Central Park, Mirror Stream, and beyond: Top 10 most fascinating places in Kharkiv

Photo: Freedom Square in Kharkiv (wikipedia.org)

Kharkiv is a major industrial and tourist center in Ukraine. The eastern city attracts tourists with its beauty, history, and monuments. And even despite almost daily enemy shelling, the city does not lose its flavor.

RBC-Ukraine has collected information about the most interesting sights of Kharkiv.

Source: Wikipedia.

Contents

・Freedom Square

・Gorky Park

・Mirror Stream

・French Boulevard

・Lovers Monument

・House with a Spire

・Taras Shevchenko Garden

・Three main churches of Kharkiv

Freedom Square

Kharkiv has the largest square in Ukraine. In addition, Freedom Square is the fifteenth largest in the world. It impresses with its size - almost 12 hectares!

All major events, concerts, public holidays, and fairs take place here.

The 2008 concert of the British band Queen gathered, according to various estimates, from 150 to 350 thousand people.

Photo: Freedom Square in Kharkiv (wikipedia.org)

Freedom Square was built in the 20th century when Kharkiv was declared the capital of Ukraine. Quarters diverge from the main square in concentric rings, so it is interesting to look at it from above. For example, the monumental building of the State Industry Building is also one of the city's main attractions.

The State Industry Building is the tallest in Kharkiv. Its height (including the TV tower) is 108 meters.

Gorky Park

Since its last reconstruction, the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation in Kharkiv has been called Kharkiv Disneyland.

Photo: Gorky Park (wikipedia.org)

Of course, today you won't find any ancient structures and historical monuments in this park - it is a completely modernized and modern space for recreation for citizens.

However, we can still imagine what the park looked like before its major transformation. And the cable car, which was built in 1971 and is still in operation, can help us with this. Or you can take a ride on the Small Southern Railway - the construction of this attraction dates back to 1940.

The main highlight of Gorky Park in Kharkiv is the Ferris wheel. This attraction is the largest in Ukraine, with a diameter of 55 meters.

Mirror Stream

The Mirror Stream is the main symbol of modern Kharkiv and the main place for citizens to relax.

This is an original gazebo fountain almost in the very center of the city. It pleases with water figures and beautiful illumination at night. At the foot of the fountain, a smooth, mirror-like stream flows from the pool, which gives the fountain its popular name.

There are a lot of excursions here, and newlyweds like to take wedding photo shoots.

Photo: Mirror Stream (wikipedia.org)

Opposite the Mirror Stream is the city's main theater, the Lysenko Kharkiv Opera and Ballet Theater. This theater was the first stationary opera house in Ukraine, and its building was originally designed not for Kharkiv, but for the capital.

French Boulevard

This is the place where Kharkiv residents rest all year round. In addition to many shops, there are restaurants, a food court, a cinema, an ice rink, and other entertainment.

Kharkiv Eiffel Tower is the hallmark of the French Boulevard shopping center. The tower is 35 meters high and weighs 35 tons, which is 10 times less than the original symbol of Paris. At night, the installation is illuminated by lights, and the second section has an open observation deck.

Eiffel Tower in Kharkiv (photo from the web)

Lovers Monument

The most romantic landmark in Kharkiv is the Monument to Lovers. It is an arch formed by the figures of a young man and a girl flying and merging in a kiss.

The place is very popular with Kharkiv youth, and they often make dates here.

Monument to lovers (photo from the web)

House with a Spire

Another monumental building worth visiting is the House with a Spire, located on Constitution Square.

This is a huge residential building quarter, an example of the Stalinist Empire, as this architectural style is now called. It whimsically combines elements of Baroque, late classicism, Napoleonic Empire, and Art Deco. It looks pompous and impressive, especially in the evening when the house is illuminated.

The House with a Spire is considered a huge residential building - there are 11 floors in the tower with a spire and 7 floors in the main part of the building.

Photo: House with a Spire (wikipedia.org)

Taras Shevchenko Garden

Located in the heart of the city, Taras Shevchenko Garden is one of the main city parks. The legendary monument to the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko is located on its territory.

The garden was founded by the founder of Kharkiv University Vasyl Karazin as the University Garden in 1804-1806 and was created in the landscape (English) style.

Taras Shevchenko Garden (photo from the web)

Today, Shevchenko's Garden is a botanical natural monument of local importance, an object of the nature reserve fund of Kharkiv.

The garden is also home to another of the city's main symbols, the Ukraine Cinema and Concert Hall. The fountains located in this garden will not leave anyone indifferent - the large cascading staircase with a flowing waterfall along it is worth a look.

Three main churches of Kharkiv

The three main shrines of Kharkiv are the Intercession, Assumption, and Annunciation Cathedrals.

The Intercession Cathedral is a three-domed church in the Baroque style. It is not only a valuable monument of Ukrainian architecture of the second half of the 17th century but also one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city.

Intercession Cathedral (photo from the web)

The Assumption Cathedral is famous for its tall bell tower, which is almost 90 meters high. This bell tower is one of the tallest in Ukraine.

The cathedral was built in the 17th century but was rebuilt many times. The late Baroque church that we see now was built in the 18th century.

Assumption Cathedral (wikipedia.org)

The Annunciation Cathedral is considered the largest cathedral not only in Kharkiv but also in Eastern Europe. It is made in the Byzantine style, with many decorative elements. It is the oldest church in the city. There was a wooden church on this site since the 17th century.

Annunciation Cathedral (wikipedia.org)

Read also about interesting places you should visit in Kyiv.