Naddniprianshchyna – Dniprohills

Trukhaniv Island

Trukhaniv Island is an island on the Dnipro River, located opposite the central part of Kyiv, between the main channel of the Dnipro to the west and one of the arms of the Desna river’s mouth—Chortoryi—to the east. Its area is about 450 hectares. Today, the island serves as a popular recreational zone featuring numerous beaches, water stations, sports facilities, restaurants, and holiday homes, and it is well-landscaped and connected to the right bank by the Pivnichny and Parkovyi pedestrian bridges.

Труханів острів, острів Тризуб, Десна, Чорторий і Дніпро — острів Труханів і Тризуб

During the times of Kievan Rus, the settlement of “Olzhychi” was located on the island’s territory and belonged to Princess Olga.

Origin of the Name

Researchers believe that the name “Trukhaniv Island” may originate from the name of the Kipchak (Polovtsian) Khan Tugorkan. According to legends, in the late 11th century, this area housed the residence of his daughter, who was married to Kyiv’s Prince Sviatopolk.

Landscape and Natural Conditions

The modern landscape of Trukhaniv Island is shaped by the last glaciation and the flow of the Desna and Dnipro rivers. The island is situated in the Desna Delta, where the river surrounds it on two sides. The territory features diverse natural zones, including dense forests, open spaces, and floodplain areas that change periodically due to seasonal flooding.

This varied terrain creates favorable conditions for a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including species under protection. Among the island’s wildlife are roe deer, red deer, hares, moose, and beavers.

вид з Труханового острову на південь, Київ

Muromec park

Protected Natural Area

Trukhaniv Island is a conservation area where natural landscapes and habitats of wild animals, plants, and insects have been preserved. It is a popular destination among Kyiv’s cyclists for weekend rides. The northern part of the island remains a wild natural zone with dirt trails, while the southern section, beyond the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge, features a designated cycling path. This route connects to Kyiv’s city center, leading to Khreshchatyk via the Parkovy Pedestrian Bridge.

Tryzub Island

Tryzub Island is a small, uninhabited island located near Trukhaniv Island. It is part of the Desna Delta and is surrounded by the Chortoryi branch of the river. The island is covered with dense vegetation and serves as a natural habitat for birds and other wildlife. It remains largely untouched by human activity, making it an important ecological area within Kyiv’s urban landscape.

Its shape resembles the symbol of Ukrainian statehood. The route around it is popular for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).

X-Park Sports Village

X-Park is a modern recreational complex built on the natural resources of Trukhaniv Island.

Here, you can find a cableway for wakeboarding, kayak and SUP rentals, as well as bike rentals. Visitors can also stay overnight, relax in a sauna in the evening, and take a swim in the Dnipro or Desenka rivers. Organized one-day trips around Trukhaniv Island and its surroundings also start from here.

вид з острова на Північний і Подільський мости, Київ, спортивне містечко Х-парк

Bicycle rental near Muromec Park and an island map for cyclists from

https://velokratia.com.ua/routes/park-muromec/

Husyntsi

Husyntsi: The Lost Village at the Bottom of the Dnipro

When the waters of the Kaniv Reservoir rose in 1971, they swallowed not only the streets, houses, and churches – they concealed an entire history. The village of Husyntsi, which had thrived on the left bank of the Dnipro for over two centuries, disappeared beneath the waves, leaving behind only a tract of land and the memories of its former residents.

The highest points formed several islands. On one of them stands the church, while the other—Lysa Hora—is where the main witches’ sabbaths of the entire Dnipro region take place (beginning at sunset on the first night of each full moon).

Today, as the water level drops, remnants of the past occasionally emerge from beneath the surface: fragments of buildings, the foundations of the old church, and even bricks that once formed village homes.

A Crossroads of Trade

In the 18th century, Husyntsi was a small hamlet along a busy trade route. Merchants, soldiers, and travelers stopped here to rest. As the village became part of the Kyiv Vicegerency, it gradually expanded into a full-fledged settlement. By the 19th century, it had a school, an Orthodox church, and a monastic skete with a hospital and a mill.

The villagers practiced a unique craft—woven wickerwork. They didn’t just make baskets but also chairs, tables, and even cradles. Perhaps it was their fishing trade and handcrafted goods that helped the village survive the worst of the 1932–33 famine.

The Final Years Before Submersion

By the mid-20th century, Husyntsi was a thriving village with over a thousand residents. It became a film set, and a military base on its outskirts served as a training ground for soldiers. However, the decision to construct the Kaniv Reservoir sealed the village’s fate. Families dismantled their homes, salvaging what they could, and moved away. Only the church remained standing until the rising waters finally consumed its walls.

Today, the Husyntsi tract serves as a reminder of how grand-scale projects reshape landscapes and destinies. The small islands emerging from the water are the last traces of a village that once lived a quiet yet vibrant life.

Yet, its memory endures—in the hearts of the elders, in faded photographs, and in the ancient church’s weathered stone walls, which miraculously survived.

Only three buildings remain from the village—the forester’s house, the school, and the church.

Visitors can stay overnight in the forester’s house.

The Church That Did Not Drown

The only structure that survived the flooding was the Pokrovska Church. Built in 1822 with the funds of local Cossacks and villagers, the temple was an architectural masterpiece. Its massive walls, elegant dome, and intricate details made it a striking example of sacred architecture.

After the flooding, the church was left stranded in the middle of the water—damaged but not destroyed. For years, it stood alone among the waves, like a ghost from the past. Some parts of the structure gradually crumbled, yet its core remained intact, defying time and nature.

Current State

In the early 2010s, efforts were made to restore the church. It was lifted with jacks, and a small artificial island was created around it, connected to the mainland by a wooden footbridge.

Unfortunately, during the restoration, the original frescoes were painted over, and the historic dome was replaced with a plastic one topped with a Chinese-made cross—changes that saddened historians and preservationists.

Today, visitors can reach the church via the footbridge from the left bank or by boat or kayak from Rzhyshchiv.

Pyrohiv

Pyrohiv is a unique open-air complex that has been preserving examples of traditional folk architecture and lifestyle from most of Ukraine’s ethnocultural regions for many decades.

Creation
The first steps in implementing the project were taken with the involvement of specialists in history, architecture, and ethnography. Thanks to the efforts of state institutions and local communities, the search, documentation, and evacuation of unique structures from various corners of Ukraine was initiated. The buildings were carefully dismantled, transported, and restored at the new location while preserving their authenticity as much as possible. The museum was officially opened in the 1960s–70s, and since then it has been continuously enriched with new exhibits.

Transportation and Restoration Process
Buildings were dismantled into individual components, enabling their transport from remote villages and regions. Once at the museum site, restoration work was carried out while preserving the original materials and structural integrity.

Restoration and Transport
Experts meticulously restored each structure, preserving the authenticity of its form, finishes, and decorative elements. Authentic household items, craft workshop equipment (including drive mechanisms powered by a wheel turned by a horse), agricultural tools, furniture, icons, and more were also transported.

Displayed Regions
The Pyrohiv Museum features examples of traditional architecture from most regions of Ukraine. Among them, the following stands out:

Central Dnieper Region (Середня Наддніпрянщина):
Photos showcase typical Ukrainian houses with thatched roofs, stone churches, and outbuildings. They reflect the enduring traditions of rural life and a modest approach to decoration.

Церква Святої Параскеви із села Зарубинці

Михайлівська церква із села Дорогинка Київської області

Полісся;

Воскресенська церква із села Кисоричі, Рівненщина

Poltavshchyna and Slobozhanshchyna

Podillia:

Хата із села Луги і Миколаївська церква із села Зелене
Carpathians

In the Carpathians, houses and outbuildings were often combined under one roof or built separately. Fences could be woven, wooden, or stone (often in the form of a rampart lined with thorn). Additionally, storerooms, barns, granaries, stables, pigsties, cellars, sheds, carriage houses, and other structures were erected. Sometimes, the yard was arranged as an enclosure, with all buildings forming a quadrangle that created a closed inner courtyard.

South

Кам’яний вітряк з села Олександрівка Білозерського району Херсонської області

Each region is represented by authentic exhibits that illustrate the multifaceted nature of Ukrainian folk architecture.

Materials and Conditions:
The architecture of residential and utility buildings is shaped by natural and climatic conditions. The main materials are clay, wood, reed, and stone. In forested areas, wood is predominantly used; in the steppe, clay, straw, and stone prevail; while in the forest-steppe, a mix of materials is employed.

Typical Ukrainian House:
Despite regional differences, the characteristic Ukrainian house is a three-part structure with an entrance on the southern side. The entrance leads into a vestibule, from which one section forms the “svitlytsia” (main living area) and the other a pantry. Partitions separating the rooms are known as “vankyr” (hidden rooms) and “hytia”/”hytka” (annexes).

At the entrance to the vestibule, a stove is positioned on one side, with a “mysnyk” (shelf for dishes) on the other. Between the stove and the wall is the “pil” – a sleeping area. In the “pokutia” (sacred corner), a table with benches and stools is placed, along with household icons adorned with flowers, herbs, and embroidered towels. Other furnishings include decorated chests, hanging rods for clothes, and, if there were infants, a cradle.

Mills

Water Mills:
Appearing in the 12th century, they are classified into overflow (nalivni) and underflow (pidlyvni) types, with the former being more common. Like windmills, they became a significant part of the local landscape.

Windmills

Windmills are structurally divided into two types: post mills (kozlovi) and tower mills (shatrovi).

Post mills, considered the older type, were introduced to Ukraine through German influence, which is why they are sometimes called German mills.

Tower mills, which emerged in Holland around 1650, are also known as Dutch mills.

Post Mills

The windmill’s body, including the grain-grinding mechanism, shaft, and sails, is mounted on a fixed base. Rotation is achieved using a long guiding beam that allows the structure to turn around a sturdy post anchored in the ground or on a cross-shaped foundation.

Tower Mills

In tower mills, the main body remains stationary (typically octagonal or circular, tapering upwards for stability), while only the roof, along with the sails and shaft, rotates to adjust to the wind direction.

Working Principle

Regardless of type, wind power turns the sails, which transfer motion to a horizontal shaft. Inside the structure, a large wooden gear wheel transmits movement through a spindle mechanism to the upper millstone, while the lower one remains fixed. Grain is fed into a hopper with a chute, and the “konyk” device ensures even distribution by vibrating. The milling fineness is adjusted by raising or lowering the upper millstone.

Cycling Route in Pyrohiv

The open-air museum not only preserves history but also integrates modern recreational activities. Visitors can explore the entire museum by bike, following a designated cycling route, with bicycle rentals

Kyivan Rus Park

The “Kyivan Rus” Park is situated on a hill above the Stuhna River.

It is a historical and cultural complex where an enclosed medieval city has been reconstructed based on archaeological and historical research. The main part is a recreation of the Kyivan citadel from the 10th–13th centuries, featuring wooden walls, towers, and a central square. There are also residential and utility buildings, a blacksmith’s workshop, guard towers, and stables.

The park’s territory is quite large, with wooden galleries running along the fortifications, offering panoramic views of the central courtyard and the surrounding landscape. Visitors can observe historical reenactments of daily life, watch equestrian performances, try traditional crafts, or simply stroll through the recreated historical setting. During the warmer months, the park hosts historical reenactment tournaments.

During the warmer months, the park hosts historical reenactment tournaments. There is also a guest yard on-site where visitors can have a meal or stay overnight.

Kryliv

The city of Kryliv, also known as Novohorihivsk, has a rich history dating back to the early 17th century.

Foundation and Historical Development

In 1615, the Polish administration founded the fortified town of Kryliv at the confluence of the Tiasmin River with the Dnipro. The town held strategic importance, controlling the crossings over both rivers. In the same year, at the request of the Chyhyryn starosta Danilovych, the Polish king granted Kryliv Magdeburg rights, which contributed to its development as an urban center.

During the 17th century, Kryliv witnessed numerous military conflicts among the Cossacks, Poles, and Tatars. In 1625, near the village of Taboryshche, a battle took place between Cossacks led by M. Zhmail and a Polish force, which concluded with the signing of the Kurukiv Agreement. In 1647, Bohdan Khmelnytsky was imprisoned in the Kryliv Fortress.

Kryliv Fortress

It was built at the initiative of Myrhorod Colonel Vasyl Petrovych Kapnist in 1741 on the Polish border, on the right bank of the Tiasmin, not far from its confluence with the Dnipro. The fortification was erected adjacent to the Kryliv sloboda, which was under the control of the Hetmanate government. The sloboda was settled in the 1730s opposite the town of Kryliv, located on the left bank of the Dnipro, and is frequently mentioned in 18th‑century documents as Old Kryliv or Polish Kryliv—the latter having been founded in 1615 by the Korsun starosta, Jan Danilovych.

The Kryliv Fortress was an earthen structure of an irregular quadrilateral shape, with a circumference of about 300 sazhen, featuring four bastions, four demi-bastions, and two gates, and was surrounded by a dry moat and an external palisade. Within the fortress grounds, buildings were constructed for its garrison, including a church, a powder cellar, a supply store (warehouse), and several guardhouses. From the fortification, one could depart in the direction of the Tsybuliv Fortress and the Krukiv redoubt.

Because the fortress was located in the area of the Kryliv-Maksymivka crossing on the Dnipro, it and its garrison served not only as the administrative center of the Kryliv hundred but also as a strategic asset in the fight against the haidamaks, who at that time operated in the region beyond the Dnipro and in the area known as Polish Ukraine. The Kryliv Fortress remained operational even into the 1770s. During the era of Nova Serbia, it served as the center of the 1st company of the pandur (infantry) regiment, and after its dissolution, it became the base for the 1st company of the Yellow Hussar Regiment. In the 1780s, the fortress and the adjacent fortstadt were transformed into the inner city, which is recorded in documents under the name Kryliv. At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the fortification was expanded.

After the Second Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Kryliv and Old Kryliv were merged into a single city for a time. In 1795, it became a county center and was given the name Oleksandriia. A year later, the county was abolished, and the city was restored to its historical name—Kryliv. In 1831, the right-bank part of the city was renamed Novohorihivsk, while the left-bank part retained the name Kryliv. Today, the area of the city is submerged under the waters of the Kremenchuk Reservoir.

A plan of the Kryliv Fortress from 1757 was published in the late 19th century by military engineer F. Laskovsky. Based on the discovered drawing, Oleksandr Chornyi created graphic reconstructions of the structure.

Художня реконструкція Крилівської фортеці: Олександр Чорний

Mentions in Songs and Literature

Kryliv is mentioned in Ukrainian folk songs and dumy associated with Cossack themes. In particular, in dumy about Bohdan Khmelnytsky and other Cossack leaders, the city appears as a place of important events. The poet Viktor Sokolov, a native of these lands, described Kryliv in his works, notably mentioning a church in the Ukrainian Baroque style built with funds from Petro Sahaidachny.

The Submergence of the City and the Fate of Its Buildings

In 1960, due to the construction of the Kremenchuk Reservoir on the Dnipro, the city of Novohorihivsk was completely submerged. The population was relocated to the newly built city of Svitlovodsk. Most of the buildings remained underwater; however, some structures were dismantled and moved to other locations. In particular, valuable architectural elements and relics from the churches were preserved and transferred to museums or other churches.

Today, the site of the former Kryliv is occupied by the Kremenchuk Reservoir, while the memory of the city lives on in historical studies, literary works, and the recollections of the descendants of the relocated residents.

Serpent shafts

The Zmiievy Valy, also known as the Serpent Ramparts, are ancient earthen fortifications that stretch across central Ukraine

The Serpent’s Ramparts are well-known from folk tales. According to legend, Kotyhoroshko defeated the Serpent, harnessed it to a giant plow, and carved a massive furrow all the way to the Dnipro River.

In reality, the 950 kilometers of earthen mounds, reaching heights of 8–10 meters, were not built by a single Kotyhoroshko but by many people, starting as early as the 5th century BCE.

Ходосівське городищеSome of the most impressive ramparts were located south of Kyiv, particularly near the Small and Great Khodosivka fortifications.

The Small Khodosivka settlement dates back to the Early Iron Age (6th–5th centuries BCE) and once served as a fortified settlement for Scythian farmers. The settlement was protected by a massive earthen rampart stretching 10–12 kilometers in length and reaching up to 8 meters in height in some sections. Portions of the rampart still retain visible defensive ditches. During the Kyivan Rus period, this rampart was integrated into the system of the Serpent’s Ramparts, which served as the final line of defense before the capital.

The Great Khodosivka Fortification is one of the three largest archaeological landmarks in Ukraine’s forest-steppe zone, dating back to the Early Iron Age. The main rampart of the site is shaped like a horseshoe, measuring 4.5 by 3.0 kilometers, with a total length of 10–12 kilometers and a height of up to 8 meters in some places. In certain areas, remnants of an ancient defensive ditch can still be seen beneath the rampart, though it has been partially filled with soil over time. The total area enclosed by the rampart covers approximately 1–2 thousand hectares. During the Kyivan Rus period, this rampart became part of the defensive system, serving as the final protective barrier before Kyiv.

A hiking route partially follows the rampart, offering an awe-inspiring view of its scale even today.

Trakhtemyriv Peninsula

Trakhtemiriv is a hilly area, which the Dnieper flows around from three sides

Pyvyha Mount

Mount Pyvyha is the highest point on the left bank of the Dnipro River, located in Poltava Oblast, near the city of Horishni Plavni. Its height is approximately 168 meters, and it is a unique natural landmark. The mountain was formed as a result of geological processes and is a remnant of an ancient chalk plateau.

гора Пивиха, кемпінг — пляж біля підніжжя Пивихи

Mount Pyvyha holds great historical and cultural significance. During the Kyivan Rus period, it served as a defensive point, and in the 16th–17th centuries, a fortress stood on the site.

Today, it is a popular tourist destination, known for its picturesque views of the Kremenchuk Reservoir and the surrounding area. However, the mountain is subject to erosion due to water from the reservoir, which poses an environmental challenge for the region.

This location is perfect for eco-tourism, hiking, and enjoying the beauty of nature.