Chernivtsi

Chernivtsi is the administrative, political and religious center of the Chernivtsi region, an important cultural, scientific and educational center of Ukraine. The city is located in southwestern Ukraine, 40 km from the Romanian border. The population of the city is 266 thousand people (2018). The territory of Chernivtsi is 153 km². The official portal of the Chernivtsi City Council is http://chernivtsy.eu/portal/. The city is the center of the Chernivtsi agglomeration with a population of 723.1 thousand people. It is the historic capital of the Bukovyna region, the city is known for its architectural ensembles, one of which, the Residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has repeatedly been ranked first in various ratings of tourist attractiveness, comfort of living, etc. Nowadays, the city has an unofficial status - "Song Capital of Ukraine".

The city's name comes from a settlement that is mentioned in the "List of Russian Cities Far and Near" as Chern on the Prut (Chern na Pruti). The first written mention of Chernivtsi in historical documents dates back to 1408. Until 1918, the city was officially called Czernowitz (German: Черновиц). Until 1944, the city was officially called Chernivtsi, which, according to researchers, meant "new Chern".

It is assumed that the name of the city comes from a crowded fortress city on the southern borders of the Galician state called "Chern" or "black city" built on the left bank of the Prut River. Perhaps this name came from the black oak walls covered with black soil, which were completely destroyed by the Mongol conqueror Burundai, and the inhabitants moved to the right bank of the Prut River in 1259. In 1359, the city became part of the Moldavian state. The first written references to the city were found in the manuscripts of the Moldovan lord Alexander the Good, which he gave to Lviv merchants on October 8, 1408. Every year this date is celebrated as the official day of the city. At that time, the city was located at the crossroads of routes from northwestern Europe to the Balkans and Turkey. Since 1457, it has become a center for fairs and an administrative center for the entire region. During its existence, the city was destroyed several times, was under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire, in 1774-1918 it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and from 1918-1940 - Romania.

In 1774, about 290 families lived here and there were three wooden churches. The city began to flourish in 1778, when Duke Karl von Enzenberg was appointed head of the city's military administration. He invited many merchants, craftsmen, and industrialists to help develop trade and production. A new impetus to the city's development was given in 1786 by the Petrovsky Fairs, which were held from July 1 to July 15. From the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, many architectural monuments were built that brought glory to the city: the town hall (1848); the post office building (1855); the Armenian church (1875); the Jewish synagogue (1877); the drama theater (1905); the palace of justice (1906); the railway station building (1908).

The most charming jewel in the treasure trove of old Chernivtsi's architectural structures is rightfully considered a work of art by the famous Czech architect Josef Hlavka, the former residence of the Bukovyna metropolitans. The rainbow glow of its roof tiles, the sun playing on the domes, and the amazing combination of the severity of the fortress-like walls with the exquisite lightness and openwork of the forged lattices are admirable. This amazingly beautiful building features patterns of Ukrainian embroidery, Hutsul Easter eggs, Bukovinian carpets, and elements of various architectural styles that create an organic integrity of the building. The city became self-governing in March 1864, when the first members of the city council were elected. The first autonomous mayor was Yakiv Knight von Petrovych (1864-1866). The second autonomous burgomaster, Anton Knight Kokhanovsky von Stavchan (1866-1874 and 1887-1905), left a particularly notable mark on the history of Chernivtsi. It is his name that is associated with the formation of Chernivtsi as a European-type city. At that time, business activity in the city increased significantly, production and trade began to develop, and Chernivtsi became an international transportation center. A food exchange was opened, the construction of a water supply and sewerage system was completed, the first power plant started operating, electric transport was launched, a number of prominent architectural structures were built, and the real crown of his activity was the construction of the city theater. Pavlo Kaspruk (1985-1991) was the first chairman of the city council who tried to make democratic changes in Soviet times in the late 1980s. The Chornobyl disaster, the pollution of the Dniester River, and other environmental and economic problems demanded a great deal of mental and physical effort from the city's citizens at that time. It started sister city partnership programs by signing a sister city agreement with the city of Salt Lake City (USA).

The anniversary year for the city was not only festive, but also fruitful in its socio-economic development, as evidenced by the recognition and awards: According to the results of an expert study conducted by Focus magazine, Chernivtsi was ranked first among 55 cities of regional centers, historical cities, resorts, and industrial centers. Based on the total score of 15 criteria (level of development of urban infrastructure and amenities, unemployment, crime, wages, air and water pollution, number of green spaces, cost of housing and utilities and affordability of housing, number of universities, cultural potential, business activity, migration, city budget expenditures per capita, investment and tourist attractiveness), Chernivtsi was recognized as the best city in Ukraine to live in (in 2007, Chernivtsi was third in this rating). Based on the analysis of economic and financial indicators, data on demographic situation, labor market, information on debt obligations, available municipal property and future prospects, Credit-Rating assigned and updated Chernivtsi city's long-term credit rating according to the National Rating Scale of investment grade at uaBBB, with a stable outlook. In 2008, Chernivtsi was awarded a transitional cup and a first-degree diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine following the results of the All-Ukrainian contest 'The settlement with the best improvement and public order maintenance'. The Executive Committee of Chernivtsi City Council won the XIII Ukrainian National Quality Contest in the Large Enterprises category. Experts of this competition determine the best enterprises, companies, and organizations according to the criteria of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model. The main strengths of the city are recognized as the promotion of innovative and environmentally friendly technologies, the socio-economic sphere as a priority area of activity, and ensuring high quality standards of services provided to residents. According to the assessment methodology adopted by the European Foundation for Quality Management, the Executive Committee of Chernivtsi City Council was awarded the certificate "Recognition of Excellence in Europe - 4* 2008". Modern Chernivtsi is a regional center located on the picturesque banks of the Prut River and covers an area of about 150 km2. The distance to Kyiv is about 650 km. The city borders Moldova and Romania, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regions of Ukraine.

Symbols of the city

Thecoat ofarms of Chernivtsi is a red heraldic shield framed by a bronze ornamental cartouche, which depicts an open stone gate with a figurative trident in the middle. Under the gate are two crossed laurel branches tied with ribbons. The symbol is crowned with a stone crown. The flag of Chernivtsi consists of a pole, a crown, and a rectangular cloth, the front side of which is formed by a white background framed by a red tooth-shaped ornament with the city's coat of arms in the center, above which is an inscription in Ukrainian: "Chernivtsi". Below the coat of arms is the inscription "1408 " (the date of the first written mention of the city). Both sides of the coat of arms and all four corners of the field are filled with floral ornaments, with the addition of two beech branches with nuts and leaves in the corners. The reverse side is formed by a yellow background with the coat of arms of Ukraine in the center, with the same frame and ornaments as on the front side.

The Mayor's Chain of Honor is a symbol of the power of the Mayor of Chernivtsi, which is awarded on behalf of the territorial community. Established in 1908 and restored in 2008, the symbol is a medallion with the inscription "Chernivtsi community - to the freely elected mayor" on the obverse and "The basis of a free state is a free community" on the reverse. The medallion is attached to a chain consisting of stylized coats of arms: Ukraine, Chernivtsi region and the city of Chernivtsi. The symbol is made of gold-colored metal.

The medal "For the Glory of Chernivtsi " is an honorary award of the Chernivtsi City Council, introduced to mark the 600th anniversary of Chernivtsi (2008) to honor individuals who actively contributed to the city's prosperity and promotion in Ukraine and the world. The award is made of silver with gilding and has the shape of a circle with a diameter of 28 mm. The medal bar is white with red stripes, which corresponds to the colors of the Chernivtsi flag. At the bottom of the bar there is a beech branch. The obverse depicts the coat of arms of Chernivtsi and the inscription "For the glory of Chernivtsi". The reverse features the official logo of Chernivtsi, designed and approved for the anniversary. The medal is awarded annually by decision of the city executive committee during the celebration of the city's day.

The official motto of modern Chernivtsi is "By Joint Efforts!", a Ukrainian-language version of the ancient "Viribus Unitis!", a personal slogan of Franz Joseph, the right to use which he personally granted to Chernivtsi. This indicates the emperor's special attitude toward the city on the Prut. Along with the capital of Bukovyna, only the first warship of the Austro-Hungarian Navy was awarded this honor.

Modern Chernivtsi not only preserves and restores the symbols and traditions of the past, but also establishes new ones. Starting from November 12, 2004, every day at 12 o'clock a trumpeter in colorful Bukovyna clothes climbs to the very top of the Chernivtsi City Hall and plays the melody of the immortal composition "Marichka" (music by S. Sabadash, lyrics by M. Tkach - 1953) to the four winds. This melody has become known as the unofficial anthem of Chernivtsi.

On the occasion of the city's anniversary (2008), the official logo "Chernivtsi 600" was developed and approved, and it proved so successful that it continues to be used today. The emblem was inspired by the city's antiquity, its exceptional architectural heritage, and the hard work of its residents. The symbol is made in the form of a blacksmith's work of art, which indicates thoroughness, wealth and success. The color scheme of the logo, represented by dark blue and yellow, has a high degree of comfortable contrast and coincides with the colors of the State Flag of Ukraine.

In the early 2010s, a new city logo was developed and approved, which also served as the official slogan - "Chernivtsi - Uniqueness in Diversity". Old and new symbols of Chernivtsi were chosen to create it. The left foreground depicts a trumpeter playing the melody of "Marichka" on his trumpet. In the middle of the background is the city hall. The former Residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia, an architectural gem of the city, is depicted in the background on the right. The color scheme of the logo is represented by orange, blue and red, with the name in purple. This combination is typical for tourism, which uses the concepts of happiness, well-being, and joy of recreation, visualizing positive symbols and images in a colorful, warm, and bright color scheme. The new symbol is used in parallel with the old one - "Chernivtsi 600".

Recently, the slogan has become widespread: "CHERNIVTSI IS THE BEST CITY ON EARTH!"

Historical monument of the city "Town Hall - History and Modernity"

The question of building a town hall in Chernivtsi arose immediately after Bukovyna was incorporated into the Habsburg monarchy. On May 29, 1786, the commander of the military administration of Bukovyna, Karl von Enzenberg, issued a decree on the need to rent a building for the city government for a fee of 40 florins. For decades, the Chernivtsi magistrate worked in rented premises and corresponded with the Vienna Council, the Galician governorate, and the Bukovyna district government about the need to build its own premises. And in 1825, a resolution was passed to build the town hall according to the project of the Nadvirna Construction Council on Kazarmova Square (the place where 28 Chervnia and I. Bohuna streets merge). However, the district engineer Adolf Marin opposed this project. For 18 years, there was a correspondence about the construction not on the outskirts but in the city center. Marin argued that Chernivtsi would develop in the southern direction, and the town hall should be located in the city center, namely on Rynok Square. In 1830, the regional engineer was supported by a community committee headed by Andreas Klug, who recognized the plot belonging to the wealthy Petrovych family as the most suitable for construction. On March 14, 1841, the Chernivtsi Magistrate confirmed the contract between Christoph von Petrovych and the magistrate regarding land property No. 288. On April 24, the land was purchased by the magistrate for 8000 florins. This was recorded in the cadastral book of the city. On March 12, 1842, the Austrian emperor issued a decree on the construction of the Chernivtsi town hall. The tender for the construction was won by entrepreneur Mendel Amster, who signed a 20-point contract with the magistrate. The contract was signed by Mendel Amster, Mayor Franz Ligocki, and two witnesses, members of the building committee Josef Siemowicz and Anton Belizaro, and sealed with the magistrate's seal. The construction was carried out under the supervision of the regional engineer and the direct supervision of the magistrate and the public building committee, which included six of the most respected and competent citizens. According to this contract, the entrepreneur Mendel Amster and the Hersch Jüster company, which supplied the building materials, were obliged to build the town hall in four years. The work began with digging a foundation pit. Due to the uneven surface and the presence of groundwater, its depth reached 6.3 meters.

On April 19, 1843, the cornerstone of the future town hall was laid. Many guests were invited to the city, including representatives of the Galician governorate from Lviv and the Vienna Overworld Building Council. Gold coins with the emperor's profile and a parchment charter with a message to posterity were placed in a special niche. The foundation was built of stone, and the walls were made of brick. The construction of the tower required very high-quality materials. Initially, it was supposed to have a wooden frame, but later a metal one was proposed. Construction work was completed in late November 1846. And on December 1, despite the fact that the building had not yet been put into operation, the magistrate moved into the town hall. For this, Mayor Ligocki received a disciplinary penalty from the regional authorities.

The final acceptance of the new building took place on March 20, 1848, without any celebrations or banquets. For this purpose, a detailed description of all three floors of the town hall was prepared by the architect Franz Rador, and signed by the regional commissioner Kral, the architect Mikulich, the bricklayer Urbanski, and members of the building committee Karl Martel and Josef Ott. This unique document is in the collection of the Chernivtsi City Magistrate.

The most interesting excerpts from the description of the newly built town hall are as follows

The three-story building, constructed of solid materials, is bordered on the east by Semyhorodska Street (part of Holovna Street), 19 clusters 2 feet 6 cubits long (almost 37 m), on the north by Rynok Square (Central Square), 21 clusters 4 feet long (approximately 41.2 m), and on the west by Liliyna Street (Ivan Franko Street), 19 clusters 4 feet long, with only a one-story part of the building measuring 4 clusters 4 feet adjacent to it, which together amounts to 24 clusters 2 feet (over 46 m), from the south - with the private property of Leon Beck - 9 clusters, with a protruding corner on the north side - 5 clusters 5 feet The staircase with four parapets is decorated with stone. All components, according to the contract, are made of stone. The balcony slabs have 4 stone and one metal support. The main cornices of the risalit are supported by six canneled pilasters, which are completed by a frieze with stone triglyphs and metopes, decorated with 15 plaster rosettes. Above the main cornice, along the risalit, is an attic 5 feet 6 inches high. It bears the coat of arms of the city of Chernivtsi, painted with waterproof paints on copper tin... In the background of the main façade, a tower rises... Above the main cornice of the tower, lined with stone, is the main capital. Above the roof of the tower is a metal structure in the form of a spire, to which is attached a gilded copper ball. The spire is crowned by an eagle... ...From the side of Semyhorodska Street there is an entrance gate... The entrance is paved with oak logs... The courtyard is a regular quadrangle, tamped with gravel. There is also a stone well 24 clafter deep..... Further in the courtyard there are two stables, a room for carts, a house laundry, and a fire station. The first floor. Passing the first entrance, through the corridor we reach the land registry office, which has three rooms... At the end of the corridor there is a staircase supported by a vault with an oak railing, 27 steps leading to the second floor... ...Then we reach the police inspector's room... ...From the corridor, through the front of the building, we go up to the city treasury, which consists of three rooms... The main staircase has 29 steps made of stone slabs, from the foundation to the vault, with a corridor on each landing, oak railings on the stairs, and 29 steps leading to the second floor... On the ground floor, in the front right part, there is a registry office consisting of three rooms... The prisoner's kitchen and a police guardhouse are adjacent to the staircase... At the end of the corridor is the entrance to the police barracks used for prisoners. Second floor... All corridors and stairs are paved with stone slabs. In all rooms, except for the hall, the floor is soft and carved... From the corridor we reach the expeditionary office, which consists of three rooms. The large expeditionary room has heating in common with the police judge's room, all rooms are heated from the corridor... From the room of the head of the expeditionary office, double doors lead to the corridor on the upper side. Here, in the middle, is a hall with three double doors... The hall is decorated with 12 whole and 4 half Ionic plaster capitals... On one side of the hall, from the Main Street and Rynok Square, is the office of the magistrate chief, consisting of a reception room and an office... On the other side of the hall (in the second corner) is the office of the magistrate's lawyer, consisting of two rooms, similar in all respects to the chief's office... Further on are the assessor's office, the office of the clerk, the police feldfebel's room, the arrest room for the nobility, separately for men and women... The third floor... The corridors are paved and have vaults. The entire floor is used for apartments. The burgomaster's apartment is located on the front side of the building; the corridor of one part of this apartment runs from the tower to the middle of the Liliyna Street wing, 6 steps higher than the other corridors. This part has a glass door. On the side of the main staircase, there is a three-leaf door... The apartment consists of six rooms, one after the other, and a kitchen overlooking Rynok Square... The lawyer's apartment is on the left side, or in the wing opposite Main Street. It consists of 4 rooms and a kitchen. All rooms have floors made of soft planed boards, skirting boards everywhere... The kitchen has a stove, just like in the burgomaster's apartment. There is an attic adjacent to this apartment... The assessor's apartment on the right side, opposite Liliyna Street, consists of three rooms and a kitchen... The tower guard's apartment consists of one room and a kitchen, both rooms have a floor. There is a Russian stove in the room... The tower... It is reached from the corridor from the burgomaster's apartment from the middle of the third floor through a double-leaf glass door... To the right of the entrance is a threshold that can be reached by climbing 126 steps. The stairs are free-standing, without intermediate supports... On the lower floor, in the wing opposite Liliyna Street, there is an entrance to the basement... The entire basement consists of 5 basement compartments... Thus, in 1848 a majestic building in the late classicist style appeared in the center of Chernivtsi. To this day, it plays a significant urban planning role, and the tower's verticality serves as the architectural dominant of the entire surrounding area. By the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR No. 442 of September 6, 1979, the town hall building was registered as a monument of republican (nowadays - national) significance. The serial number in the state register of national cultural heritage is 3275, and the security number is 1738. During its existence, the building has been renovated twice. In 1902-1903, the building was reconstructed and redeveloped with partial replacement of structural elements. During the last renovation in 1996-2000, significant repair and restoration work was carried out with a partial change of purpose of the premises. Over the course of 4 years, the engineering equipment system was completely reconstructed, including the installation of autonomous heating, overhaul of the water supply and sewerage system, replacement of window fillings, and rehabilitation of the foundations. The roof of the building, including the tower, was also completely replaced with similar materials (copper, galvanized sheet metal). The heads of the ventilation risers were relocated, and the gilding of the apple of the tower spire was restored. The large-sized lattice shutters of the tower windows were replaced. The main staircase and forged fencing elements were restored. The session hall was reconstructed and the deputies' seats were equipped with an electronic voting system. A ramp was installed to facilitate the entry of wheelchairs, and other amenities for receiving citizens were designed and provided. The surrounding area was also landscaped.

In 1998, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the commissioning of the Town Hall, a portrait gallery of mayors, ghosts, and heads of the City Council was opened. The ceremonial session council chamber was decorated with portraits made by the famous master of the brush, People's Artist of Ukraine Ivan Kholomeniuk. The gallery represents the people who have led the city since 1864. Among them are 8 mayors of the Austrian period: Jakob von Petrovich, Anton Kokhanovsky von Stavchan, Otto Ambrose von Rechtenberg, Wilhelm von Klimesch, Dr. Eduard Rice, Felix von Furth, Salo Weisselberger; 7 ghosts of the Romanian pentod: Gheorghe Sandru, Teofil Simionovici, Nicu Flondor, Barbu Grigorovici, Dr. Radu Zbiera, Dr. Romulus Kindia, Dr. Dimitrie Marmeluc; the heads of the city council and city executive committee, starting in 1940 and 1944: Oleksii Nikitin, Anton Koshovyi, Oleksandr Hrytsai, Ivan Kozachuk, Polikarp Kotko, Viktor Hutafel, Mykhailo Mykhailovskyi, Petro Donchenko, Vasyl Tolmach, Volodymyr Dotsiuk, Pavlo Kaspruk, Ivan Boiko, Heorhii Hrodeckyi, and Viktor Pavliuk. Another sign of the continuity of the city's traditions is the gallery of honorary citizens of the city located in the session hall. The title of "Honorary Citizen of the City" was restored in 1969 and is awarded to citizens who have served their hometown the most.

On November 12, 2004, a new tradition was born in the city: at exactly 12 noon, the melody of the famous song "Marichka" performed by the municipal trumpeter is heard from the balcony under the clock on the town hall tower. It was from here, from the balcony of the town hall, that the magistrate's staff used to address citizens in three languages, informing them of events in the world and the city. (Chernivtsi newspaper, issue #48) The town hall still remains one of the most important buildings in the regional center, a real gem of its architectural treasury. We believe that it will continue to be the heart of Chernivtsi, beating in unison with the city community for many, many years to come...

Chernivtsi Airport has international status. It provides regular flights to Kyiv and Bergamo. For more than ten years, the Consulate General of Romania has been operating in Chernivtsi, with jurisdiction over Vinnytsia, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions. In addition, there is a representative office of the Suceava Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Chernivtsi. It is expected that honorary consulates of Lithuania and Austria will be opened in Chernivtsi in the future. The most attractive sectors for small businesses are trade and services, restaurant and tourism.

Chernivtsi has a railway station, a bus station, and Chernivtsi International Airport (which has been revived since the 2000s), with regular domestic and international flights. The city was connected to Europe by rail (via Lviv to Przemysl and Vienna) in 1866. In 1908, a new elegant railway station building was constructed to show visitors that they had arrived not in some province but in a "little Vienna on the Prut." Today, trains depart from here to destinations abroad, within Ukraine - to Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhhorod, Odesa, Kharkiv, and on suburban routes.

The city has 2 theaters, a regional philharmonic, an organ music hall, numerous museums, cinemas, 41 libraries, a central cultural center and 17 club-type cultural institutions; parks, squares and green spaces create comfort and tranquility in the city.

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Svyatodukhivskyi Sobor) is the cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Chernivtsi. The foundation stone was laid in July 1844. The construction was supervised by the regional engineer A. Marin and the Viennese architect A. Röll, and in 1860 the facade of the church was rebuilt according to the design of Josef Glavka. In July 1864, 20 years after the work began, Bishop Yevhen Hakman consecrated the cathedral. However, interior finishing work continued until the end of the century. Thus, in 1892-1896, a group of artists from Vienna painted the walls. The cathedral impresses with its majestic beauty. It was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and was based on one of the projects of St. Petersburg's St. Isaac's Cathedral, presented to Bishop E. Hakman during his pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has a large number of believers in Chernivtsi, which is increasing with each passing year. Currently, several churches have been built in the city. The main church representing the UGCC in Bukovyna is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which recently celebrated its 190th anniversary. It also holds the title of the oldest church built in Bukovyna over the past several centuries. On September 12, 2017, Pope Francis approved the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC to establish a separate Chernivtsi Diocese and appoint Josaphat Moschych, formerly the auxiliary bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk, as its bishop.

The Armenian Church of Chernivtsi is an active Armenian Catholic Church of the Eastern Rite of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Chernivtsi. It was built and consecrated in 1875, and functioned intermittently during the Soviet rule in Bukovyna. It is included in the list of buildings in the city protected by the law of Ukraine.

The Basilica of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Chernivtsi) is a Roman Catholic church with the status of a small basilica, the first brick building in the city. The Roman Catholic Church was one of the first brick buildings in Chernivtsi. Its history dates back to the time when Bukovyna became part of Austria in 1774. At the time of Bukovyna's accession to Austria, there were no Roman Catholic churches in the region. The first mass was held in the wooden house of General Gabriel von Spleny, the first Austrian governor of Bukovyna, and was attended by only a small number of Roman Catholics. In 1778 the construction of the first church in Chernivtsi was completed. The architectural structure of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is characterized by classicist features (other sources estimate the style as Jesuit). There are also numerous chapels and churches in different neighborhoods of the city.

The residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia is a UNESCO architectural heritage in Chernivtsi.

There are 3 theaters in the city:

• Chernivtsi Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater named after Olga Kobylianska;
• Chernivtsi Regional Puppet Theater;
• Spiritual and Artistic Center "Holos".

The musical life of the city is represented by the regional philharmonic, where people's artists of Ukraine Sofia Rotaru, Nazariy Yaremchuk, Vasyl Zinkevych, Pavlo Dvorskyi, Lilia Sandulesa, Ivo Bobul, Anatoliy Yevdokymenko, and many honored artists of the country began their careers.

Chernivtsi is famous for its museums:

• The Chernivtsi Museum of Local Lore (28 O. Kobylianska St.) is the largest collection of materials and artifacts of nature, history and culture of Northern Bukovyna: a collection of old prints with the unique Ostroh Bible printed by Ivan Fedorov in 1581; a numismatic collection of more than 3 thousand coins; an interesting collection of weapons; an archaeological collection of more than 12 thousand museum objects. The museum's pride is the collection of fine and decorative arts, which is based on icons of the XVI-XVIII centuries and works by prominent Bukovinian artists. The natural history collection includes almost 10 thousand natural specimens (stuffed animals, wet specimens, herbarium, entomological collections, etc;)
• Chernivtsi Art Museum (10 Tsentralna Sq.). The building itself is of artistic value: its design masterfully combines sculpture, painting, stucco, stained glass, and artistic metal. The total number of exhibits in the museum exceeds 8400. It has a collection of unique Bukovinian folk images and icons on glass of the XIX-XX centuries, Bukovinian folk carpets of the XIX-XX centuries, Bukovynian and Hutsul Easter eggs, and such rare monuments as the composition "The Last Judgment," Bukovynian icons of the seventeenth and twentieth centuries, and old prints, including the Apostle of 1632, are kept here. The art museum's painting exhibition includes generally rare paintings by famous Bukovynian painters who worked mainly in the classical style;
• Museum of the History and Culture of Jews of Bukovyna (10 Teatralna Sq.). It is located in the former Jewish People's House (now the Central City Palace of Culture). The main concept of the museum is to reflect and emphasize the characteristic features of Bukovinian Jewry, a phenomenon of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Bukovyna that differed significantly from the phenomena of neighboring Galician, Bessarabian, and Podillia Jews.
• Museum of the Bukovyna Diaspora (1 Yosypa Hlavky St.);
• The Chernivtsi Regional Museum of Folk Architecture and Life (2 Svitlovodska St.) is an architectural and landscape complex consisting of folk architecture monuments from the late 18th and early 20th centuries. An ancient Bukovyna village has been recreated in the open air, where you can learn about the folk architecture and life of Bukovyna residents of different districts and ethnic groups. The museum's exposition includes about 35 buildings transported from different parts of the region and recreated in their original form with the corresponding natural environment;
• Literary and Memorial Museum of Olha Kobylianska (5 Sofiia Okunevska St.);
• Yuriy Fedkovych Literary and Memorial Museum (10 Soborna Sq.);
• Volodymyr Ivasyuk Memorial Museum (40/1 Mayakovskoho St.);
• Museum of Aviation and Cosmonautics.

Several festivals and fairs are held in Chernivtsi every year. Among them:

• Meridian Czernowitz poetry festival;
• Folklore and ethnographic festival "Bukovyna Malanka";
• Ethno-spiritual festival "Obnova Fest";
• "Petrivsky Fair.

Tourism and excursions

Measures are being taken to implement the Tourism Development Program in Chernivtsi for 2013-2016 to develop the tourism industry, improve the tourist and recreational infrastructure, and increase the competitiveness of the city's tourism products. Tourist services were provided by 116 business entities, including 32 tour operators - licensees and 84 travel agents. There are 34 hotel facilities in the city with a total number of 1042 rooms (as of January 1, 2014 - 31 hotel facilities with a total number of 1021 rooms). In the first half of 2014, the hotel industry entities paid to the city budget a tourist tax in the amount of UAH 59.9 thousand, which is UAH 3.2 thousand or 105.6% more than in the same period of 2013. To announce events to be held in Chernivtsi, a Calendar of Tourist Attractive Events for 2014 has been created. In order to develop event tourism and support national traditions, the following tourist-attractive events were organized and held: Christmas Fair, the IV Folklore and Ethnographic Festival "Malanka Fest 2014", and the holiday "Light the biggest heart of your city" dedicated to St. Valentine's Day. In order to promote Chernivtsi's tourism opportunities at the international level, in March 2014 the city was represented for the third time at the International Tourism Exhibition "ITT-2014" (Berlin, Germany), and took part in the XX International Exhibition UITT'2014: "Ukraine - Travel and Tourism" in Kyiv, the International Tourism Exhibition in Bucharest (Romania) and the International Spring Fair of Tourist Services "Rest - 2014" in Minsk (Belarus). A presentation booklet "Chernivtsi-Bukovyna" and a tourist guide "Chernivtsi" were produced. The Tourist Information Center provides comprehensive information on the infrastructure and services of the tourism industry in Chernivtsi and Bukovyna as a whole. Between January and June 2014, the center was visited by 3.5 thousand tourists, including 979 foreigners. Compared to the same period in 2013, the number of visitors decreased by 1.6 thousand people or 31.5%, including 24.0% of domestic tourists and 45.2% of foreign tourists. Among domestic tourists, the largest share of tourists came from Kyiv (38.0%), the South-Eastern regions (34.0%), Lviv (13.0%) and other cities (15.0%). By the reasons for visiting, a larger share of domestic and foreign tourists (ranging from 60.0% to 86.0%, respectively) visited Chernivtsi for leisure and recreation. The most visited tourist destinations are the architectural monuments of the historic center of Chernivtsi, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site - the former Residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovina and Dalmatia. Thus, during the first half of 2014, the UNESCO site was visited by 20.0 thousand tourists, which is 14.0 thousand people or 41.2% less than in the same period of 2013. For residents and guests of the city, 19 free Sunday tours of the historic part of the city were organized, attended by 449 tourists, which is 1.7 times more than in the first half of 2013. Measures are being taken to improve the tourist portal: video materials and publications about Chernivtsi have been updated, the gallery of presentation photos of objects and destinations visited by tourists has been expanded, and measures have been taken to promote the portal through social networks (facebook, vk.com). The tourist portal is filled with useful information for tourists and visitors to the city. Proposals were sent to tourism business entities to use modern information technologies and marketing communication systems by disseminating information on tourist products and tourist attractions of Chernivtsi on tourist-related Internet resources. In March 2014, the issue "On the Progress of Implementation of the Tourism Development Program in Chernivtsi for 2013-2016" was considered at the City Council session. In order to improve tourism activities and support existing resources, a meeting of the Coordination Council for Tourism Development in Chernivtsi was held in March 2014, where the results of the tourism industry in 2013, prospects for its further development were reviewed and the action plan for 2014 was approved. To provide temporary housing for citizens who came from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Chernivtsi hotel facilities created a reserve fund and ensured weekly monitoring of citizens' accommodation. The tourism and hotel industry took part in the nominations "Best Travel Company of the Year" and "Best Hotel of the Year" of the event honoring the leaders of economic development of Chernivtsi "Recognition 2013".

Over the centuries, Chernivtsi has developed into a city with a unique multi-style architecture, rich cultural heritage and tolerant atmosphere. Its layout, with significant differences in relief, creates a variety of landscapes, the skyline of which is complicated by the domes of churches of different denominations and the clock tower of the city hall. Up from the Prut River, ancient streets stretch, winding and broken by sharp turns. On the gentle part of the slope, they form a dense street network, cut through by wide thoroughfares leading to Chernivtsi's Central Square. A tour of the historic center of the Austrian era will allow you to get acquainted with the architectural ensemble of the XIX - early XX centuries, which is known for its stylish Secessionist buildings created by representatives of the Viennese Art Nouveau school of Otto Wagner. The architectural gem of Chernivtsi is the ensemble of the former Residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Chernivtsi offers interesting countryside excursions. Not far from the city are 2 of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine: Khotyn Fortress(70 km) and Kamianets-Podilskyi Fortress(100 km), as well as the pearl of the Ukrainian Carpathians, Yaremche(130 km). On the western outskirts of Chernivtsi are the ruins of the Ciechyn Fortress.

There are about 20 hotels in Chernivtsi with a total capacity of over 1300 beds, offering rooms from economy class to luxury apartments. Almost all hotels provide catering services in their own restaurants, parking, etc. The city has more than 300 restaurants, bars, cafes and pizzerias to suit every taste and budget: from fast food establishments to restaurants serving traditional Ukrainian and gourmet French cuisine. Chernivtsi has more than 700 shops, about ten shopping centers, and one of the largest markets in western Ukraine, Kalynivsky, where you can find any kind of goods. A music and drama theater, numerous art institutions and palaces of culture, a philharmonic, cinemas, nightclubs, and entertainment complexes make leisure time for Chernivtsi residents and visitors interesting and eventful. The central park of culture and recreation is a popular place for adults and children. It offers a variety of attractions, cafes, bars, an open-air dance floor, a summer theater, an outdoor tennis court, etc.

Architectural heritage of the city

Chernivtsi is one of the few cities in Ukraine that is rightfully considered a pearl of architecture. There are 602 architectural monuments on the state register in the historical part of the capital of Bukovyna, 17 of which are of national importance. Among them:

Sacred buildings

The Residence of the Bukovinian Metropolitans is the most imposing building in Chernivtsi, built in 1864-1882 by Czech architect J. Hlavka using forms of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture and motifs of Ukrainian folk art; since 1956 it has housed the Chernivtsi National University; on June 28, 2011, at the 35th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, it was included in the World Heritage List.

• St. Nicholas Wooden Church (from 1607, restored in 1954) (87a Sahaidachnoho St.);
• The wooden Assumption Church on Kalichanka (1783) (2 Novouspenska St.);
• The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1767) (1 Troianivska St.);
• The wooden church of St. Spyridon (1715) and the bell tower in the former village of Dolishni Sherivtsi (11 Kvitkovskoho Street), re-consecrated as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
• The Armenian Church (1869-1875, architect J. Hlavka), now a hall of organ and chamber music, and used for worship and family celebrations;
• The wooden Ascension Church and bell tower, late 17th century, in the former village of Haryachyi Urban (13 Boryspilska St.);
• Stone Church of St. George on Horech (1767, Baroque style);
• The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the UGCC (1821) in the Empire style, completed in the early XX century in the Ukrainian Baroque style;
• the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (1844-1864, architect F. Relli);
• Church of St. Paraskeva in the pseudo-Romanesque style, completed in 1862 (architect A. Pavlovsky);
• Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Chernivtsi) in the Neo-Gothic style (1893-1894);
• St. Nicholas Cathedral (1927-1939) in the Neo-Romantic style with original "twisted" domes;
• Holy Trinity Church (on Klockuchka);
• St. Anthony's Church (UGCC) at 31 Kapelanska Street;
• The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (1787-1814) at 4/5 Beethoven St;
• Sadhirska synagogue;
• Reform synagogue "Temple"
• The Great Synagogue (Chernivtsi);
• Synagogue of Mordo and Taubi Korn;
• Beit Ares Choral Synagogue;
• Beit Tfilah Binyamin;
• Synagogue of the Boyaner Rebbe.

Streets and squares

• Central Square complex (XIX-XX cc.): today: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Central Square;
• The ensemble of Teatralna Square with the City Theater (1904-1905, architects F. Fellner and G. Helmer) in Viennese Baroque style with Art Nouveau elements (now the Kobylianska Music and Drama Theater), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (now the main building of the Bukovyna Medical University), the Jewish House (now the Central Palace of Culture), and the Romanian People's House (now the Regional Officers' House);
• The Herengasse complex (XIX-XX centuries) - today, 1-57, 4-44 O. Kobylianskoi St;
• Hauptstrasse Complex (XIX-XX cc.) - today: 4-58, 1-79 Holovna St.

Other notable buildings

• Bukovyna Savings Bank - today the Chernivtsi Art Museum, 10 Tsentralna Sq;
• Chernivtsi City Hall with a two-story 45-meter high Empire style tower (1843-1847, architect A. Mykulych), now the City Council, 1 Tsentralna Sq;
• Music and Drama Theater named after O. Kobylianska (architects F. Fellner and G. Helmer, 1904-1905), 1 Teatralna Sq;
• Palace of Justice (architect F. Skovron, 1904-1906) - today the building of the Regional State Administration, 1 Hrushevskoho St;
• House of the Bukovyna Regional Government (architect von Hlaubitz, with the participation of architect J. Hlavka, 1871-1873), Popovycha street, 2;
• Railway station building (1898-1909) in the Art Nouveau style (Viennese Secession);
• German People's House (1905-1910, architect G. Fritsch);
• The complex of the Chernivtsi Museum of Folk Architecture and Life (XVII-XX cc.), 2 Svitlovodska St.

The historic buildings of the old town are an integral, almost intact ensemble of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The development of nineteenth-century architecture in Chernivtsi can be divided into two periods, the boundary of which is the 1840s. The first period is characterized, as in all European architecture, by the steady dominance of classicism. Starting in the 1840s, some of the city's buildings show features associated with a departure from the principles of classicism and an appeal to the architectural techniques of the Italian Renaissance. This transition can be seen in the artistic and aesthetic image of the Chernivtsi City Hall: the façade of the building is designed in the traditions of classicism, while the tower has Renaissance motifs.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the city's architecture began the second period, characterized by the dominance of eclecticism, including late classicism, neo-Renaissance, and neo-Baroque. The most prominent monument of this period is the architectural ensemble of the Residence of the Orthodox Metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia, built in the spirit of eclecticism with a predominance of Byzantine and Romanesque styles. The creator of this symbol of the city was the prominent Czech architect Josef Hlavka.

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, European architecture was dominated by the Art Nouveau style, which in Austria-Hungary, which included Bukovyna, was known as the Viennese Secession. It is simply impossible to imagine the historic center of Chernivtsi without stylish Secessionist buildings designed by the students and followers of the famous Austrian architect Otto Wagner. Among them are the directorate of savings banks, the railway station, the Bristol and Golden Lion hotels, and many other buildings. Starting in the 1920s, Chernivtsi was built up with Art Deco and Constructivist architecture.

The architectural ensemble of the Central Square

The center of Chernivtsi is embodied by Central Square, formerly Rynok or Ringplatz Square, which has been the heart of the city for almost two centuries. The idea of creating the square was conceived by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II himself. In 1787, during a visit to Chernivtsi, he proposed to create a spacious square on the then southern outskirts of the city where fairs could be held and a market could operate. At least in the first decades of the nineteenth century, the square acquired the status of a major square, as Emperor Franz I noted in his diary during a trip to the city in August 1817.

The architectural ensemble of Rynok Square, which began to take shape at the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, began to embody the new face of the city. However, the square acquired a truly European look only after the construction of the town hall in the 40s of the nineteenth century, which forever secured the status of the center of Chernivtsi and the main center of city life. It was built in the late classicist style with a high tower and a courtyard. Today, every day, at 12 noon, the melody of "Marichka" is heard from the tower's balcony, played by a trumpeter in Bukovyna folk costume, to the four corners of the city.

In 1900-1901, an imposing three-story building of the Bukovyna Savings Bank Directorate was built next to the town hall, which today houses the art museum[72]. It was designed by the Viennese architect Hubert Gessner, a talented student of Otto Wagner. This building can be considered a classic example of Viennese Secession, one of the most exquisite Art Nouveau monuments preserved in Central and Eastern Europe.

The architectural ensemble of Teatralna Square

At the beginning of the Austrian period, what is now Teatralna Square was the outskirts of the city, beyond which a dense forest began. In the mid-nineteenth century, grain was traded on the square, and later fish, so it became known as Fish Market. Active development of the square began in the early 20th century.

The transformation of this small-town market square into an imposing and stylish European square was due to the construction of a new city theater in 1904-1905. The music and drama theater building is one of the most famous architectural monuments that adorns the city. The Chernivtsi Theater is a creation of the famous Viennese firm of Fellner and Helmer. It was built in just two years and was as good as the best theaters in Europe in terms of architecture and interior. The Austrian publicist G. Heinzen spoke well of this embodiment of the artistic ambitions of Chernivtsi residents: "The Chernivtsi Theater is a dream of velvet and gold, designed by Viennese architects Helmer and Fellner. And yet they were invited to work in Chernivtsi only after theaters in Vienna and Odesa had been built to their designs. The Chernivtsi Theater is a monument to the culturally aware citizens of Chernivtsi, who were most afraid of gaining a reputation as a province and were eager to keep up with the respected metropolis of Vienna."

The architectural ensemble of the Metropolitan Residence

Among Chernivtsi's sights, a special place is occupied by the architectural ensemble of the Residence of the Orthodox Metropolitans of Bukovyna and Dalmatia, built on the site of the old bishop's palace in 1864-1882, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2011. Today, the central buildings of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University are located here. The metropolitan residence appeared thanks to the efforts of Bishop Yevhen Hakman. In 1863 he obtained permission from the Austrian emperor to build a new spacious residence worthy of the capital of Bukovyna. The following year, Bishop Hackman laid the cornerstone of the future residence.

The project of the architectural ensemble was designed by the famous Czech scientist, architect, and academician Josef Hlavka. He designed an unconventional complex of buildings in the spirit of eclecticism with a predominance of Byzantine and Romanesque elements. This project has repeatedly won prizes at well-known architectural competitions and was, in particular, honored at the World Exhibition in Paris. The composition of the ensemble is quite complex, but it is characterized by clear planning. It consists of three monumental buildings: the main building, the seminary with the Church of the Three Saints, and the presbytery.

The architectural ensemble of Olha Kobylianska Street

Olha Kobylianska Street is the only pedestrian street in Chernivtsi. The date of birth of the then Molodiyivska, and later Panska Street is known for certain: in 1786, the first brick house was laid on the corner of Central Square and the present-day Kobylyanska Street, and before that, many stumps had to be uprooted in its place. In the early twentieth century, the old huts were replaced by two- and three-story stylish townhouses, and the street itself was paved. There are still those Chernivtsi residents who remember how the then Panska street was washed several times a day with soap and water, and a policeman made every "slob" with dirty shoes wipe his feet well before stepping on the pavement.