The Yablunytsia Pass. A convenient and picturesque crossing point on the boundary of the Transcarpathian and Ivano-Frankivsk regions

The Yablunytsia Pass lies in the Eastern Carpathians, on the border of the Transcarpathian and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. In the Middle Ages trade routes ran through the pass, and it was called the Tatar Pass, because as far back as the thirteenth century the Mongol-Tatar horde moved through this very place on its way to Europe. Its present-day name this geographic feature received from its location on the south-western outskirts of the village of Yablunytsia, in the Nadvirna district of the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass

Through the pass runs the national road H09, which links Zakarpattia and Prykarpattia. Here buses run and stop on the routes Tiachiv-Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia-Mukachevo, Ivano-Frankivsk-Rakhiv, Chernivtsi-Uzhhorod and other interregional services. 

At the entrance to the pass from the Yablunytsia side a chapel has been built.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass. The chapel

The pass lies in a narrowing of the Yablunytsia ridge, at the watershed of the rivers Prut and Chorna Tysa. The slopes of the mountain massif are covered with coniferous forest, predominantly spruce with an admixture of pine and fir.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass

The signs testify that these green tracts belong to the Vorokhta forestry enterprise and the Krementsi forest district.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass. The forestry signs

From the rise on the pass a panorama opens up with a view of the main mountain peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians.

The Yablunytsia Pass. The view to the south

The Yablunytsia Pass. The view to the south

The Yablunytsia Pass. The view to the south-west

On the viewing platform a sign reading "Ivano-Frankivsk region" and a boundary marker have been installed.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass. The "Ivano-Frankivsk region" sign

In stone is depicted a scene of the family leisure of a Hutsul family. The pedestal is adorned with bas-reliefs of animals and with national ornament.

The Yablunytsia Pass. The sculptural composition "A Hutsul Family"

In the Carpathian foothills, over the centuries, military actions were fought for important strategic objects, among them the passes. On the retaining wall, until the dismantling of the memorial plaques in May 2022, the events of the Second World War were reported, and there were listed the divisions and regiments that took part in the battles on the outskirts of the town of Yaremche. The inscriptions on the plaques were in the Russian language, mentioning the role in guarding the state border of the USSR played by the organs of the NKVD, which destroyed Ukrainians over the course of decades.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass. The dismantled memorial plaques

Stone steps lead up to the height, beside which a memorial sign with a prayer for Ukraine, and crosses in honour of those who fell in the area of the pass, have been erected.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass. The stone steps up to the height

The Yablunytsia Pass. The memorial sign with a prayer for Ukraine

The Yablunytsia Pass. The memorial cross

In honour of the fallen soldiers of the Carpathian Sich, in 1996 a sculptural image of the Mother of God was unveiled. At this holy place the memorial candles never go out, and flowers are always laid.

The Yablunytsia Pass. The little chapel

The pass is a popular tourist location. For the convenience of travellers and motorists, hotels, restaurants and café-kolybas have been built.

 

The Yablunytsia Pass. A hotel, a restaurant, shops

The Yablunytsia Pass and the café of the same name

An unusual display of stone artefacts has been created beside the café "Yablunytsia Pass".

A memorial sign to the occupation of Ukraine in the years 1919-1939. A border post of 1923, Poland-Czechoslovakia (Galicia-Transcarpathia)

A rounded boulder of the Ice Age

The Yablunytsia Pass. The round stone 

Special attention among visitors and those who drive along the road is enjoyed by the colourful souvenir market, which can be compared to a display of the objects of the folk crafts of today's Hutsul region. Mushrooms, berries, honey, sheepskin goods, wooden wares and toys, ceramics, embroidered shirts, religious paraphernalia, ornaments, perfumery, knitted things and much else besides, in which the craftsmen of Transcarpathia can take pride.

The Yablunytsia Pass. The souvenir market