Volodymyrska Hill

Volodymyrska Hill
Володимирська гірка

View of Volodymyrska Hill and the monument to St. Volodymyr, erected in 1853
Type public park
Location Shevchenko Raion, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates Coordinates: 50°27′24.38″N 30°31′34.68″E / 50.4567722°N 30.5263000°E
Area 10.6 hectares (26 acres)
Created 1850s
Location of the park in Kiev

Volodymyrska Hill or St. Volodymyr's Hill (Ukrainian: Володимирська гірка, "Volodymyrska hirka") is a large 10.6 hectares (0.106 km2) park[1] located on the steep banks of the Dnipro River in central Kiev (Kyiv), the capital of Ukraine. The name of the hill is a misnomer and only referred to the park as in reality it is located at the highest and middle terraces of the geographic St.Michael's Hill. Next to the park is also located St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, which occupied a large portion of the park's current boundaries until its destruction by the Soviet regime in 1934.[2][3] At the opposite side of the park runs the Volodymyrsky Descent.

Landmarks and history

The park was established in the mid-19th century, its name reflecting the monument to St. Volodymyr of Kiev which was erected in 1853 in the park. The monument, with its prominent location and overlooking the scenic panorama of the left-bank of Kiev, has since become one of the symbols of Kiev, often depicted in paintings and photographic works of the city.[3][4] In 1902 at the upper part of the terrace, a Golgotha panorama was opened, though this was destroyed in 1935 by the Soviet authorities.[1]

Infrastructure and location

An important street which passes through the park's hilly landscape is the cobblestone "Volodymyrskyi Descent". At the park's northern end, the Kiev Funicular[2] serves (mostly for tourists) as a transport connection between Kiev's Upper Town neighborhood and the historic commercial district of Podil. As an alternative to funicular right next to it, there is a long staircase. Across the funicular tracks to the north a park zone extends onto the Old Kyiv Hill which separates the Upper city (Old Kyiv) from the Lower city (Podil). Ukrainian House is located near the park's southern border by the Three Saints Street (vulytsia Tryokhsvyatytelska). In the same vicinity is located the Institute of Philosophy. There also used to be located a small building with a panoramic exposition of Golgotha next to the Saint Alexander Church.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volodymyrskyi Park.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Volodymyrska hirka" (in Ukrainian). Official site of the Shevchenko Raion Government Administration. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Volodymyrska hirka". WWW Encyclopedia Kyiv (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Volodymyr Hill". Kiev History Site. oldkyiv.org.ua. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Vladimir's Hill". myKiev. Retrieved 24 May 2011.