The Sundial. Instrument, Monument and Ornament

The sundial has been known since ancient times; for many centuries it has not only shown the time but also served as a park ornament, a beautiful addition to historic squares and the facades of buildings. The length and movement of the shadow cast by the gnomon make it possible to see what hour it is. Craftsmen worked on the device so that the clock would show the exact time and remain an architectural adornment of cities.

 

Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast. Sundial on Mashynobudivnykiv Boulevard

Lviv. The Hill of Glory. A World War II Memorial

World War II left memorial markers of tragic events across the country. In the eastern part of Lviv stands the Hill of Glory, where Soviet soldiers are buried.

 

Train 194 Yasinia-Kryvyi Rih. Ivano-Frankivsk to Lviv

Daytime train 194 Yasinia - Kryvyi Rih connects Zakarpattia, the capital and Ukraine's second-largest city by area.

Train 194 Yasinia - Kryvyi Rih 

Lviv. Snopkivskyi Park. For those who love space and quiet

Snopkivskyi Park in Lviv has the status of a monument of landscape gardening art and is intended for quiet rest and unhurried, contemplative walks.

 

Lviv. Snopkivskyi Park

Mykolaiv on the Dnister: Landmarks in and Around Town

To find landmarks at every step, inquisitive tourists with a passion for little-known routes, having had their fill of strolls around noisy Lviv, move on to the quiet and sparsely populated Mykolaiv, located 30 kilometres south of the regional centre. In ancient and medieval times the lands of today's Mykolaiv area were conquered, annexed, destroyed and revived again, and to strengthen the borders both defenders and conquerors built fortified zones with fortifications to protect the crossing over the Dnister.

Mykolaiv, Lviv Oblast. A view of the town from the artillery positions

Lviv. The Lovers' Clock, Least Known and Most Romantic

Clocks in cities serve as timekeepers and are an element of décor, tourist magnets. But in Lviv there are such guardians of time that tourists do not know about, and not all locals have heard of this curiosity. The 6-storey «Nobilis» hotel faces onto Oleksandr Fredro and Ihor Bilozir streets. The hotel opened in late 2011, and during Euro 2012 the Portugal national team stayed there. The «Nobilis» apartments are also chosen by the footballers of Donetsk's «Shakhtar» during their stays in Lviv.

 

Loieva. The Landmarks of a Carpathian Village

Loieva is a village in the Nadvirna district of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, 5 kilometres from the district centre and 45 from the regional one. The village stretches out at the foot of Mounts Tatarka, Lysiania and Strahora. According to the tales, the god Perun rode his chariots across these Carpathian peaks, and on the twin-peaked Strahora there was a cult centre and a sanctuary of the ancient Slavs. An observation tower lets you take in the surroundings and the neighbouring mountain ranges. In Loieva you can enjoy not only the living nature of the Carpathians but also the village's other notable landmarks.

Shchyrets. Fortified Churches, a Museum and More

Lovers of independent travel choose unconventional routes, not overloading themselves with information and leaving room for their own preferences. This style of travel always includes a process of searching and discovery. The little town of Shchyrets in Lviv Oblast is an excellent choice for a one-day trip full of exploration and finds.

Shchyrets, Lviv Oblast. Zolota Hora. The Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God. 16th century

Lviv. Pohulianka — a Special Place for a Stroll

Pohulianka Nature Reserve Park is located in the south-eastern part of Lviv, in the area of the same name, where townspeople have loved to stroll since the mid-19th century.

 

Lviv. Pohulianka Nature Reserve Park

Yablunytsia. Forest, Mountains, Landmarks and Fishing

Every Carpathian village has its own characteristic features and differs from its neighbours in microclimate, the availability of roads and infrastructure, and tourist appeal. The village of Yablunytsia in the Nadvirna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region lies in the protected zone of the Carpathian National Nature Park, and mighty green massifs surround the village like an emerald necklace, shielding it from winds and cold. The mountain peaks Mykulinka, Horishky, Shcherbaniv Verkh, Dovhyi Grun, Yablunytsia and other thousand-metre heights shaped the relief of this Hutsul village, which stretches for 9 kilometres along the valley of picturesque hills.

Yablunytsia. Ivano-Frankivsk region