Khmilnyk
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| Khmilnyk Хмільник |
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  Khmilnyk
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| First mentioned | 1362 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Volodymyr Ivanovych Melnychuk | ||
| Highest elevation | 285 m (935 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 250 m (820 ft) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Total | 27,900 | ||
| Postal code | 22000 | ||
| Area code(s) | +380 4338 | ||
| Twin Cities | |||
| - Busko-Zdrój |  Poland |
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| Website: hmilnyk.osp-ua.info | |||
Khmilnyk (Ukrainian: Хмільник, Russian: Хмельник, Polish: Chmielnik) is a resort town in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine. It is located at around . The population is 27,900 (2001).
The town is situated in the upper part of the river Southern Buh, 67 km (42 mi) to the north east from Vinnytsia. It is one of the oldest towns of Podillia. According to the historical meaning it stands in one line with such towns as Kamyanets-Podilsky, Bratslav and Ladyzhyn
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[edit] History
[edit] Early history
The first written mentioning about the dates back to 1362. Lithuanian prince Olgerd gathered a big army near the river Blue Water. He won the Tatar hordes of brothers Kotlubug, Kachubej and Dmytro who owned Podillia. In such way he captured Khmilnyk. So the town already existed in times of Mongol-Tatar invasions. Legends say that really courageous people lived on the territory of modern town. They made raids to Tatar hordes and then hid on the island. This island was covered with osier and snowball-trees above which hop clambered. This island was called Khmilnyk (in Ukrainian language "khmilnyk" means hop garden). Geographical position of the town defined is complicated historicat destiny. Khmilnyk is situated not far from "Black way", the road that was very often used by Tatar hordes. They always left after themselves signs of terrible violence and destruction.
[edit] Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
In 1434 Khmilnyk was handled to Poland, it became the center of Khmilnyk district of Podillia province. After the town got the Magdeburg rights in 1448, different crafts and trade began to develop, sewing and tailor shops opened. Poland considered Khmilnyk to be advanced post of its possessions, so the town was strengthened. In 1534 Polish king ordered to firtify the town with stone wall with towers and castle.
After Brest union in 1596 oppression of the local inhabitants grew and that caused rebellions against gentry. Yet in 1594 Khmilnyk was captured by Cossacks detachments of Severyn Nalyvajko. In 1637 here came Cossacks with Pavlyuk (Pavlo But) as thei leader. In the period of the nation-liberation war (1648-1654)rebellious detachments of Khmilnyk people joined the army of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. Maksym Kryvonis captured the castle several times. Not once the town was the place of battles berween Cossacks and gentry armies. As a resul the town was devastated.
In 1672-1699 Khmilnyk was possessed by the Turks. They fortified the castle, built a mosque, made secret passages. Endless battles between Turks and Poles resulted in decay of crafts and trade, the town became inhabited.
In 1699 Khmilnyk again became the part of Poland. In 1774 the king presented Khmilnyk province to his nephew Ponyatovsky.
[edit] Russian Empire period
In 1793 Khmilnyk with Podillya towns was joined to Russia Empire. After the formation of Bratslav province May 22, 1795, Khmilnyk became one of ots district towns. January 22, 1796 coat of arms (silver tower on blue field) was consolidated for it. In 1797 Catharine II presented Khmilnyk and its districts with the population of 6070 people to count Bezborodko.
June 9, 1804 Khmilnyk became the part of Lityn district of Podillia province and remained in such position till October revolution. Till 1910 four Orthodox churches were built there. With industrial development the town population grew and in 1915 Khmilnyk already had 18,3 thousand people. In 1878 a weaving mill was founded, till 1905 brewery,sawmill and cast-iron foundry began to work. Among 1616 craftsmen there were 470 sewers, 250 tailors and 230 furriers. At the beginning of the XXth century Khmilnyk had undergone changes in some spheres of social life. Economical decay of 1907-1910 was changed by some economic revivals. In 1911 here worked 22 enterprises, 67 different workshops dealing with processing products of cattle-breeding, woodwork, metal. There were many craftsmen that worked alone. For example there were 1800 tailors, during World War I they fulfilled special orders for army and sewed 1800 boots per week.
In the 20s of the XXth century Soviet authorities are settled in Khmilnyk. In such way begins a new period of opressions and chase after Ukrainian intelligence. Churches were closed down. But in 30s a new page in the history of Khmilnyk began - it became resort.
[edit] World War II
Khmilnyk remembers devastations of World War II. In the middle of June 1941 the front came close to Khmilnyk, and on July 16, the German army captured the town.
February 18, 1944 after the battle near Korsun-Shevchenkivsky, the First Ukrainian front got the task known as the Proskuriv-Chernivtsi operation. It was decisive for liberation of the town and whole district. In the morning of March 10, soldiers of 71st and 276th divisions captured the left part of Khmilnyk and settlemets Mazurivka and Sydoryha. After violent fights on March 18, 1944 the town and district were liberated from German invaders.
Jewish population of the occupied town was exposed to unbelievably violent genocide. On two bloody Fridays (January 9 and 16, 1942) German divisions killed more than 8 thousand of defenseless town inhabitants. In Khmilnyk a total of 11760 innocent victims were shot to death. July 18, 2002 in Khmilnyk Sorrow Memorial was opened.
[edit] Famous town resort
In 1934 during search works for drinking water scientists found medicinal radon water in Khmilnyk. Since 1970 Khmilnyk is the spa town resort of state importance.
Nowadays Khmilnyk is modern balneological resort with 7 health-centres. This gives the possibility to treat about 50 thousand people from Ukraine and other countries every year. The main medical factor of the resort (like in Baden-Baden) is mineral radon water. It is formed during circulation of drinking water through granites of Ukrainian crystal shield. Radon therapy contributes to development of defensive and compesative machenisms of human organism during different diseases and recovery processes.
Owing modern equipment, newest methods, high professional level of doctors, effetivness of medication in Khmilnyk is very high and has 97% index for all classes of diseases.
List of diseases, under which treatment in the Khmilnyk is indicated
- Diseases of locomotorium
- Cardiovascular system diseases
- Nervous system diseases
- Respiratory organs diseases: a chronic bronchitis with asthmatic displays.
- Gynecologic diseases
- Male sexual sphere disease
- Skin diseases: psoriasis (the stationary form), neurodermite, an eczema, dry form, trophic ulcers.
- Endocrine system diseases: diabetes (mild and average forms), hyperthyroidism of І — ІІ stages and obesity of І — ІІ stages
[edit] Culture and architecture
Khmilnyk has architecture and historical monuments to be proud of: Saint Trinity Church built in 1603 and restored in 1729, 4 Orthodox churches build in 1801-1910, Turkish mosque, palace of K.I.Ksido. To commemorate liberation war of the Ukrainian people against Polish social and religious oppression (1648-1654) led by B.Khmelnitsky, the monuments of this leader was made. There is a monument to soldiers who died during Great Patriotic war, Glory monument to war heroes, Obelisk to soldiers of 18th army, 71st and 276th divisions that liberated Khmilnyk in March 1944. In 1991 Taras Shevchenko monuments was build.
[edit] Famous people connected with Khmilnyk
- Oleksandr Korniychuk - Ukrainian writer
- Pelageya Lytvynova-Bartosh (1833-1904) - ethnographer and folklore researcher, was born on Khmilnyk.
- Ian Murphy - journalist, lived in Khmilnyk during 1990 and retains close contacts in the town
- Ignacy Jan Paderewski - polish composer and politician, was born near Khmilnyk
- Vasyl Poryk - hero of Soviet Union, national hero of France durin World War II
- Emiliya Savinska - educationalist and English language translator, was born and lives in Khmilnyk
- Mykhaylo Stelmah - famous Ukrainian writer, was born near Khmilnyk
- Kari Tamlinska - entrepreneur and nightclub manager, spent her formative years in Khmilnyk
[edit] Saint Trinity Church
The church was built in 1603. During the time when the Tatars owned Podillia (1672-1699) it was ruined. At the beginning of the XVIIIth the church was repaired, and in 1728 it was sanctified second time.
In the projection the church is a four-pillar basilica in Toscana baroque style. Side niches are jointed together with cross-like cranes and central niche has a semicircle crane. In the 30-40s of the XX century the church was twice closed by communists. On the place of the altar a blacksmith's shop was made and prisoners worked there.
In the 70s of XX century the central entrance to the church yard was closed due to widening of the road. Now the central gated are situated on other side. When the weather is fine and there is no cloud in the sky everybody in Khmilnyk can hear ringing of chimes.
[edit] Castle tower
In the center of Khmilnyk, above the river an eightside building with loop-holes and counterforts can be seen. This is an only preserved castle tower (out of 6). In 1534 the king charged to fortify the castle in order to defend it from numerous attacks of Turks and Tatars. The castle was built on the hill and town was surrounded with stone wall. A channel dug between the rivers South Bug and its affluent Pasthusha gave island position to fortifications and the town.
During the nation-liberation war (1648-1654) the castle was devastated by Cossacks. In 1672-1699 the castle was owned by Turks. They strengthened defensive buildings, made secret passages and build a mosque. In the XVIII the castle lost its defensive meaning and was step by step ruined. Their preserved mosque tower was restored many times and in 1804-1917 it was turned into Orthodox Church. In the last years some rooms of the lower floor were made into a restaurant.
[edit] Palace of K.I.Ksido
Near the castle tower is and interesting building. At first sight it seems to be old. This is the palace of the local landlord K.I. Ksido. At the beginning of the XXth century building of big palace and park complex according to the project of famous Russian architect I.O.Fomin began in Khmilnyk. But it was not realized to the end. Nowadays the complex consists in the palace and arc-like Venice bridge across the river.
The palace is a bright example of neoclassical architecture in Ukraine. It united forms of Renaissance and Classicism. The building has two floors, its quadratic, with towers on the main fasade and corners. There was a dome rotunda on the roof but it was knocked off by the Soviet aviation during World War II.
From 1920 to 1964 the building was used for agronomic and electronic schools, storehouses, mill, and different establishments. Since 1964 till now its a hotel. Now the building is in very poor condition and needs major repair.
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