Uman overview
Uman is a city of Cherkassy oblast located in the central Ukraine. It is standing on the banks of Umanka and Kamenka rivers.
Uman population is about 87,000 (2012).
The phone code is +380 4744; the postal code is 20300.
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Uman city, Ukraine
The city of Cherkassy oblast.
Uman city flag
Uman city coat of arms
Uman city map location
Uman history
Results of archaeological researches show that on the territory of present Uman and its suburbs there are traces of ancient sites of late paleolith, Tripoli culture, late bronze epoch, Chernyakhovsky culture and the Kievan Rus epoch. Near Uman there are burial mounds of Scythian times.
In the 12th century, Tatar-Mongol hordes occupied the whole Uman area and in the 14th century like most of other Ukrainian territories it was ruled by Lithuanian-Russian state. At the end of 16th century, the area was colonized by Poland. The name of the town derives evidently from the river Uman, the first record of which refers to 1497.
The name Uman is found in documents of 1616. In the 17th century, the town became a fore post in struggle with Tatars. Umansky Cossack regiment was formed - one of the largest in the Ukraine, which numbered about 3,000 Cossacks and was located in the eastern part of current Cherkasky, Kirovogradsky and in the southern part of Vinitskaya oblast.
In 1768, Uman Massacre occurred after Cossack rebels Maksym Zalizniak and Ivan Gonta captured the town during anti-Polish uprising (present Uman coat of arms commemorates the event depicting a rebel armed with a spear).
In 1793, after the second partition of Poland the right-bank Ukraine was joined to the Russian Empire. Uman became a part of the Russian state, an uyezd town of Kievskaya gubernia. In 1796, the park “Sofiyevka” was formed - the masterpiece of garden and park architecture. A Polish engineer Ludovic Metstel designed it. A large Jewish community lived in the town in the 18th-19th centuries.
In the early 20th century, the town was one of large centers of agricultural product. Before the World War I, Uman was called one of cultural provincial towns. There were 22 schools there.
The World War II was a big challenge for the city. Uman defending operation was one of tragic pages in the beginning of the war. The city experienced considerable destroy.
Uman sceneries
Uman city scenery
Uman scenery
Uman architecture
Uman attractions
Uman has a famous Sofiyivka (Sofia) park founded in 1796 by Count Stanislaw Szczesny Potocki, a noble Polish szlachcic, who named it for his wife Sofia. The Sofia Park has a lot of waterfalls and narrow, arching stone bridges crossing the streams and scenic ravines. These bridges may be inspired Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav for his famous quote: “All the world is just a narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to fear”. It was set to music in both Hebrew and English, and is still sung by Jews around the world.
The city is the burial place of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the Rebbe of the Breslov group of Hasidic Jews. Rabbi Nachman spent the end of his life in Uman, and requested to be buried there. During Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) there is a major pilgrimage by Breslov Hasidim and others to visit the grave in Uman. It has increased in recent years to the point where some 30,000 chassidim attend each year (mainly men).
This practice dates back to 1811, the year after Rabbi Nachman was buried in Uman. The Rebbe told his hassidim, before he died, that they should join him for Rosh Hashana, and this is why the devout Breslov Hassidim still visit him every year for the Jewish new year. During the Soviet regime, the pilgrimage was forbidden by the authorities, but was resumed in 1989 before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Uman has rich historical and cultural heritage. About 20% of all the architectural monuments in Cherkasky oblast are located in the city. The park “Sofiyevka” possesses 101 monuments of history and culture. Present “Sofiyevka” is not only a masterpiece of garden and park architecture but a scientific and cultural center as well.
There are not so many cities in Ukraine which have preserved city halls - symbols of local government. There are less bright but important monuments typical for Uman only: Vasilian monastery, founded by earl Pototsky as a school in 1764, Virgin Assumption Polish Roman-Catholic church, architectural monuments ensemble in the central part of the city which numbers 99 constructions.
Uman remains the regional center with developed industry, science, education, social, cultural, administrative and tourist infrastructure.
Uman city, Ukraine photos
Uman views
Uman city view
Uman view
Uman Sofia park
Uman places
Uman agriculture university
Uman Sophia hotel
The questions of our visitors
Robert asks: Is it possible to go from Nikolaev to Uman by bus and how much is the fare?
Expert's answer:
I found that there is daily bus running from Nikolaev to Uman. The bus leaves Nikolaev at 09:20 local time and arrives to Uman at 16:50. Unfortunately I don't have the information about the exact fare but it is somewhere about 10-20 USD.Moshe Levy asks: Travel time by road from Kiev to Uman?
Expert's answer:
The distance between Kiev and Uman is about 214 km.Dear Visitor, would you be so kind to:
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