Discover Eastern Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus

The History of Ivano-Frankivsk – Center of Rural Tourism in Galicia

On the territory of an ancient Ukraine village- Zabolotje –a castle was erected which turned into a cultural, craft and trade center of Galicia as the time passed. In 1662 the city received the Magdeburg Right (a sort of certificate for self-governing) and became known as Staneslavov. In 1962 in the year of 300 anniversary the city was renamed after the famouse Ukrainian – Ivano Franko.

Since the mid of the 17^th century town was a cross-roads of vitally important trade ways from Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Lithuania. At first the town was fortified by the stone walls which have preserved till our days. Despite numerous wars at that time a great deal of churches and a City Hall (firstly a wooden and only then a stone one) were found. Generally the city may be proud of the great number of fine architectural monuments.

The “face” of Ivano-Frankivsk change through the centuries still it preserves the memories of the greatest and decisive events of Ukraine history.

After the Second World War Ivano-Frankovsk was renewed as an industrial center with numerous industrial- culture, education, health care establishments, banks.

Ivano-Frankivsk Today

Nowadays the town is the administrative, economic and cultural center. Moreover it’s the place of the developing rural tourism in Galicia. The landscape surrounding, the service and infrastructure meet al the international standards and perfectly match tourists’ requirements.

Ivano-Frankivsk is considered to be the town of sufficient economic and scientific potential, broad opportunities for local and inter-state connections development.

Ivano-Frankivsk is a splendid center of Western Ukraine, where a great variety of architectural directions are presented, they fascinate not only tourists, visitors but even the citizens themselves.  For those who like sacral tourism the renewed Sheptitski square will be a great and unexpected surprise – the local City Hall and the mysterious egg in the middle of the fountain – is one of the most ancient constructions made in the Renaissance style. It was the family vault of Pototskie. Today here is the Art Museum where the precious monuments of Galicia culture are kept – masterpieces of famouse West Ukrainian and Central European painters. Armenian Church which in the soviet times the museum of religion and atheism was located.

Here you may find an elegant rotunda with the fountain and Queen of paradise figure as well as the building of the Jesuitical cathedral (1763) now known more as Cathedral Church of Hall Sunday. Tourists have the opportunities both to see the cathedral and to visit sacral messes.                  

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What are famous places in Russia?

Each country has its own most popular places. Visiting such places you’ll have a great opportunity to enjoy wonderful sights and to find out the most interesting facts about the history of the country. Here are 12 famous places in Russia.

Lake Baikal

Nations which lived near this lake were nomads. They all had their own name of the lake. Scientists consider people, having lived here in the bronze century, who spoke Turkish to be the first to give the name to this lake – which actually means ‘rich lake’.

The depth of the lake is about 1631 meters.

Special researches showed, that water transparence of Baikal Lake at the depth of 250-1200 m is similar to that of Sargasso Sea, one of the most transparent seas in the world. Winter and June are the seasons when the water in the lake has its maximum transparence. Then it decreases a bit for when the water gets warmer bacteria, seaweeds, animals make the water dirtier.

Within the great space of 636 km forest and mountains made place for the Baikal. Everything in it is unusual and unique: endless vastness of cool and violent waters, huge depths which are so rare among lakes, soft water, where plants and animals resembling those of a sea fauna and flora live, oil and gases extractions on the surface of the lake, which origin is still a mystery for scientists.

Red Square (where the Kremlin is situated)

Amber Room of the Catherin Palace

Kiji Island

The whole island forms a national park “Kiji” – this is also a museum of wooden sculpture under the sky which includes splendid churches and burial grounds listed within the UNESCO pressures, servant’s houses, and the oldest wooden church in Russia.

Kungurian Ice cave

This cage is the natural monument. It impresses by its size and the origin. There lots of romantic legends connected to this cage. It contains 60 lakes with extremely clean and transparent water.

Natural park “Stolby” (Krasnoyarsk)

Svetloyar Lake

“Switzeland on the Volga”

It’s worth saying that none of the Russian regions may trial this place in the number and the variety of historical monuments and material culture. There are thousands of them in the region. There are lots of sources for historians giving the information of the ancient peoples’ living which changed their points of view completely thanks to sensational materials found there.

The World of the Five Lakes

Ilmenian National Park

Palace Square