The State Historical and Architectural Reserve “Khotyn Fortress” is a fortress of the 13th-18th centuries located in the town of Khotyn on the bank of the Dniester River in Chernivtsi Oblast, about 60 km northeast of Chernivtsi.

Of the entire fortress, the Khotyn Castle is best preserved, although from a height you can see the remains of other fortifications. The Khotyn Fortress on Google Maps. Photos by: Maxim Ritus.

fly over the Khotyn Fortress

Tags: Chernivtsi city · Chernovtsy oblast · fortress

Kozelets is a village with a population of about 7.5 thousand people, located in the southwest of Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine. It is known since the beginning of the 17th century as a fortified town, which was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the name Kozelec.

Here you can see several interesting architectural monuments, but the most interesting and picturesque one is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1752-1763), an architectural monument of national significance, which combines features of Ukrainian and Elizabethan Baroque. Next to the church, there is a magnificent four-tiered bell tower, built in 1766-1770. Kozelets on Google Maps. Photos by: Maxim Ritus.

magnificent cathedral

Tags: Chernigov oblast · Chernihiv city · church

Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (until 1918 – Akkerman) is a town with a population of about 47 thousand people located on the north-west coast of the Black Sea in Odesa Oblast, about 85 km south of Odesa. It is one of the oldest towns in today’s Ukraine.

The main attraction of this town is its old fortress – the largest fortress in the territory of Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Fortress on Google Maps. Photos by: Maxim Ritus.

magnificent fortress

Tags: Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi city · fortress · Odessa oblast

There is a number of old castles and fortified palaces all over Ukraine, especially in its western part, and you will need a lot of time to see them all. Since 2017, in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi located in Khmelnytsky Oblast, you can do it in half an hour.

“Castles of Ukraine” is an open air museum with beautiful replicas (1:20) of the 16 most famous castles of Ukraine recreated to the smallest detail. The official site of the museum. “Castles of Ukraine” on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Zaglinskiy.

the best Ukrainian castles in one place

Tags: Kamenets Podolskiy city · Khmelnitsky oblast · museum

Vynohradiv (until 1946 – Sevlush) is a small town with a population of about 25,000 people located in the southern part of Zakarpattia Oblast, about 94 km southeast of Uzhhorod. The distance to the border with Hungary is 16 km, Romania – 10 km, Slovakia – 80 km, Poland – 110 km. Vynohradiv is one of the oldest settlements in Transcarpathia. There was a Slavic settlement here already in the 9th century AD. Photos by: neo7777vitaha.

The monument to the winemaker in Vynohradiv. It was installed in the central square of the town, not far from the complex of buildings of the Franciscan monastery, in 2011. According to one legend, it was the Franciscans who were the first in the region to master winemaking. The monument depicts a man dressed in national Hungarian clothing and working at a wine press.

walk the streets of Vynohradiv

Tags: Zakarpattia oblast

Fastiv is a town with a population of about 45 thousand people, located in the western part of Kyiv Oblast, about 75 km from Kyiv.

In 1903-1911, in Fastiv, instead of a wooden Catholic church that had been rebuilt several times, a stone Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, much larger in size, was erected in the Romanesque-Gothic style, designed by the architect Wladyslaw Dabrowski. Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Fastiv on Google Maps. Photos by: Maxim Ritus.

beautiful asymmetric church

Tags: church · Fastiv city · Kiev oblast

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure through the heart of Eastern Europe? Look no further than Ukraine, a country brimming with a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty waiting to be explored. Ukraine multi day tours offer a remarkable way to delve deep into the soul of this enchanting nation. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to the wonders of Ukraine’s multi-day tours and highlight some of the best Ukraine tour packages available.

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Unfortunately, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, it is currently not safe or advisable to travel to the country for tourism purposes. The US Department of State has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory for Ukraine, citing the war, the risk of shelling and missile attacks, and the widespread presence of landmines. Additionally, many tourist destinations and facilities are damaged or closed, and essential services may be disrupted.

Russian invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, and at 2024, the war has been going on for two years now. But you can still support Ukraine both now and in the future… so put down your phone and the Red Stag casino games and let us start doing some planning.

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The war that began and is still ongoing in Ukraine has impacted the way of life for ordinary Ukrainian citizens, the way they live and work. For those living in Ukraine the upcoming winter New Year’s holidays are not likely to be celebrated in the same way as others are able to do around the world. Everyone is hoping for a miracle and a turn-around in the current situation so that people in Ukraine can return to a normal way of life.

This is the second year that Ukraine will be celebrating the New Year whilst at the same time being involved in a full-scale war. But it is still possible. It just needs more intricate and strategic planning. There are still places where families, including children, can celebrate the holiday together and we explore these below.

Photo by Dmytro Pidhrushnyi on Unsplash.

celebrating the New Year in Ukraine

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The medieval fortress in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi looks especially picturesque from a bird’s eye view, when you can see the entire complex.

The thickness of the walls varies from 1.5 to 5 meters, the height of the walls and towers – 5-15 meters. The basis of the fortress complex is the Citadel – the most fortified part of it. Akkerman Fortress on Google Maps. Photos by: Maxim Ritus.

fly over the fortress

Tags: Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi city · fortress · Odessa oblast