Vyshhorod

Vyshhorod Вишгород
Coat of arms
Vyshhorod
Vyshhorod
Coordinates: 50°35′0″N 30°30′0″E / 50.58333°N 30.50000°E / 50.58333; 30.50000
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Kiev Oblast
Raion	Vyshhorodskyi Raion
Founded	946
City rights	1968
Government
• Mayor	Viktor Reshetniak
Area
• Total	8.7 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	22,933
• Density	2,635/km2 (6,820/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	07300 — 07304
Area code(s)	+380 4596
Website	http://vyshgorod.osp-ua.info

Vyshhorod or Vyshgorod (Ukrainian: Ви́шгород; Russian: Вы́шгород) is a city in the Kiev Oblast (province) in central Ukraine, the immediate northern suburb to the national capital Kiev, located upstream along the Dnieper River. Population: 27,000 (2011 est.)

Vyshhorod is a historical town that experienced rises and declines over the centuries. It is now the administrative center of the Vyshhorodskyi Raion, a notable industrial center as well as a growing bedroom community for Kiev.

Geography and climate

Vyshhorod is located on a hilly right bank of the Dnieper River adjoining the dam of the Kiev Reservoir.

History

Borysohlebska Church in Vyshhorod.

The earliest historical mention of Vyshgorod, which name literally translates as "the town upstream", dates as early as 946, when it was described as the favourite residence of Saint Olga. Also mentioned in De Administrando Imperio, Vyshgorod had been the fortified castle and residence of the monarchs of Kievan Rus on the Dnieper from that time until 1240, when the Mongols sacked it. It was there that Vladimir the Great kept a harem of 300 concubines.

After the Mongol invasion, the location was not mentioned until 1523 and even then it was documented as a poor village. Vyshgorod grew considerably following the construction of the hydroelectric Kiev power plant and was finally incorporated as a town in 1968.

In 1934-37 and 1947, the archaeological remnants of the medieval town were excavated. The most striking find was the basement of the eight-pillared Church of St. Basil, founded by Vladimir the Great and named after his patron saint. As the church was one of the largest in Kievan Rus, it took twenty years to complete it. Before the Mongol invasion, the church housed the relics of the first East Slavic saints, Boris and Gleb, but their subsequent fate remains a mystery. The ancient cossack military monastery, the Mezhyhirskyi Monastery, was located not too far away from the city.

Industry

There are more than 1500 enterprises and companies functioning today in Vyshhorod, most important of them being the Kiev Hydroelectric Power Plant, the Kiev Hydroelectric Pumped-Storage Power Plant (both divisions of the Ukrhydroenergo) and a building materials factory controlled by the Henkel.

Transportation

Vyshhorod is connected to the Kiev and other destinations mainly by roads. There is also a non-electrified terminus rail connection to Kiev used for both freight transport and peak hour commuter passenger service. City's riverport facilities are used for local industrial purposes only.

Culture

Vyshgorod has been famous for its cultural traditions and original talents for ages. The name of Exemplary amateur town children and youth brass band – studio Vodograi (Fountain) is famous not only in Ukraine but also abroad. The band visited many countries of European Union. Well known and famous not only in Ukraine but also abroad is Korali, the municipal choir of Vyshgorod. Korali is laureate of different national and international festivals and competitions. But the major achievement of the choir is no doubt a victory at International competition named after F. Shubert (2003 Vienna, Austria). Korali won the first prize and the special prize of sponsor sympathy. In the area of the town there is Vyshgorod historical-cultural reserve which includes the Pottery center, the Historical museum and the house of Klyukva. For the recent years Vyshgorod has been adorned with new monuments and memorials such as Memorial to the soldiers – internationalists, Memorial to the victims of Holodomor, Memorial to the heroes of Chernobyl, Memorial to Sts. Boris and Gleb – tutelar saints of the town. Each of them is a work of art with its soul and history.

The City Day

One of the most favourite holidays for every dweller is, without a doubt, the Day of the City. The festive program is so various and spectacular that will satisfy even the most exacting audience. It includes a ceremonial wedding rite, an exhibition of national craftsmen’s item, celebratory concert with participation of the most famous Ukrainian bands, various sports competitions, and ethnographic and cultural events with different kinds of entertainments for children. It has become a good tradition to open new parks, children’s playgrounds and unveil new memorials and sculptural compositions for the Day of the town. However, the brightest event of the town is definitely the traditional sailing regatta for the Mayor’ Cup.

Sports

Residents say that Vyshgorod is a town of sport and healthy way of life. There are a number of sports institutions in Vyshgorod functioning now. They are: children and youth sports school; stadium Energetik which was recently renovated and welcomes football clubs Chaika and Dinaz. It should be noted that this is the place where basketball players and extreme cyclists are able to improve their skills. Big and table tennis, hockey and kickboxing are also very popular with young people and the main sport attraction of the town is no doubt women’s football which has already got its fans and admirers. Residents of Vyshgorod are very proud of their fellow-townsmen who have brought a world-wide fame to our town. Among them are: Rodion Luka - World Champion 2005 in the Olympic class boats "49er"; Alexey Fedina – the Master of sports in swimming who has gained 3 gold and 2 silver awards in Paralympic Games in Beijing and Inna Osipenko-Radomska – Olympic Champion of Beijing, World Champion-2010 in canoeing.

In 2011, Vyshhorod was the first Ukrainian city to host the F1 Powerboat World Championship motorboat race,^[1] which is announced to become annual event in the city.^{[citation needed]}

Twin cities

Vyshgorod has the following twin-cities:

• Sens, France
• Lörrach, Germany
• Eichenau, Germany
• Delčevo, Macedonia
• Rakvere, Estonia
• Belgorod, Russia
• Wyszków, Poland
• Suzdal, Russia

References

External links

• Unofficial page
• F1 motorboating Committee
• Vyshhorod photo gallery

See also

• Visegrad - towns with similar names

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vyshhorod Raion.

v t e Administrative divisions of Kiev Oblast Administrative center: Kiev Districts Baryshivka Bila Tserkva Bohuslav Boryspil Borodianka Brovary Fastiv Ivankiv Kaharlyk Kyiv-Sviatoshyn Makariv Myronivka Obukhiv Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Poliske Rokytne Skvyra Stavyshche Tarashcha Tetiiv Vasylkiv Volodarka Vyshhorod Yahotyn Zghurivka Cities Regional Berezan Bila Tserkva Boryspil Brovary Bucha Fastiv Irpin Obukhiv Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Prypiat Rzhyshchiv Slavutych Vasylkiv District Bohuslav Boyarka Chernobyl Kaharlyk Myronivka Skvyra Tarashcha Tetiiv Ukrainka Uzyn Vyshhorod Vyshneve Yahotyn Urban-type settlements · Category:Kiev Oblast

Coordinates: 50°35′N 30°30′E / 50.583°N 30.500°E / 50.583; 30.500