Museum of the brown bear
The initiator of this unusual museum in the village of Manyava was an ecologist Mykola Skidaniuk, who is concerned about the threat of the brown bear's complete disappearance from the Carpathian forests. He states that only 4 bears are currently living on the lands of Bohorodchany and Solotvyno forestries. Carpathian brown bears live about 8 years, and according to the norm they should live to at least 30. The museum was created by the NGO "Our Home is Manyava" in 2006. Its purpose is educational and environmental, its activities are aimed at preserving the brown bear species in the Carpathians.
In our country, the brown bear is found only in the Carpathians. According to the employees of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, in 2005 there were approximately 200 animals living there. As an endangered species, the brown bear is listed on the IUCN Red List as a "threatened species". That is why the youth NGO "Our Home is Manyava" together with the program "Protect the Bear in the Ukrainian Carpathians", implemented with the financial support of the Dutch Embassy in Ukraine, considered it their duty to create the first bear museum in the country. Its goal is to educate, and efforts are aimed at preserving the brown bear in the Carpathians.
More than 80 exhibits are collected in the small rooms of this unusual institution, each of them gives a reason to remember the mighty beast. The main object of the museum is a stuffed real brown bear. There are also souvenirs, children's toys, Hutsul tiles depicting the owner of the forest, many interesting trinkets, etc.
An integral part of the exhibition is an exhibition of paintings and photographs. The museum has a small library with local history, thematic and scientific literature. Everything concerns the life of the bear, in particular, the Carpathian bear. There are also seminars and educational excursions. Similar museums already exist in some European countries.
Opening hours: by appointment. Admission is free. The museum is located in the center of the village, in the village council building.
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Places to stay nearby
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HotelManyava ResortIvano-Frankivsk3.9 km from Museum of the brown bearHot tubPoolSaunaNearby: Manyavsky Waterfall 2.2 kmManyavskyi Skit 3.4 km4 trailsfrom 4 200 UAH per night
HotelBystrytciaBohorodchany6 km from Museum of the brown bearSaunaBBQParkingNearby: Manyavskyi Skit 6.8 kmManiava Blessed Stone 7.6 kmfrom 800 UAH per night
HotelLelekaBohorodchany8.7 km from Museum of the brown bearBBQParkingWi‑FiNearby: Mud volcano 3.6 kmManyavskyi Skit 9.5 kmfrom 360 UAH per night
HotelSinihirskaBohorodchany12 km from Museum of the brown bearParkingTransferNearby: Residence Synihora 900 mManyavsky Waterfall 6.8 km16 trailsfrom 5 880 UAH per night
HotelTerrazzoBohorodchany14 km from Museum of the brown bearPoolSaunaWi‑FiNearby: Mud volcano 5.6 kmfrom 1 600 UAH per night
HotelLeibova HoraBohorodchany14 km from Museum of the brown bearBreakfastWi‑FiNearby: Mud volcano 5.7 kmfrom 1 900 UAH per nightTrails nearby
All trails
HardMulti-dayPasichna village to Bystrytsia villagevia Maniava village, Maniava Waterfall +1Elevation profile495–1 836 m69.7 kmascent 2 898 munder 1 km from Museum of the brown bear
EasyOne-dayMarkedManiava village Maniava WaterfallElevation profile519–711 m7 kmascent 24 m≈ 2 h walkingunder 1 km from Museum of the brown bear
ModerateOne-dayMarkedManiava village Monastyretska polonynaElevation profile497–950 m12.1 kmascent 406 m≈ 4 h walkingunder 1 km from Museum of the brown bearNearby attractions
ChurchWooden Church of the Intercession in ManyavaManiavaunder 1 km from Museum of the brown bearMany of us who hear the name "Manyava" immediately associate this village with the famous Manyava Skete and the equally famous Manyava Waterfall.
NatureManiava Blessed StoneManiava1.8 km from Museum of the brown bearThe blessed stone is a huge boulder from under which healing water flows. It is the same water that saved the monks from thirst.
WaterfallBukhtivetsky waterfall, BukovoPasichna5.8 km from Museum of the brown bearBukhtivetskyi waterfall (Vodopad Bukhtivets ) is a waterfall in the Ukrainian Carpathians, in the Gorgany massif; a hydrological natural monument of local importance ...Craft nearby
All craft places
Theme parksUnderhill Earth History Park, PidhiriaPidhiria18 km from Museum of the brown bearUnderhill Earth History Park is a large open-air theme park in the village of Pidhiria near Bohorodchany, about 25 km from Ivano-Frankivsk, right at the foot of the...
Wildlife parks & animal farmsSavanna Ostrich Farm, LovahyLovahy25 km from Museum of the brown bearSavanna Ostrich Farm is an unexpected find in the Carpathian foothills. It lies in the small Boyko village of Lovahy in the Kalush district, not far from Nebyliv,...
Craft shopsKarpatski Delikatesy farm shop, YaremcheYaremche25 km from Museum of the brown bearKarpatski Delikatesy (“Carpathian Delicacies”) is one of the largest shops of local products in Yaremche, right on the main road through town at 59/2 Svobody Street.
Wildlife parks & animal farmsCarpathian National Park Enclosure Farm, YaremcheYaremche26 km from Museum of the brown bearThe Enclosure Farm of the Carpathian National Nature Park is a small wildlife park on the edge of Yaremche where you can see animals of the Carpathian forests up close.
Ethno tours & guidesKosiv & Yavoriv Hutsul Crafts Tour from YaremcheYaremche27 km from Museum of the brown bearIf you are staying in Yaremche or Bukovel and want to see the real craft heartland of the Hutsul region, not just the mountain views, a handy option is a day tour to...
Koliby & Hutsul cuisineVedmezha Hora Koliba, YaremcheYaremche27 km from Museum of the brown bearVedmezha Hora koliba in Yaremche (“Bear Mountain”) is a family restaurant that has long been one of the town’s most popular food addresses.