CHERNIVTSI in Ukraine, travel info,

Chernivtsi is a modern city filled with the thousands of faces of its citizens. In its beautiful natural setting are buildings of fine architecture, many sculpted monuments, green parks and inviting squares.

Chernivtsi in Ukraine continues to hold a prominent position among other Ukrainian and Eastern European cities. The city's ancient beginnings and significant history add to its charm and attraction for those interested in the Bukovynian Region.

 

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It's said that in the beginning it was built as a fort at the southern border of the Halych-Volyn Knighthood on the left bank of the Prut River and was called CHERN or "a black town." The use of the name was because of the black color of the fortress walls made of oak and for the dark rich, fertile surrounding soil.

The early fortress was completely destroyed by the Mongol conqueror Burundai and its citizens moved to the right bank of the river in autumn 1259. From 1359 the town became part of the Moldavian State.

The first written record about Chernivtsi was found in manuscripts of the Moldavian master Olexandr Dobryi (the Good), given to merchants from Lviv on October 8, 1408. Each year this date is officially celebrated as Chernivtsi's City Day. The town was situated on the crossroads of Northern-Western Europe, and the Balkans and Turkey. In 1457, it became a great marketplace and administrative center for the whole region. The town was destroyed several times, under the Osman Empire, and from 1774-1918 the Austrian Empire ruled it. From 1918-1940 the region was part of Romania. In 1774 there were about 290 families who lived in the town and suburbs and three wooden churches existed.

The city began to flourish in 1778 when Knight Karl Von Enzenberg was appointed as chief of the Military Administration of Chernivtsi. He invited many merchants, craftsmen and business people to help develop trade and other businesses. St.Peter's Fairs (July 1-15) had given a new vibrant impulse to the market development from 1786.

From the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century many architectural monuments were built and brought honor to the city: the Ratusha (the City Hall) (1848); the Telegraph (1855); the Armenian Cathedral (1875); the Jewish Synagogue (1877); the Drama Theater (1905); the Palace of Justice (1906); and the Train Station (1908).

 

The most precious thing in the treasury of famous architectural monuments in Chernivtsi - are the buildings that currently house the Chernivtsi State University, a masterpiece made by the Czech architect Josef Hlavka in 1875. They were originally the former residence of the Bukovynian metropolitans. It's Romanesque and Byzantine architecture is embellished with motifs of Ukrainian folk art, for example, the tile roof patterns duplicate the geometric designs of Ukrainian weavings.

The city became self-governing in March of 1864 when the community elected its first members of the city council.

The Council elected Mayor Yakiv (Jacob) Von Petrovych, as its first independent mayor of Chernivtsi in 1864-1866.

Mayor Anton Kochanovskyi Von Stavchan was famous for his political deeds, which made Chernivtsi a recognized European city in 1866-1874 and 1887-1905. During that time a number of different industries increased and Chernivtsi became an international transport center. The grocery stock exchange was opened, the water and sewer systems installed, the electric power plant was opened and an electric public transportation system was completed.

A new period of city development began in 1964-1972; when Mayor Vasyl Tolmach devoted his efforts to start the electronic and instrument-making industries, change the public transportation system. He also made many other innovative changes.

Mayor Pavlo Kaspruk (1985-1991) was the first to try more democratic changes during the difficult times in the 1980's. The Chernobyl accident, the pollution of the Dnister River and other ecological and economic problems were very challenging to the people of the region during this time. Mayor Kaspruk started the Sister-Cities Partnership Programs and Salt Lake City, Utah, USA was chosen as the first sister city.