Chernihiv
Ukraine · Europe
About Chernihiv
Chernihiv is a city and municipality in northern Ukraine, which serves as the administrative center of Chernihiv Oblast and Chernihiv Raion within the oblast. Chernihiv's population is 282,747 (2022 estimate).
Originally a tribal centre of Siverians, in the 9th century Chernihiv was incorporated into the Rus' state, becoming its second most important city after Kyiv. Between the 11th and 13th century it served as the centre of an eponymous principality and a bishopric. Chernihiv's role as an important cultural and religious centre of Rus' is signified by numerous churches preserved from that era. Following the Tatar invasion the city lost its leading role in Siveria and was eventually incorporated by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but suffered from Tatar and Muscovite attacks. During most of the 16th century Chernihiv was part of the Tsardom of Moscow, but in 1618 was transferred to Poland and served as a centre of a voivodeship. In 1623 the city was awarded with Magdeburg Law.
Chernihiv experienced a new rise in its importance following its incorporation into the Cossack Hetmanate. During the late 17th and early 18th century the city served as a major cultural centre of Ukraine, and many of its structures were rebuilt in Ukrainian Baroque style. In 1700 a collegium was established in the city. Following the Hetanate's disbandment, in 1782 Chernihiv became part of an eponymous viceroyalty, which was later transformed into Chernigov Governorate. In the Russian Empire it functioned as a centre of administration, trade and crafts. During that period Chernihiv became a hotspot of culture, science and publishing. During the 19th century the city housed a Ukrainian autonomist circle and saw the emergence of a radical Hromada movement. Among its notable inhabitants was the Ukrainian writer Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky.
After the February Revolution a Free Cossack militia was formed in Chernihiv, and it came under control of the Ukrainian Central Rada. After the end of the Russian Civil War the city became the centre of an eponymous region as part of Soviet Ukraine, one of republics of the Soviet Union. Under Soviet rule Chernihiv underwent rapid industrialization. Severely damaged during World War II, in its aftermath the city was rebuilt according to a new plan. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 Chernihiv was designated as a Hero City of Ukraine by the Ukrainian government.
Chernihiv travel guide
Understand
In the medieval times Chernihiv, in the north of Ukraine 150 km from the city of Kyiv, was the second most significant center of the ancient Rus' state. Five Orthodox Churches, the gems of ancient Rus' art, came down to us almost intact from the times of Kyivan Rus' state.
Getting there
By train 1 Chernihiv Railway station (Залізничний вокзал "Чернігів"), Peremohy ave., 1, ☏ +380 462 77-43-75, +380 462 222 005. 2 Chernihiv-Pivnichnyi Railway station (Залізнична станція Чернігів-Північний), Borysenka str. (North 3km.), ☏ +380 462 657681.
By bus Buses (80 грн) leave from Kyiv's Lisova Metro station when they are full, usually every 15 to 20 minutes. Buses also leave from the Chernihiv Metro station (80 грн), and are easily reached by walking out the exit, turning left, walking on the sidewalk over the train line to the adjacent highway. The buses stand "in line", and you take the bus furthest down the line (i.e. the first one in the line). These small buses are called Mashrytkas and leave every 15 to 20 minutes. These same buses leave from Chernihiv to return to Kyiv frequently throughout the day from various stops, including at the McDonalds, in front of the Mega Mall on Prospekt Mira, and on Prospect Pobeda just before it intersects with Prospect Mira.
Bus station #1 Chernihiv (Автобусний вокзал No.1), Peremohy ave., 3, ☏ +380 462 2 4-50-27, +380 462 222004. Bus station #2 (Автостанція №2), Murynsona str., 27., ☏ +380 462 2 4-10-36. Bus station #3 (Автостанція №3), 50 Rosiv SRSR str., 5, ☏ +380 462 2 3-70-97.
Getting around
By public transport Chernihiv has a convenient public transport system:
16 bus routes 8 trolleybus routes Single ride tickets in buses cost 8-12 грн, in trolleybuses — 8 грн. Schedules are available on the official website (in Ukrainian). You can also check information about public transport on DozoR (in Ukrainian), EasyWay and Google Maps.
By taxi Taxi is the easiest way of getting around the city. Some popular taxi companies include:
Bolt (Болт). (updated Sep 2023) Uklon (Уклон). (updated Sep 2023) OnTaxi (ОнТаксі). (updated Sep 2023) Opti (Опті). (updated Sep 2023) Shark (Шарк). (updated Oct 2023)
See
Contemporary Chernihiv, is a charming provincial city. Its sites include a museum, several parks and green areas. The rose colored train station is an outstanding place to visit, as is the park at the town center which features a giant Lenin statue and a sober monument to the dead from the Afghan war. Just south of the city center, and an easy walk, is the theater and red square, the "Alley of Heroes" honoring the heroes from the Great Patriotic War (World War II), then on to Saint Catherine's Church, and then across the street lies the famous 'Val' where the most ancient of Chernihiv's churches are located. Chernihiv contains two functioning monasteries and ancient Orthodox churches around 1000 years old. A unique site is the Anthony Caves, where numerous relics of saints and the miracle making icons of Our Lady are found. All of these ancient sites make Chernihiv a sacred site of Orthodoxy. A one-day trip to Chernihiv offers a sightseeing tour including the visit to Detinets, the ancient center of the city, Our Savior Transfiguration, Sts. Boris and Gleb's, Assumption Cathedrals, St. Elijah's and Good Friday Churches known as the gems of ancient Rus' architecture, masterpieces of Ukrainian Baroque Holy Trinity Monastery, St. Catherine's Church, Collegium as well as St. Anthony's caves. The train station is a uniquely beautiful piece of architecture.
1 Resurrection Church (Воскресенська церква), Komsomolska str.,42. Built in Baroque style in the years 1772-1775. It is brick, stucco, stacked structure. Building of theological seminary and St. Theodore Church (Будівля Духовної семінарії, Федора церква), Polubotka Hetmana str., 40/2. In the beginning the XVIII item here was farmstead of the known colonel Paul Polubotka, and then to October revolution a spiritual seminary was disposed. Pseudo-Byzantine architecture or called the Bulgarian architecture. 2 Military & historical museum (Військово-історичний музей), Shevchenka str.,55A, ☏ +380 4622 3-01-87, +380 462 2 39040. Found in 1985. The exposition dedicated to the participation of Chernihiv in the Great Patriotic War. 3 V.Tarnovskyi Apartman Museum (Будинок музею українських старожитностей В.Тарновського), Shevchenka str., 63. Ukrainian antiquities museum collection, gathered by the well-known patron of Vasily Vasilyevich Tarnowski, owner and son Kachanivka friend of Taras Shevchenko. The old post-house of province treasury (Будівля поштової станції губернського казначейства), Horkoho str., 8. Now building of "Ukrainian Invstment Bank" 4 Chernihiv regional art museum, Horkoho str.. Built 19th cen
Do
Attend a performance at the Taras Shevchenko Chernihiv Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online for various plays and musical performances. Explore the Anthony Caves. This ancient underground monastery complex includes several churches, notably the impressive Theodosius Totemsky Church, the largest underground church in Ukraine.
Buy
Vena Shopping centre (Гіпермаркет "Вена"), Proektna str.,1 (1.5km, N), ☏ +380 462 65-30-73, +380 462 65-30-74. 08:00-21:00. Megatsentr Shopping centre (Торгово-розважальний комплекс "Мегацентр"), Myru ave., 49, ☏ +380 462 60-03-00. Hollywood (ТРЦ Голівуд (торгово-розважальний центр)). 10:00-22:00. (updated Dec 2015)
Eat
There is a Potato House on Prospekt Mira which serves Euro-Mexican. There is a McDonald's on Prospect Mira and a wonderful restaurant next to the city square named Senator.
Drink & nightlife
There is a coffee shop named Chashka (meaning cup) in the Mega Mall.
Sleep
Center Hotel Hradets'kyi (Готель Градецький), Myru ave., 68, ☏ +380 462 661839, +380 462 661925. Hotel Ukraine (Готель "Україна"), Myru ave., 35, ☏ +380 462 67-41-77. Optima Collection Chernihiv (Optima Collection Чернігів), 22/28 Het'mana Polubotka Street, ☏ +380 462616116, +380 672382024, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. From 1,530 грн. (updated Sep 2023)
Desna river Hotel N.M.Ts. (Готель НМЦ), Shevchenka str., 105A, ☏ +380 462 95-23-69. Hotel Prydesnianskyi (Готель Придеснянський), Shevchenka str.,99A, ☏ +380 462 954802. Hotel Bryansk (Готель Брянськ), Shevchenka str., 103, ☏ +380 4622 3-07-18, +380 4622 3-37-57, +380 4622 3-57-50. 1 Park-Hotel Chernihiv (Парк-готель Чернігів), Shevchenka str., 103-a, ☏ +38 (0462) 64 -64 -64, [email protected]. Hotel Zolotiy bereg (Готель Золотий берег), Berehova str., 16, ☏ +380 462 61-30-04.
Other Hotel Berezki (Готель Берізки), Kiltseva str., 16, ☏ +380 462 61-34-08, +380 462 61-48-84.
Go next
Sedniv (Седнів). 30 km east. There are Wooden Church of Grygoi, beautiful river Snov and greet hills is around. It's very ancient town of Chernihiv region (second after Chernihiv). Nizhyn (Ніжин). 90 km southeast. There are Complex Vvedensky convent, Church of the Ascension, Nezhinskaya Fortress etc. Novhorod Siverskyi (Новгород-Сіверський). 175 km northeast. The town is the former residence of the Chernihiv metropolitans, the monastery of the Saviour's Transfiguration. It features a ponderous Neoclassical cathedral (1791), 17th-century stone walls, and several ecclesiastic foundations, dating from the 16th century. Other landmarks include the Cossack Baroque Assumption cathedral, a triumphal arch (1787), and the wooden church of St. Nicholas. Chernobyl Nuclear Exclusion Zone – The site of the worst nuclear accident in mankind's history
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.