are immortalised in granite, with bas-reliefs of the political figures. A mass grave of local residents, shot by NKVD criminals in 1941 in the forest ravines, lies on the edge of the reserve beside the Lviv-Ivano-Frankivsk highway.

Morshyn. Mass grave of the murdered residents

The Chapel of St. John was raised on the site of ancient burials.

 

Morshyn. Chapel of St. John

The blue expanse of water in the forest-park zone, framed by mixed woodland, is a favourite resting spot for the spa guests. A boat station has been set up on the shore, and there are cafes and gazebos. But most often people come here to listen to the silence, to hear the whispering of the trees - and just now a golden rain of falling leaves has begun.

 

Morshyn. The forest lake

The one-kilometre constitutional along the forest path from the lake to the Spring of the Mother of God can be counted the most health-giving and invigorating of treatments.

 

Morshyn. From the lake to the Spring of the Mother of God - 1 km

Legends tell that in olden times the Mother of God appeared beside the spring with a blessing: "This water will heal whoever drinks it with a good heart." Doctors recommend the healing water of spring No. 4 for restoring health, and the holy place is adorned with a small chapel and a sculpture of the Mother of God and holds the status of a hydrological natural monument.

 

Morshyn. The Spring of the Mother of God and the chapel

The four-storey building of the balneological hospital is adorned by a life-affirming mosaic panel depicting a gushing spring, a rainbow fountain, flowers and the sun.

 

Morshyn. Mosaic panel on the facade of the balneological hospital

The "Marble Palace" sanatorium opened for the workers of the national economy in 1938. Eleven kinds of marble went into the construction of this all-Union health resort, and the comfort of the residential block was of a high standard.

 

Morshyn. The "Marble Palace" sanatorium

The recreation area was embellished with fountains, park sculptures and blossoming flower beds.

 

Morshyn. Sculptures in the park

The central place in the park is held by the rotunda, which once served as the pump room. This pavilion, built in the 1930s in the shape of a mushroom, appears on the coat of arms of Morshyn and in every guidebook. Around the historic landmark, in the form of an amphitheatre, a stage for mass concert events and spectator stands have been created.

Morshyn. The rotunda. The former pump room

In the house of culture and on the adjacent square, artistic groups perform folk and theatrical amateur shows, and exhibitions are held. Since 1997 a sculptural image of the national poet has risen on the square.

Morshyn. Monument to T. H. Shevchenko

In the park, which holds the status of a landmark of landscape-gardening art, an architectural gem appeared in 2016 - an entrance colonnade with magnanimous and noble guardians, sculptures of lions symbolising wisdom and courage.

 

Morshyn. The colonnade in the park

Beside the green oasis sits the market. Spa guests take home brine in bottles, honey, herbal tea blends, mushrooms and Carpathian souvenirs.

 

Morshyn. The market

The route, one big loop, finishes back at the pump room. Thank you, Morshyn, for the fine well-being and good spirits.

Morshyn. The "I love Morshyn" sign on the central square