Bystrets

Bystrets is a small Hutsul village in the Verkhovyna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region with a population of 362 people. It is 19 km from the district center and 50 km from the Vorokhta railway station. The high-mountainous river Bystrets flows through the village.

On the territory of Bystrets there is a high-mountain meadow Hajyna, where large herds of cows and flocks of sheep graze and the ancient way of life of the meadow farm is preserved. The village of Bystrets occupies the basin of the Dzembronia River.

Peaks surrounding the village of Bystrets:

• Mount Brebeneskul (2035 m)
• Mount Rebra (2001 m)
• Mount Shpytsi (1864 m)
• Mount Gadzhina (1664 m)
• Mount Marish (1345 m)
• Mount Marishevskaya (1564 m)
• Mount Ozirny (1362 m)
• Mount Kostrycha (1586 m)

Bystrets was founded as a settlement in the XV century. The first mention of the village dates back to 1893. Until 1939, it was part of the village of Zhabiio. Now it is a separate village. Ivan Franko often visited Bystrets. On the advice of Kamenyar, a group of villagers led by M. Zelenchuk, F. Saviuk, S. Slovak, and P. Biloholovyi obtained permission from the authorities to open a reading room and a school in the village.

The Polish writer, philosopher, and translator Stanisław Wincęs spent his childhood in Bystrec, returned to his estate after being imprisoned by the NKVD, and then fled abroad. In 1934-1938, Polish composer Stanisław Merczynski recorded Hutsul songs here.

Mountain Search and Rescue Service of Verkhovyna, +38 (03432) 2-19-41, +38 (067) 342-04-96.