Vladimirskaya Gorka Park – a gorgeous panorama and fresh air in the center of Kyiv

Vladimirskaya Hill (English: Vladimirskaya Hill, Ukrainian: Володымська гірка) is a Kyiv park with a total area of ​​10,6 hectares. It is located on Mykhailivska Hill, which is named after the Mykhailivska Cathedral built here. After the construction of a monument to Prince Vladimir, the baptizer of Rus, this area began to be called "Vladimirskaya Hill".

One of the most popular places in the city. Vladimirskaya Gorka is a favorite place for Kiev residents and tourists. In many excursion programs, the park is not included in the list of mandatory attractions to visit. But if you have the opportunity, this place is worth visiting.

The park consists of upper, middle and lower terraces (alleys) located along the slope of the eastern side of the hill.

History the emergence of Vladimir Hill in Kyiv

In ancient times, on the upper part of the mountain there were buildings of one of the three former cities of old Kyiv, the “city of Izyaslav” and the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.

The park was created in the 30s and 40s. In ancient times, Vladimirskaya Hill was called Mikhailovskaya Hill because of the Mikhailovsky Golden-Domed Monastery located here. The final reconstruction work on the hill was completed in 1849.

Around 1900, one of the former unique landmarks of Kyiv was built on Vladimirskaya Hill - the panorama "Golgotha". It was a large pavilion, famous in the Russian Empire, in which one could observe the historical scene "Crucifixion" against the backdrop of Jerusalem. Artists from Vienna - Frosch and Krieger, an artist from Kyiv - Fabiansky with the help of the architect Rimsky-Korsakov made a canvas-painting measuring 94x13 meters and placed this creation in a special building, made in the "Art Nouveau" style. Now the object does not exist.

In 1905, a funicular (then called the Mikhailovsky Electric Lift) was launched, a means of transport that quickly allowed citizens to rise from Podil (the lower part of the city) to the top of the mountain.

The park on Vladimirskaya Hill was the first free Kyiv garden. Other parks were fenced off and entry was only allowed for a fee. Unlike other park areas, which were visited only in the warm season, Vladimirskaya Hill was also visited in the winter.
The famous gazebo on Vladimirskaya Gorka was built with a charitable contribution from the Moscow merchant millionaire Vasily Kokorev. In 1863, he donated money to the city for the construction of a gazebo on the hill. The funds were deposited in a bank account, these finances were forgotten for some time, and after many years, the accumulated amount of interest tripled. As a result, this fact made it possible to build 2 gazebos in Kyiv, one on Vladimirskaya Gorka, and the second near St. Andrew's Church. Soon it began to be called the "Kokorevskaya" gazebo. It usually served as a place for romantic meetings.

In the 1970s and 1980s, flower exhibitions were held on Vladimirskaya Gorka. In the 90s, a loudspeaker operated in the park, through which walkers listened to the national radio station.

Monument to Prince Vladimir the Great (Svyatoslavich) in Kyiv

Since 1853, a monument to Prince Vladimir, the baptizer of Rus, has stood on the mountain. It was the first memorial with a sculpture in the city. Sculptor V. Demut-Malinovsky from St. Petersburg made the bas-reliefs, Baron P. Klodt made the statue, and architect O. Ton designed the pedestal.
The statue with a cross in its right hand and a princely cap in its left was placed on a brick platform covered with a cast iron layer. The monument contains images of how the people of Kiev were baptized, and the symbol of the city is Archangel Michael. The monument is almost 21 m high. From this place, a panorama of Trukhanov Island and the Dnieper is visible.

In 1890, with the advent of electricity, lamps were installed on the cross of the monument to St. Vladimir, which in the evening served as a kind of beacon for those sailing along the Dnieper. 3D panorama of the monument to Prince Vladimir the Great in Kyiv

Panorama of Kyiv from Vladimir Hill

If you want to see the panoramas of Kyiv, feel the volume and energy of the city, the observation deck on Vladimir Hill is one of the most suitable attractions in Kyiv.

The observation deck offers breathtaking views of Kyiv. From here you can see Podil, Obolon, Trukhanov Island and the city districts of the left bank of the Dnieper River. The panorama is especially beautiful in the evening. When thousands of lights are lit in the metropolis, the illumination of Kyiv looks especially fascinating.

A walk through the Vladimirskaya Gorka park or what the park looks like today

The park consists of 3 tiers. The upper one is located on the same level as the St. Michael's Cathedral, the middle one contains a monument to Prince Vladimir, the lower one is located along the foot of the mountain from the European Square to Podol. In addition to the monument to Vladimir, there are other sculptures in the park, these are the works of Kyiv masters of the 1980-1990s.

The park's vegetation is rich in various trees, shrubs, flowers, among them are chestnut (white and pink), maple, conifers, lilac, magnolia.

The park is a unique landscape of garden and park art. A walk through it will be fascinating at almost any time of the year. Vladimirskaya Gorka leaves an unforgettable impression in the brightest periods of spring, summer, autumn or winter.

Vladimirskaya Gorka can be seen in works of art, postcards, it is sung about in songs and written about in poems. "Here I am standing on the hill on Vladimirskaya, the expanse is wide open - you can't even weed out a feather!", - wrote V. Mayakovsky about this place. A. Akhmatova mentioned "Noisy lindens and elms in the dark gardens, the needle-like diamonds of stars are raised to God...". And M. Bulgakov shared his emotions: "a stunningly beautiful view", he also gave the title of Vladimirskaya Gorka - "the best place in the world".

Currently, Vladimirskaya Gorka is not in the best condition. Experts advise to revive the park in its original form. Perhaps, the restored park will be included in a new tourist route, which will unite the Golden Gate, St. Sophia Cathedral, St. Michael's Monastery and Vladimirskaya Gorka. In the near future, they plan to restore the panorama "Golgotha" and the former water tower on this site, improve the observation decks, increase the number of gazebos and benches, and install new lighting.

What interesting things can you do on Vladimirskaya Hill in Kyiv

- take beautiful photos near the observation deck, against the backdrop of the picturesque nature of Vladimirskaya Gorka, with unique sculptures in the park;

— read a book, work on a computer or tablet, sitting on cozy benches located on the paths and alleys of the park;

- just relax on a bench, unwind, listen to the birds singing, breathe in the aromas of the surrounding vegetation;

- take a walk with your child (there is a specially equipped playground for children);

— sit in summer park cafes, have a snack, drink soft drinks, tea, coffee, buy ice cream;

- sit in the gazebo near the observation deck;

- take a ride on the Kiev funicular (you don’t have to get off at the final stop of the lift, you can go up and down on this type of transport as much as you want, paying for only one ride);

- many people do sports in the park. The area is great for both morning jogging and physical therapy (students from nearby schools sometimes run cross-country here);

- take a walk around the territory of the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, go into the church;

- ride a bike or roller skate in the park;

- look at the monument to Prince Vladimir (especially in the evening, when the illumination and electric backlight of the cross are turned on);

- feed the squirrels (if you're lucky), birds (sometimes tits come);

— watch the fireworks on the left bank of the Dnieper (only on holidays);

— go to the restaurant of the same name, “Vladimirskaya Gorka,” which is located at 8 Trekhsvyatitelskaya Street;

- take wedding photos as a keepsake;

- to meet the dawn after the graduation party.

 

Watch the park on video:
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How to get there, get to the park "Vladimirskaya Gorka"

It is best not to drive to the park, but to walk to it. Any of the routes you choose will definitely leave a lot of pleasant impressions from what you see during a short trip.

Route options:

1)    Funicular ride

The fastest way to get to Vladimirskaya Gorka is from the Pochtovaya Ploshchad metro station with a transfer to funicular. The entrance to the lift is located right next to the metro exit. The ride to the top of the hill takes only 3 minutes.

2)    Walk through Independence Square и Khreshchatyk

You need to get off at the Kyiv metro station "Maidan Nezalezhnosti", then walk along Khreshchatyk Street to European Square. Here you can enter the park on the right side of the Ukrainian House or by going up Trehsvyatitelskaya Street. You can also walk along Nezalezhnosti Square and enter the park by going up Kostelnaya Street.

3)    A walk through the historical center of Kyiv to Vladimirskaya Hill.

You need to get off at the Zolotye Vorota metro station and walk along Vladimirskaya Street through Sofievskaya Square, then along Vladimirsky Proezd past Mikhailovskaya Square and the cathedral. Metro map

You can arrive by another means by using Kyiv public transport map.

Address Vladimirskaya Gorka, Trehsvyatitelskaya Street 4, on the map:.
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You can read about Vadimirskaya Gorka on the website page Wikipedia.