Chyhyryn (one day)

the impressive travel in distance of some 80 km from Cherkasy

Ті, хто не бачив цього бритоголового народу не можуть знати, яка душа цих ворогів общини Мухаммеда. Вступивши в їхню країну усередині місяця мухаррема 1068 року, ми проїжджали по ній з молитвами: «О Аллах, врятуй нас від їх зухвалості!»
Адже я, нікчемний, схопив горя від цих лиходіїв і бачив, як вони воюють і б'ються.

Евлія Челебі. Сейахатнаме.

1657 р.

An incredibly beautiful nature and landscapes, places that are praised in legends is Chyhyryn town, a capital of the Cossack State and Zaporozhian Host.

During the excursion you’ll have a great opportunity to see the medieval fortresses, to visit the best Ukrainian museums and to enjoy the fabulous natural wealth of Ukraine.

Comfortable hotels, interesting guide’s stories and the most delicious national dishes are waiting for you!

Chyhyryn

Chyhyryn stands on the right bank of Tyasmyn River. It has an advantageous geographical position. People mentioned the town in the first half of the XVIth century as a fortified Cossack winter station, however, archaeological researches evidence that this area has been inhabited since the ancient times. There were found burial grounds and settlements of Iron and Bronze Age,Yamna culture and Scythian period.

In the ХVІth – the early ХVІth centuries – during the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Chyhyryn belonged to Poland.

In 1592 Chyhyryn has got Magdeburg Rights, according to which town residents were formally independent, they had their own court and counsel, they organized fairs twice a year and bargaining every week.

In 1622, Chyhyryn has become a regimental town with Cossack self-government. The growth of the town and it’s transformation in one of the mightiest fortresses of the XVIIth century is closely connected with the name of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Chyhyryn sotnyk (captain), military writer of registered Cossacks, and later on – from 1648 –hetman of Zaporozhian Host.

Bohdan Khmelnytsky laid a special emphasis on Chyhyryn. With the beginning of the Liberation War of 1648-1654 the town became hetman’s residence and the capital of Ukraine. During his reign there lived over 50 thousand dwellers and Cossacks. Chyhyryn was one of the hugest towns for that time in Ukraine and it consisted of the Upper Castle, which was the main stronghold of defence and the Lower Town, the fortified suburb. Public administration, hetman residence and government, General Military Chancellery, archive, treasury and mint cossack state were concentrated in Chyhyryn. Great Cossack congresses, meetings, councils and reception of foreign ambassadors were held there.

Subotiv

One of the most famous villages of Chyhyryn is situated on steep hills of Tyasmyn’s right bank where the river Suba flows. The name of the village hasn’t any relation to the Ukrainian word “subota” (which in English means “Saturday”). According to one version, it has derived from the word “subotka “a live fire from oak firewood that was in front of Perun. According to another version, it has come from the name of the place where water from two rivers combines, know as "suvod'.

Archaeological sources show that people have lived there since the Neolithic period. In the village and its surroundings were found many archaeological sites: the multi Neolithic settlement of early Slavs, three settlements of Chornoliska culture, two settlements of Scythian period, tumulus burial ground "Three Brothers" and other.

All this territory was donated to Mykhailo Khmelnytsky (the father of Bohdan Khmelnytsky). And exactly there the future hetman of Ukraine spent his childhood.

Historian evidence that during the Cecera battle Bohdan khmelnytsky was captured as a prisoner and his father was tragically killed. In two years Bohdan Khmelnytsky was free. After the numerous successful campaigns he left the Zaporozhian Host and settled down to married life and developed his parental farm.

Later on he built a huge castle where his family, servants and Cossack chairmen lived.

In 1651-1653 at his own cost and expense Khmelnytsky constructed an Illinska Church and testated to bury him in its walls.

Be ready for horse riding, to visit the Illinska Church, Bohdan’s Castle, Ethnic Museum, to buy original souvenirs, to try the national drink called varenukha (which is an alcoholic drink that consists of moonshine, honey, apples, pears, plumbs, cherries and spices)

Kholodnyi Yar

Kholodnyi Yar’s forest is a sacred place for every Ukrainian. Kholodnyi Yar and Chyhyryn are places of the rebellious Cossacks’ spirits, glorious and brave defenders of Ukraine.

On the territory of Kholodnyi Yar or near it were the ancient trade routes located: Chornyi, Kuchmanskyi, Zaloznyi, and the Chumaks' Way used by Turks for invasions. Some scientists suppose that the town’s name Chyhyryn derives from the Turkic word “chyhyr” and means “the way”.

Kholodnyi Yar is a relict forest, which despite the relatively small area - more than 7000 hectares, has a great historical significance. The relief of Kholodnyi Yar is hilly, with lots of deep lowlands surrounded by mountains, which local people call canyons. Each tract, ravine, field, forest, river and stream has its eloquent title.

The deepest and the largest cavin and its territory is also called Kholodnyi Yar.

Melnyky excursion, Motoryna mountain, Scythian town, dinner near the 1000 year-old oak, Motronynskyi monastery – excursion, caves

THE PROGRAM OF THE TRIP

The tours are held every weekend, 149. - UAH

Children under 6 years - free, children under 12 years - 50%, students - 10%

Family Package (2 adults, 1 child) - 375 .-UAH

Plan of the trip

1 day
Cherkasy	7:00	Group departure from Cherkasy, Smilyanska Str., 2
Chyhyryn	9:00 11:30	Zamkova Hora (Castle Hill), Bohdan’s town, Bohdan’s museum, archeological museum, kurgan barrows
Subotiv	12:00 13:00	Illinska Church, Bohdan’s castle, ethnic museum, souvenirs, varenukha (!), horse riding
Dinner	13:30 14:30	Dinner in restaurant "Dykyi Khutir" near the 1000 year-old oak
Kholodnyi Yar	14:30 16:00	Melnyky excursion, Motoryna mountain, Scythian town, Motronynskyi monastery – excursion, caves
Cherkasy	20:00	Return in Cherkasy