Chernivtsi

Chernivtsi like every city in the region has long and complicated history. A fortress existed here before 13th century and was destroyed by Mongol invasion, later the settlement was part of Poland, Moldavia and Austria-Hungary (Chernivtsi was the capital of one of the regions - Bukovina, this was the time of greatest development). In 20th century Chernivtsi belonged to Romania, the USSR and, since 1991, independent Ukraine.
The city was always very multinational. Jews, Ukrainians, Romanians, Germans, Poles, Roma, etc. mixed here. In 1930 Jews were 27% of the population, today it's 1.2%. During World War II, Chernivtsi was captured by both sides. During the rule of Romanian military dictator Ion Antonescu (Romania was part of Axis forces at that time) around 50,000 Bukovinian Jews were confined to the ghetto built in the city and later moved to concentration camps. Romanian city mayor Traian Popovici and army officers were able to save 20,000 Chernivtsi Jews.

Ukrainian is nowadays the only official language in all of Ukraine (apart from Crimea) and it is also spoken by most of its population (about 70 percent speak it as their first language). Western Ukraine is also the part of Ukraine where the Ukrainian language is most strongly rooted.
However, most people you will come across inside Chernivtsi will also speak Russian. If you leave to the surrounding villages, this situation may change. Everyone understands Russian, but some may respond in Ukrainian, a language they feel more comfortable with. Ukrainian is only partially intelligible with Russian.
If you speak Polish or Slovak you may try it as well since these languages are relatively similar to Ukrainian. There is also a Polish minority in Chernivtsi.
As the entire Bukovina used to belong to Romania prior to World War II, a large Romanian population in Northern Bukovina (about 20 percent) still speaks Romanian. This is true mostly for the areas near the Romanian border, rather than the regional capital. As with other Romanian speakers they can also understand Italian and some other Romance languages to a certain extent.
English and German are the two most common foreign languages in Ukraine (except Russian) although you should not expect to find many speakers of these languages around. Some Jews in Chernivtsi may speak Yiddish which is intelligible with German and there are some elderly native German speakers.

By plane

• Chernivtsi airport

  address: Vulitsa Chkalova, 30
  Flights to Kiev, Athens, Istanbul and Naples among others. Other nearby airports are Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lviv and Suceava (Romania).

By train

• Chernivtsi-Central Train Station

  phone: +380 372 592190
  address: Vulitsa Gagarina, 38
  Kyiv (85 грн, 12½ to 15 hr, 2/day), Lviv (50 грн, 5½ to 11 hr, 3 daily) go via Ivano-Frankivsk. Local trains go to Kolomyya (5 грн, 2 to 2½ hr, at least 4/day. You can get to Chernivtsi by train either from Romania or from within Ukraine. The train from Kiev or Lviv is probably the best option as they are comfortable and cheap.

• Chernivtsi-Pivnichna Railway station

  phone: +380 372 592423
  address: Zavods'ka str., 13
  Northern suburb station.

• Chernivtsi-Pivdenna Railway stations

  phone: +380 372 592300
  address: Malovokzalna str., 21
  Southern suburb station.

• Advance train ticket office

  phone: +380 429 24055
  address: Vulitsa Golovna (Головна вул), 12

By bus

• Central Bus station

  phone: +380 372 245620, +380 372 241628, +380 372 241635
  address: Vulitsa Golovna (Головна вул), 219
  There are frequent minibuses from Lviv to Chernivtsi (costing 106 грн as of end-2011). Buses to Khotyn (10 грн, 2 hr, half-hourly to hourly), Kamyanets-Podilsky (15 грн, 2½ hr, half-hourly), Ivano-Frankivsk (24 грн, 4 hr, at least 3 daily) and Lviv (42 грн, 7½ hr, at least 2 daily) . Services to Kyiv (90 грн to 100 грн, 9 hr, 2 daily) and Odesa (100 грн, 13 hr, 2 daily) to Simferopol in summer. To and from Kolomyya (12 грн, 1½ hr) do pass through Chernivtsi station, but many instead terminate at Kalynivsky Market, where you must change to local marshrutky. North, you can catch services from the market to Kolomyya, but the chaos makes choosing the right bus difficult. - One daily bus serves Chernivtsi from Suceava. The bus from Chernivtsi to Suceava (68 грн as of end-2011) leaves at 07:00 every day arriving in Suceava in Romania around 10:30-11:00 depending on the number of people on the bus and therefore the time spent crossing the border.

• Bus station №2

  phone: +380 3722 54-61-69
  address: Fastivska str., 33A

• Bus station №3

  address: Halytskyi Shliakh str., 4A

• Bus station #5

  phone: +380 372 571304
  address: Ruska str., 250

The city centre is small and you can manage it all by foot.

The old town is mainly of Baroque style. Most of Chernivtsi's attractions are located within the historical centre. Some of the centre is a pedestrian zone.

• Chernivtsi National University

  address: Kotsiubynskoho (вул. Коцюбинського), 2
  The complex was built in 19th century in historicist style used to be the palace of the Governor of Bukovina (in 2011 the residence was inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List). You can also visit its gardens and two churches.

• German House

  address: 53 Olha Kobylyanska Street,
  Concentrated cultural activities of the German-speaking inhabitants of the city. Now although their number decreased significantly it is still active. Built in 1908-1910. Architect: G.Frich in partnership with eng. E.Müller. The house was built for the fund collected by Verein der christlichen Deutschen in der Bukowina (Union of Christian Germans in Bukovyna) representing the German community in Bukovyna.

• Main (Central) Square ComplexThe town hall, the Museum of Arts, Taras Shevchenko monument, the old post office. Downtown represents Central Square, Market Square, which was the heart of the city for almost two centuries. The idea of ​​creating the area was born from the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. The architectural ensemble of the Market Square, which began to emerge at the turn of 18th-19th centuries, began to impersonate a new image of the city.

• Turetska Krynytsia Square Turkish Ensembles

  address: Square Turetskoi (Турецької Криниці пл.)
  In this part of town, just outside the city walls, the Turkish community living in the 17th century. Near the old wooden well Turks built stone fountain. Since ancient times, there was a city room, which operated till Soviet times. Also part of the square is a Turkish bridge (Турецький міст) built in 19th century. Recovered a wooden pavilion (джерелом павільйон) built in an Oriental style arcade over the fountain.

• Theatre Square

  address: Theatre Square

Sacred places

• Armenian Church

  address: Vulitsa Ukrainska (Українська вул), 30
  Built in 1869-75. Designed by Czech architect Glavka. Remarkable acoustic hall used since 1992 for concerts.

• St. Paraskeva Church

  address: Zankovetskoi str (Заньковецької вул), 24
  The first Orthodox stone church in the city - in 1864

• Former monastery

  address: vulytsya Chernyakhovs'koho ( вул. Черняхівського), 7?
  Built in the 1930s.

• Jesus Heart Church

  address: Vulitsa Tarasa Shevchenka (вул. Шевченка), 2
  Built in 1892-4, in Neogothic style.

• Lutheran Church

  address: Vulitsa Lozyvska, 20
  Built in 1873.

• New Synagogue

  address: Vulitsa Sadovskoho (Садовського вул.), 10
  Mordko and Taubi Kron Synagogue, built in the late 19th century, in neo-Romanesque style.

• Great Synagogue

  address: Vulitsa Barbiusa Anri ( Барбюса Анрі вул.), 31
  - Completed in 1853

• Synagogue Beit Biniamin Tfila

  address: Vulitsa Kobylytsi Lukyana (Кобилиці Лук'яна вул), 53
  Built in 1923. Well preserved. Of particular value are its internal painting by a local artist. From 1959 to 1994, it was the only functioning synagogue in the city.

• Former Synagogue 'Templ'

  address: Vulitsa Universytetska, 10
  Since 1959 a cinema. Renaissance and Gothic-style with exotic Moorish motifs.

• Choral Synagogue Beit Ares

  address: Vulitsa Mitskevycha (Міцкевича вул.), 8
  Built in the early 20th century, in the Moorish style. In 1952 was adapted for the gym. Now the building was restored, the facade has retained its old form.

• Holy Spirit Cathedral

  address: Vulitsa Holovna (Головна вул), 85
  Built on the initiative of Metropolitan Gakman E. in 1860, in the neo-Renaissance style. There is a monumental dome, height of 46 m.

• Jesuit church

  address: Vulitsa Bakhrushyna (Бахрушина вул.), 2
  - Built in the late 19th century, through application of the missionaries of the Society of Jesus.

• Uniate Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Church or Russian Orthodox Church

  address: Vulitsa Russian (Руська вул.), 28
  The 1st stone Greek Catholic church in Austrian times was called the Russian Church (i.e., the Ruthenian - Ukrainian).

• Saint Cross Cathedral

  address: Vulitsa Golovna (Головна вул), 20
  Built in 1787-1814. Rebuilt in 1814 on the personal order of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. after visited the city. Reconstructed in 1910. One of the few Catholic churches which survived the Soviet era. Almost fully preserved interiors.

• St. Anne Church

  address: Ivana Pidkovi st.(вул. Підкови І.), 10
  Built in the 1810s.

• St. Anthony Church

  address: Vulitsa Beethoven (Бетховена вул.), 4/5
  Part of the former Catholic monastery of the St. Urshuliia Leduhovska

• St. Nicholas Cathedral

  address: Vulitsa Ruska (Руська вул.), 35

• St. Nicholas Church

  address: Vulitsa Sagaydachnovo ( Сагайдачного 1-й пров.), 87-а
  Bukovinian style. Built in 1607. It is one of the earliest sites of wooden architecture in Bukovina. 1996 was restored.

• St. Nicholas Church

  address: Veresneva vulitsa (Вереснева вул), 4
  Built in the 1900s.

• St. Nicholas Church

  address: Vulitsa Petra Tkachuka (Ткачука вул), 1
  Built in the 1900s.

• St. Nicholas Church

  address: Vulitsa Оresta Маsikevycha?, 12
  Built in 1884.

• Former Seminar church, now Yuriy F. University

  address: Vulitsa Kotsiubynskoho ( Коцюбинського вул.), 2
  1878.

• Assumption Church

  address: Vulitsa Novoushytska (Новоушицька вул)
  1783.

• Gorecha, men's monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

  phone: +380 372 540304
  address: Vulitsa Troianivska (Троянівська вул.), 1

• Former Saint presentation of Mary female monastery

  address: Vulitsa Bukovinska (Буковинська вул.), 10

• Former monastery

  address: Ruska vulitsa (Руська вул.), 6
  Built in the 1890s.

Museums

• Chernivtsi Municipal MuseumDedicated to local history and natural history.

• Chernivsti Museum of Arts

  phone: +380 372 526071, +380 372 22607, +380 372 24222
  address: Square Tsentralna (Центральна площа), 10
  Exhibits local art from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as regional applied arts.

• Chernivtsi Museum of Bukovynian Jewish History and Culture

  phone: +380 372 550666, +380 50 271-4224
  address: Square Teatralna (Театральна площа), 5/1
  The Museum of Bukovynian Jewish History and Culture invites you to make a trip through time and feel the atmosphere of Jewish life in Bukovina in 1774-1941. The exhibition reflects the foundation, expansion and latterly decline of the Jewish community in the area. You’ll get the opportunity to see the unique documents and materials, authentic objects of the everyday life, exhibits of sacred objects and also you’ll get to know about the rich Jewish architectural heritage of the region.

• Museum of Ukrainian Diaspora

  phone: +380 372 523671
  address: Vulitsa Hlavky Yosypa (Главки Йосипа вул), 1A
  This museum focuses on the Ukrainian emigration from Bukovina, but also shows some cultural exponents from the German diaspora in Chernivtsi.

• Regional Museum Of Folk Architecture And Life

  phone: +380 372 262970, +380 372 907073
  address: Vulitsa Svitlovodska (Svetlovodskaya, Светловодская ул ) 2
  Outdoor architectural complex of traditional wooden buildings from Bukovina region, from 17th-20th centuries.

• Regional Art Museum

  address: Tsentralna sq.( Центральна площа), 8
  Built in 1901 by architect Aizenberg for Bukovyna savings bank. Viennese Art Nouveau style.

• Zoological museum

  address: Vulitsa Shillera, 5

• Fedkovicha Literary Museum

  phone: +380 372 525678
  address: Soborna sq. (пл. Соборна), 10

• Chernivtsi Regional Museum

  phone: +380 372 524489, +380 372 525062
  address: Vulitsa Kobylianskoi (вул. О.Кобилянської), 28

• Regional study of local lore museum

  address: Vulitsa Kobylianskoi (вул. О.Кобилянської), 26.

• Literature-memorial museum of Mikhai Eminesku

  address: Vulitsa Hakmana Mytropolyta (вул. Гакмана Митрополита), 17

• Shymonovych pharmacy museum

  address: Vulitsa Kobylianskoi (вул. О.Кобилянської), 43
  Built in the early 20th century in the neoclassical style.

• Museum of military history

  address: Vulitsa Frunze (вул. Фрунзе), 2

• Memorial Museum of Vladimir Ivasyuka

  phone: +380 372 550889
  address: Vul. Maiakovskoho (вул. Маяковського), 40

• Literary - memorial museum of the writer O.Yu.Kobylyanskoyi

  phone: +380 372 523671
  address: Vulytsya Yosypa Hlavky, (вул. Йозефа Главки), 1
  Other unit? Vul. Dimitrova ( Димитрова вул.), 5

• phone: +380 3722 44832
  address: Vulitsa Golovna (Головна вул), 220

Monuments

• First Electrical Station

  address: Vulitsa Mikhaya Emynenski, 1
  Built in 1813.

• Jewish Theater

  address: Vulitsa Friedrich Shillera, 11
  Built in 1890s.

• Monument of the Red Army in WWII

• Old Bristol HotelNow a medical student dormitory.

• Old Bukovina Regional Seym (Government)

  address: Vulitsa Metropolita Andreya Sheptytskovo, 10
  Built in 1875. Designed by the architect von Glaubits, with the participation of the Czech architect Y. Glávka in 1871-1873 years.

• Old Court of Justice

  address: Vulitsa Hrushevskoho, 1
  Constructed in 1904-1906 years. Now a seat of state administration.

• Old High School

  address: Vulitsa Ivana Franka, 2

• Old Office Building

  address: Tsentralnaya Square, 10
  Built in 1901.

• Old Province Office

  address: Vulitsa O. Popovina, 2
  Built between 1871 and 73.

• Railway Station

  address: Vulitsa Yuriya Gagarina, 32
  Built in 1907.

• University Library

  address: Vulitsa Lesy Ukrainki, 23; Vulitsa Kyevska, 2
  Built in 1956.

• Winery

  address: Vulitsa Leytenanta Pavla Nikitin, 3
  Founded in 1905.

• Dwelling 'Ship' house (Shyfa)

  address: Vulitsa Holovna, 25
  The building form resembling a ship (for Bukovynian dialect "Shyfa").

• House of the Governor-General Baron von Bukovyna Entsenberg

  address: Vulitsa Shkilna, 1
  This was the first stone apartment building in Chernivtsi.

• Former Jewish House

  address: Teatral'na sq., 5/4
  Today it is a palace of culture.

• Ukrainian National Home building

  address: Vulitsa Ukrainska,31.
  Built in 1899.

• Town hall and clock tower

  address: Tsentralna sq., 1
  The facade is decorated with coat of arms. Daily, the 50-foot clock tower rises trumpeter in folk Bukovynian costume and exactly at midday melody plays from the balcony of the song "Marichka" - a musical business card Bukovyna.

Day tours

• Balamutivka: Balamutivska cave, (Печера "Баламутівська").
• Khotyn Fortress (фортеця Хотин)State historical-architectural preserve
• Pogorilivka: Three levels cave, (Триярусна печера).
• Shepit: Waterfall Shepit Guk, (Водоспад "Сучавський гук").
• Toporivtsi St.Elias church, (Іллінської церкви) 1560.
• Vyzhnytsya: Vyzhnytskyi National Park, (Національний парк "Вижницький").

Parks

• Forest park 'Hariachyi Urban'

  address: ~Smotritskiy pereulok

• Central city park of the name of Shevchenko T.H.

  phone: +380 372 234191
  address: Holovna str.~100
  Here is the

• Zhovtnevyi park

  phone: +380 372 275674

• Cemetery

  address: Vulitsa Zelena
  First in 1866 buried here. There are a Romanian square stele, a Polish chapel and family vaults of the late 19th century.

Theatres

• Musical Society Hall (Philharmonic hall)

  phone: +380 372 524338, +380 372 525509
  address: Filarmonii sq. (пл. Филармонии), 10

• Chernivtsi Oblast Puppet Theatre

  address: Vulitsa Holovna, 22
  Former Colonel House (Будинок полковника). Built in 1782.

• Music and Drama Theatre. O. Kobylians'ka

  address: Teatralna sq., 1

Markets

• Bukovynskyi

  address: Vulitsa Stasiuka, 23

• Centralnyi

  address: Vulitsa Zahula D., 8

• Formarket

  address: Vulitsa Dubynska, 1

• Golovnyi

  address: Entuziastiv St., 2

• Gospodar

  address: Vulitsa Vilde I., 16

• Lileya

  address: Nezalezhnosti Ave., 129

• Nyzhnyi

  address: Vulitsa Udonova, 4

• Prut

  address: Vulitsa Gagarina, 66

• Selyanskyi

  address: Zankovetskoi St., 2

• Suchasnyk

  address: Vulitsa Biloruska, 23

• Verhnyi

  address: Vulitsa Zelena, 6

Shops

• Foxtrot Electronic

  address: Vulitsa Universytetska, 2

• Kolos Shopping Centre

  address: Teatral'na Sq., 5/4

• Maydan Shopping Centre

  address: Vulitsa Chervonoarmiiska, 71

• Millenium Shopping Centre

  address: Vulitsa Universytetska, 14

• Roxolana

  address: Vulitsa Moskovs'koi Olimpiady, 6A

• Ruta Shopping Centre

  address: Vulitsa Stasiuka, 20

• Café Français

  phone: +380 372 51 84 33
  address: Vulitsa Українська 1, зі сторони Шептицького
  You can eat some French food in a very good restaurant. The "filet mignon with gratin dauphinois" is very delicious. The interior decoration is also French.

• Wine cellar Count Vorontsov

  phone: +380 372 51-53-12
  address: Sh. Aleyhema 11
  Situated in the very centre, this is a very good place to settle down for a hearty meal in a 19th-century decor.

There is a good Sushi bar near the theatre.

• Chocolat

  address: Vulitsa Kobylyanskoi
  They have extremely thick chocolate here (served with a bit of water to thin it a little).

• Videnska Kava

  address: Vulitsa Kobylyanskoi
  A coffee house with impressive dessert selection and wide variety of coffees and teas served.

Budget

• TIU Chernivtsi Backpackers

  phone: +380 508 857049
  address: Apt 3, Vulitsa Sheptytskogo no 2
  The common room has computers, plasma tv with surround sound with English-speaking channels and the kitchen is fully equipped.

• International Hostel Chernivtsi Backpackers

  address: Vulitsa Zankovetska, 4

• Vokzal Rest Room

  address: Vulitsa Haharina, 38

• Like Hostel

  address: Eduarda Raysa Street (Улица Эдуарда Райса) 12/1
  Double from 200 грн, Dorm bed (14 bed) 80 грн, Dorm bed (6 bed), Dorm (12 bed) 100 грн

• Yard Hostel & Coffee Shop

  address: Olgy Kobylyanskoi Street, 10

Mid-range

• Andina Hotel

  address: Vulitsa Libavskaya, 22А

• Bukovinskay Zvezda Hotel

  address: Boiany settlement

• Cheremosh Hotel

  address: ул. Комарова, 13-а

• Delta

  phone: +380 372 2 4-43-10
  address: Vulitsa Haidara, 3

• Hotel Bukovina

  phone: +380 372 585625, +380 372 583600, +380 372 583625, +380 372 585633
  address: Vulitsa Holovna, 141
  - Rooms come with a tasty and big breakfast (even by American standards). They are not of communist vintage and they have good refrigerators, flat screens, and lots of 4 star amenities (quality restaurants downstairs, room service, complimentary toiletries).

• Hotel Kakadu

  address: Vulitsa Bilousova, 9

• Hotel Kiev

  address: Vulitsa Holovna, 46
  Friendly staff, affordable rooms and excellent location.

• Hotel Pod Lipami

  address: Sypyntsy village, Vulitsa Hоlоnaya, 25

• Hotel Premium

  phone: +380 372 528899 or +380 99 0303652
  address: Vulitsa Golvnaya, 124 B (ул. Главная 124 б)
  Some English, German speaking

• Hotel Turist

  phone: +380 372 2 3-98-11
  address: Vulitsa Chervonoarmiiska (Кrasnoarmeyskaya), 184

• Hotel Verhovina

  address: Tsentralna sq., 7

• Kayser Hotel

  phone: +380 372 585 275
  address: Vulitsa Haharina (Gagarin), 51

• Kiev Hotel

  address: Vulitsa Gоlоvnа, 46

• Koral Hotel

• Leoton

  address: Vulitsa Chkalova, 30

• Magnat

  phone: +380 372 526 420
  address: Тоlstovo ul.(вулиця Льва Толстого), 16а

• Motel

  address: Hlybots'kyi district,

• Magnat-Lux

  address: Vulitsa Sheptitskovo (вулиця Шептицького), 6

• Mriya

  address: Vulitsa Holovna, 285

• Panorama Hotel

  address: Vulitsa Prypyatska, 6

• Premier Klub Hotel

  address: Vulitsa Zhasminnaya, 4-Д

• Privat Apartman

  address: Vulitsa 28 jun., 28. 3rd fl.
  - ул. 28 июня. дом 18 3-й этаж

• Prut

  address: Teatralnaya square, 3

Splurge

• Knaus Hotel

  address: Vulitsa Khudiakova, 4

Post offices

• No. 1 Post-office

  phone: +380-37-255-38-62
  address: Vulitsa Chervonoarmiiska, (вул. Червоноармійська) 52

• No.2 Ukrposhta, Main Post Office

  phone: +380-37-252-62-97
  address: Khudiakova St.,(вул. Худякова) 6

• No.4 Post-office

  phone: +380 37-252-28-11
  address: Vulitsa Gorikhivska, (вул. Горіхівська) 8

• No. 7 Post-office

  phone: +380 37 252-21-73
  address: Khotynska St., (вул. Хотинська) 7

• No.8 Post-office

  phone: +380-37-252-49-60
  address: Vulitsa Gagarina,(вул. Гагаріна) 36A

• No.10 Post-office

  phone: +380-37-252-51-74
  address: Vulitsa Grushevskovo, (вул. Грушевського,) 1

• Kamianets-Podilskyi used to be a county capital and still has a well preserved castle. It is about an hour away from Chernivtsi.
• The Painted Monasteries in Southern Bukovina a UNESCO heritage in Romania. It is geographically only about a 100 km from Chernivtsi, however crossing the border may be very time consuming.
• The Carpathians.
• Kolomyia a typical Gallician town which is now a centre of local crafts.
• Khotyn is a fortification on the Dniester river.