Kharkiv is a city in the east of Ukraine with a rich history and a strong spirit, which Mayakovsky and Okudzhava wrote about. Oscar winner Varvara Karynska, actress and singer Lyudmila Gurchenko were born here, and Nobel laureates Lev Landau, Semen Kuznets, Ilya Mechnikov and actor Leonid Bykov worked here. Kharkiv surprises both newly arrived travelers and local residents with its attractions, such as the largest square in Ukraine (Svobody), the most beautiful city park in the country (named after Gorky) and the first Ukrainian skyscraper (Derzhprom). The city is known for its unique language, sense of humor and style. Kharkiv smells of coffee, tastes like pizza from "Bufet" and sounds like hip-hop accompanied by a symphony orchestra.
Kharkiv district administrator
Kharkiv, one of the largest cities of Ukraine, is divided into 9 districts. In addition, there are unofficial names of parts of the city that are used by local residents, such as Oleksiivka, Saltivka, Pavlové Pole, Kholodna gora, Shatylivka, Moskalivka, Novi Budinky, and others.
Kyiv district is the largest in Kharkiv and has one and a half dozen parks and squares. It is home to a very popular local attraction - Zhuravlivskyi Hydropark, where visitors can enjoy the beach, swim in the reservoir and cook a barbecue. One of the city's central streets - Pushkinska, as well as more than 20 universities - is located in the district. The second largest market of Ukraine - "Barabashovo" is located in the Kyiv district.
Shevchenkivskyi district is the second largest district of Kharkiv, where the historical center of the city is located - University Hill. In addition, such objects as Freedom Square, Khnatob, Shevchenko Garden, Derzhprom, the city zoo, Gorky Park, Sarzhyn Yar and almost two dozen universities are located in this area.
Moskovskiy district is the most populated district of the city. It is crossed by the longest avenue in Europe - Moskovskiy. This district is an industrial center with more than thirty plants and factories.
Kholodnogorsky district is the location of the main railway station of the city - Kharkiv-Passajyrskyi (South Station), whose building has become one of the symbols of Kharkiv. The station square attracts attention with its large fountain and the building of the General Post Office, which, along with Derzhprom, is a monument of Soviet constructivism.
Nemyshlyansky district, which is the youngest and smallest district of the city, has a Sports Palace, which is often used for competitions and cultural events. In addition, one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Ukraine - Chuk Lam Kharkiv is located here.
Industrial district Kharkov is one of the greenest districts of the city. There is also a developed industry here, including food processing plants, engineering plants and construction firms.
Slobidsky District is located next to Kharkiv International Airport and one of the best stadiums in Ukraine - Metalist. This stadium hosts football matches of local and international importance, such as the European Championship, Europa League and Champions League.
Osnovyansky district is located in the south of Kharkov and is a large district. Here is one of the favorite recreation places of Kharkiv residents - Strilka Square, where you can stroll along the embankment of the Kharkiv and Lopan rivers. In addition, the Levada railway station and a circus are located in the area.
Novobavarisky district includes places of old Kharkiv, such as Moskalivka, where famous Kharkiv residents lived a hundred years ago, including musicians, doctors and writers, and New Bavaria, where Bavarian craftsmen brewed authentic German beer.
Sights of Kharkiv
Kharkiv is a city with a rich historical heritage, which is manifested in various sights. In addition, here you can enjoy local gastronomy, visit modern parks and enjoy street culture. During the day, the city is known for its intelligent and cultured look, and in the evening it turns into a noisy place for fun.
Population of Kharkiv
The population of the city of Kharkiv is about 1 million 400 thousand people, which makes it the second largest city in Ukraine after Kyiv. The population of Kharkiv Oblast is 2.8 million people. The proportion of men and women is roughly equal, with 47% men and 53% women. The city is multicultural and multinational, with representatives of more than 100 nationalities and ethnicities, including Ukrainians (70%), Russians (25%), Belarusians (1%) and Jews (0.5%). There are also communities of all major world religions in Kharkiv, most of which identify themselves as Orthodox Christians. In addition, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists live here.
The history of Kharkiv - when it was founded and by whom
Kharkiv was founded in 1654, when the local fortress was first mentioned in the annals. Prior to that, nomadic tribes such as Goths, Alans, Khazars, Pechenegs and Polovtsy lived in the territory. There are many versions of the origin of the city's name, one of which suggests that the city was named after the Kharkiv River or after the mythical Cossack Khark. In 1765, Kharkiv became the center of the province of the same name. At first, agriculture was the main occupation of Kharkiv residents, then various industries appeared, and trade began to develop actively. Around the same time, a stationary theater and the Kharkiv Collegium appeared in the city, which became the second most important educational institution in Ukraine.
In the 19th century, the railway appeared, which made the city an important transport hub and center of steam locomotive construction. In 1805, Kharkiv University was opened under the leadership of Vasyl Karazin, and still occupies a prestigious place both in the country and abroad. By the end of the century, there were more than seventy enterprises in Kharkov, which turned the city into a large industrial center. Gas lighting of the streets was also introduced, a water supply, a telephone line and a power station were built.
Kharkiv at the turn of the 20th century
In the 20th century, the city became known as a center of education due to the presence of gymnasiums, boarding schools, real schools, an institute for noble girls, schools and more than a hundred primary schools.
In 1940, Mykhailo Koshkin, an engineer from Kharkiv, developed the T-34 - a tank model that is considered the best medium tank of World War II.
Kharkiv was the capital of Ukraine during the 20th century and was occupied several times by German troops during the First and Second World Wars. The city was a participant in major battles and was included in various countries. As a result of the Second World War, Kharkiv was destroyed and became one of the most affected European cities. Complete restoration took about twenty years.
Kharkiv is currently a large scientific, industrial and student center with a rich cultural and public life. The city continues to actively develop and strives for further improvement. In addition, he is the only one in Ukraine who was awarded a full set of awards of the Council of Europe, including a Diploma, an Honorary Flag, a Table of Europe and a Prize of Europe.
When is the best time to visit Kharkiv?
Kharkiv has a continental climate with distinct seasons: hot summer, cool and rainy autumn, dry cold winter and warm spring. The coldest month is January, with a temperature of about -5 °C, and the hottest is July, with a temperature of about +21 °C. Nevertheless, the temperature in the city is not constant and it is recommended to follow the weather forecast. In mid-May, the city holds the "Night of Museums" festival, during which you can visit almost all the city's museums for free, as well as attend concerts, lectures and master classes. This may be a good time to visit Kharkiv.
The KharkivAVIFest is held at the Korotych airfield outside the city in August. Here you can see air shows, art installations and various aircraft. Visitors can also fly in a small plane and jump with a parachute in tandem with an instructor.
In December and January, a New Year's fair opens on Freedom Square, where you can taste grilled meat and warm yourself with mulled wine. An ice rink is also installed here, which usually works until spring. A beautiful Christmas tree lit up in all the colors of the rainbow is installed in the center of the city, which makes this festive period even more attractive. Illumination decorates the entire city center.
Advice for tourists visiting Kharkiv - what to see
Don't miss the main city park named after Gorky, which is considered the best in Ukraine and was opened after reconstruction in 2012 for the European Football Championship. The park has many attractions, such as a ferris wheel and a roller coaster, as well as a unique urban transport - a cable car that leads to the Pavlové Pole area. From the park, you can reach another green area for recreation - Sarzhyn Yar, where you can drink water from the spring, watch ducks, sunbathe on special sunbeds and refresh yourself in specially equipped swimming pools.
Be sure to try the metro - it is the fastest and most convenient way to move around the city. The metro covers almost all areas and is underground. There are many legends in the Kharkiv metro, for example, residents believe that there is a government bunker at the "University" station, where a secret tunnel leads from the regional administration building, and at the "Constitution Square" station you can see a ghost.
Enjoy the majestic temples of the city of Kharkiv. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the Assumption Cathedral was the tallest building in the city, and, according to legends, you can fit an entire bus inside it. The Intercession Temple is part of a large monastery complex and is the oldest stone architectural monument. The Church of the Annunciation is distinguished by its striped color and accommodates up to four thousand parishioners.
Get to know the residents of Feldman Ecopark. The park contains more than two thousand animals, there is a rehabilitation center for bats, animal therapy, master classes and educational programs are held. In addition, here you can relax on the shore of the reservoir, cook a barbecue, rent a bicycle or have lunch in one of the cafes. Every day, there are free buses to Ecopark from the "Heroiv Prati" and "Derzhprom" metro stations.
Visit the famous establishments of the city, such as the fast food cafe "Bufet", where you should taste the famous thick pizza and okroshka, as well as the cafe "LyaTyuSho" on Kvitky-Osnovyanenko street, where you can enjoy delicious coffee and buy souvenirs and books related to Kharkiv. In the bar "Gatsby" you can visit stand-up evenings for free, and in the restaurant "Paris" you can spend a romantic evening for couples in love. It is also worth visiting one of the many "Kulinichi" shops, where delicious puffs and cakes are sold.
Assess the scale of Kharkiv's main attraction - Freedom Square, which is one of the largest in Europe. Next to it is the symbolic building of the city - Derzhprom, built in the constructivist style. Its construction took only three years (1925-1928) and was done with the help of human and horse labor. The image of Derzhprom was used in the music video for the song Nico And The Niners by the popular American band Twenty One Pilots.
A walk through the Shevchenko City Garden, which has been completely restored. It is a cozy place with fountains, gazebos and sculptures of people who are closely related to the city. In the garden, near Sumska Street, there is a monument to Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko, surrounded by the heroes of his works. You can also visit the legendary "Krystal" cafe and taste "Bilochka" ice cream, the taste of which will remind many residents of Kharkiv of their childhood.
Experience aesthetic pleasure at the Kharkiv Lysenko National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet (KHNATOB). It is surprisingly majestic and has an unusual architecture. It is an iconic place for local residents, where representatives of various subcultures gather. Around Khnatob, teenagers ride skates and bicycles, free performances and various competitions are held. Inside the building, in addition to the main and small stages, there are cozy pubs and cafes. In the warm season, outdoor movie screenings are organized outside the building. Across the road from the theater is another symbol of the city - the "Mirror Stream" fountain and the Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women.
Enjoy visiting exhibitions, performances and lectures in the space of YermilovCentre. The gallery is located in the main building of the Karazin National University and is free to visit.
Find all the graffiti created by Kharkiv street artist Hamlet Zinkovsky in the city center. Hamlet's works are easily recognized by the unique inscriptions and the use of white and black colors.
Look into the yard on Kaplunivsky Lane (for this you need to turn behind the house at 7/9 Mystetstv St.). This place is not known even to all native residents of Kharkiv. Strange inscriptions created by Oleg Mitasov's hands are painted on the red brick walls with white paint. According to legend, he went crazy after forgetting his doctoral thesis in the tram while traveling to the Higher Attestation Commission. After that, he began to surround himself with words. His fate was tragic.
