Dovbush's stone, Yaremche

Oleksa Dovbush has been famous for centuries. Songs and legends were composed about him. If you want to visit the places where the Hutsul Robin Hood walked, come to Yaremche!

Dovbush's Stone is located above the Prut River near Yaremche. We want to warn you right away: do not confuse Dovbush's Stone in Yaremche with Dovbush's Rocks, which are located near the village of Bubnyshche.

The Dovbush Stone is part of the Dovbush Trail artistic and memorial complex, and it is located on the territory of the Carpathian National Nature Park.

Ivan Franko, Solomiya Krushelnytska, and Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi once visited Dovbush's Stone.

Dovbush's Stone is the beginning of the hiking trail to Dovbush's Rocks. Dovbush's Rocks are a unique accumulation of sandstone blocks in the Dribka tract. Dovbush's Stone and Rocks are natural objects associated with the name of the legendary leader of the people's avengers Oleksa Dovbush, who acted in the Carpathian region in 1738-1745.

There are many different stories about Dovbush's Stone.

Our opryshok walked around, walked to his death. Not one merchant's shop was left empty, and not a little blood spilled from the lord's body. The red legionnaires were walking around, as if they were at a wedding. Because they wanted freedom. But one day Dovbush hesitated while walking by the oak table. And the army of Smolaks surrounded him on a high mountain, surrounded him from all sides. There was nowhere to go. But the legionaries were not afraid: they sang their merry song. Their singing, like a great thunder, rolled over all the Carpathian forests, and cones fell from the green fir. The Smolyaks were afraid of that singing, and their eldest ordered Oleksa Dovbush to be captured alive.

And the hatchets rattled, pistols and crossbows rattled, and fresh blood poured out of the enemies. Dovbush fought and fought, chopping the lords into stumps, but there was no end in sight: there were many enemies. But our red legionary opryshok was not afraid. He ran up the hill above the rivers, stood on it and laughed at the enemies. And they gnashed their teeth. They rushed up the mountain to him. And then a miracle happened: Dovbush grabbed a piece of a huge mountain and threw it with all his might at the Smolians. The stone block rolled away with a terrible crack and roar. The Smolyaks ran to their feet in fear, but it was no use: none of them survived, all of them were crushed to death. That stone is still standing to this day as a reminder of Dovbush's strength.

Another legend says that there is a portrait of Dovbush on this stone. You can walk around the stone as much as you like, but you won't see a hint of the portrait. To see it, you will have to turn the stone over.

Dovbush's stone stands alone above the Prut River near the road leading to the Yablunets Pass. We also recommend that you visit another work of nature, which is located near the city of Yaremche - the Probiy waterfall.