The city of Kiev oblast.
Bila Tserkva (also spelled Belaya Tserkov) is a city located in Kiev oblast of Ukraine about 80 km from Kiev city.
Bila Tserkva population is about 211,000 (2012) on the territory of 34 sq.km.
The phone code is +380 4563; the postal codes are 09100-09127.
Bila Tserkva was founded in 1032 by Yaroslav the Wise. The town was named Yuriev. Bila Tserkva present name translation is “White Church” and may refer to the (no longer extant) white-painted cathedral of medieval Yuriev.
Since 1363, Bila Tserkva belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and since 1569 to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Bila Tserkva was granted Magdeburg Rights in 1620 by Sigismund III Vasa. A peace treaty between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Ukrainian Cossack rebels under Bohdan Khmelnytsky was signed in Bila Tserkva in 1651.
In 1795, after the Third Partition of Poland, Bila Tserkva became the part of the Russian Empire. The town was a significant market place in the 19th century. During the Soviet times, Bila Tserkva became large industrial center with machine building and construction industries.
Preceding the Russian Revolution and until the 1930s, there was a significant Jewish community in Bila Tserkva. Some of them were driven out by Cossacks and Tzarist policies. Many were driven out in the Stalinist purges. Most remnants were destroyed during the Holocaust and other losses during the Second World War.
Today Bila Tserkva supports mutually beneficial partnerships with sister cities in Poland, Slovakia, Georgia, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia.
Bila Tserkva street
Bila Tserkva street view
Bila Tserkva street scenery
Among the main places of interest of Bila Tserkva are:
Dendrology Park “Alexandria”. The park was founded in 1793 by hetman Francis-Xavier Branitsky and named in honor of his wife Alexandra. Bila Tserkva park is considered to be one of the best in Europe.
The plan was created by the French park designer Myuffo. It occupies the territory of over 200 hectares, has 25 water reservoirs and about 2,500 species of plants, including rare plants from South America, China and Japan.
The central place of the park is Bolshaya polyana (Large clearing). It is the beginning of 20 km network of alleys, decorated with landscape architecture and sculptures: “Romantic Ruins”, “Chinese Bridge”, “The Lion” spring, etc. The highest point of the park is the Paliy Mountain with a monument to S. Paliy on the top. Opening hours: 9:00-17:00. Day off - Tuesday.
Shopping Arcade (BrUM). This complex of shops was built in Bila Tserkva in the beginning of the 19th century by Count Branitsky. The place is also called “BrUM” meaning “Branitsky Universalniy Magazin” (“Branitsky Department Store”). The original trading complex of about 5 thousand square meters had the places for 85 shops.
The opening of shopping area greatly stimulated the trade in Bila Tserkva and increased the Jewish community of the city. Old BrUM is still used for trading. Several shops and cafes are located there. This area also hosts various festivals and cultural events. Address: Bila Tserkva, Torgovaya (Trade) Square.
Winter Palace. The urban residence of Counts Branitsky was built in classical style in a beautiful park area in 1796. Today the building is used by Bila Tserkva School of the Arts. Unfortunately the interiors of the palace did not survive. Address: Bila Tserkva, 50th Anniversary of Victory Blvd., 7.
Warehouses. Architectural monument, the end of 18th - early 19th centuries. Address: Bila Tserkva, 50th Anniversary of Victory Blvd., 62.
Nobility meetings house. Architectural monument, the 30s of the 19th century. Address: Bila Tserkva, 50th Anniversary of Victory Blvd., 5.
Water Mill. At the present time the water mill constructed on Ros’ River in the 19th century does not work. The buildings of the mill and dam blocking the river were preserved. The place offers picturesque views of Ros’ River and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Address: Bila Tserkva, Zamkovaya (Castle) Str., 37.
Local History Museum. Bila Tserkva history museum has the collections of items of material and spiritual culture of the South of Kiev region. The building of the museum was constructed in the style of constructivism on Zamkovaya (Castle) Hill in front of the Catholic Church in the 20th century.
The numismatic collection has Roman coins, Kiev hryvnia, Cossack era money. In the department of art there are icons, paintings and sculptures of the 17th-20th centuries from the collection of Counts Branitsky. The monument to Yaroslav the Wise and Bila Tserkva viewpoint are located nearby. Address: Bila Tserkva, Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square, 4. Opening hours: 10:00-17:30. Day off - Wednesday.
Museum of Telecommunications. The museum is located in the telephone office of “Ukrtelecom”. The exhibition is about the history of communications and mail. Various times devices to transmit the messages, the first TV etc. are presented there. Address: Bila Tserkva, Pobedy (Victory) Blvd., 23/1.
Post station. The complex of post station buildings appeared in the city in the 19th century, when regular communication from Moscow to Odessa was established. The buildings of post office, hotel, coach yard, stables, smithy were made in classic style. Architectural integrity and original layout of the complex are preserved. Address: Bila Tserkva, 50th Anniversary of Victory Blvd., 41-45.
The Monument to Dead Bikers. The monument was opened at the entrance to Bila Tserkva (Kiev highway) in 2007. Bronze sculpture of a flying motorcycle (sculptor A. Maslikov) is located on a 7-meter height. The funds for the monument were from the Charitable Foundation “Remembrance of Dead Bikers”. Address: Bila Tserkva, Kiev highway.
Bila Tserkva former Choral Synagogue
Bila Tserkva tank T-34 monument
Bila Tserkva jet fighter monument
Church of St. John the Baptist. The Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist was built in 1812-1813 by Count Branitsky on Zamkovaya (Castle) Hill. Probably, there was an ancient church at this place, which gave the city its name (“bila tserkva” means “white church”).
Branitsky built the church in memory of his son Alexander, who died in childhood. Today the building of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a house of organ and chamber music. Address: Bila Tserkva, Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square, 4.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration. Transfiguration Cathedral is the main Orthodox church of Bila Tserkva. The cathedral was built in 1833-1839 by means of Countess A. Branitsky in place of dilapidated St. Nicholas Church founded by hetman I. Mazepa in 1706.
It was common belief that those who would build a new church on the site of St. Nicholas Church would face a certain death. The countess died in the year when the construction of the cathedral was finished. She was buried in the cathedral built by her order.
In 1930, the cathedral was closed. Later, in 1956, the building was restored. Today Transfiguration Cathedral is active. The chapel located nearby is a surviving fragment of old St. Nicholas Church. The stone building of the cathedral has a height of 40 m. Address: Bila Tserkva, Gagarin Str., 10.
Church of St. Mary Magdalene. The church was built in the 18th century. It was the only church built outside of the historic center of Bila Tserkva. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene was constructed in classical style; the bell tower was attached directly to it. During the Soviet regime it was one of the few active churches in the city. Address: Bila Tserkva, Shkolnaya (School) Str., 11/16.
Choral Synagogue. Choral (Central) Synagogue was built in the 19th century by means of the Jewish community of Bila Tserkva. In Soviet times the synagogue was closed. Today the building is owned by techno-economic college of Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University. Address: Bila Tserkva, Yaroslav the Wise Str., 25/2.
Bila Tserkva St. John the Baptist church
Bila Tserkva Transfiguration cathedral
Bila Tserkva St. Mary Magdalene church
Bila Tserkva water tower
ask a question about Bila Tserkva city to our Expert
contact us by email, if you have any proposals
Rate this page:
