Watchmaker's Day. Wall, Street and Tower Clocks of Ukraine

Our life is scheduled to the minute, and we constantly check the time by electronic, wrist and street clocks, and when we notice a fault in the clockwork we turn to the masters of time. Not everyone knows that on 3 November watchmakers celebrate their professional holiday together with jewellers, since specialists of these magical crafts are called masters of golden work, or masters with golden hands.

 

In the watchmaker's workshop

Town Halls of Western Ukraine. Tourist Locations

In the regional centres and small towns of Ukraine there are quite a few town halls in which the organs of state power are housed. Most of them are historical buildings and architectural monuments with inimitable sculptures and decor. In the buildings of the city administration unique museums are open, and the ascent of the clock towers has turned into popular tourist attractions, with a view of the panorama of the cities and an acquaintance with the landmarks. The most famous and prestigious town hall is in Lviv, located on Market Square, where there are always many guests of the museum-city.

Lviv. The Town Hall. City administration. Market Square, 1

Synagogues in Ukraine. How Is Their Heritage Preserved?

In Jewish communities scattered across the world, the synagogue is a social and spiritual centre. In these beautiful buildings with large windows, one of which faces towards Jerusalem, not only are God's Commandments preached, but public matters are also decided, solemn ceremonies held and guests received. In the 'Houses of Assembly' the community's board sits and a communal court operates. Sadly, many spiritual heirs of King Solomon's First Temple were destroyed by the Holocaust. Some buildings were saved when churches of other denominations, or organisations and institutions, came to occupy their walls. Let us look, through examples, at what synagogues in Ukraine are like.

Uzhhorod. The former synagogue, 1904.

Seen in Bolekhiv

I continue my acquaintance with Bolekhiv — a Subcarpathian town in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Bolekhiv. Heritage of a Town in the Boyko Land

The town of Bolekhiv, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, with a population of only 12 thousand people, has been known since 1370. There are no other such towns in Ukraine. The Lviv — Chernivtsi highway divides it into two parts. An endless column of international buses and huge lorries, of course, breaks the quiet and spoils the environment. And the bridge over the river Sukil is simply not designed for such a flow of traffic. If you want to learn more about the town, you need to go to the museum. That is just what I did, having come to Bolekhiv with a friend from Morshyn to take a walk and spend some free time.