From love tunnel to Grand Canyon: the splendor of Ukraine must not be lost | Abroad

This wonderful place is located near the village of Klevan, in western Ukraine. The trees have grown together, so that this former train passage has now been upgraded to a ‘tunnel of love’. Legend has it that all the dreams of lovebirds come true when they walk hand in hand under the foliage. Please note: under normal circumstances a train runs through the tunnel three times a day to bring wood to the factory at the end of the track.

The oldest standing church in Kiev – erected in 1037 by Yaroslav the Wise – has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral mainly served as a showpiece to commemorate the victory over the Pechenegs (Asian nomad tribes; ed.). Christianity could also be glorified undisturbed. The refectory from the eighteenth century has since been transformed into a museum where visitors can learn about the medieval history of Kiev.

Small but cute: St. Nicolas Wondermaker Church is located on the Dnieper River and can be easily reached via a walkway in the port of Kiev. It is often the ideal wedding location for bridal couples.

Formerly a casino for Lviv’s elite, now an icon of Neo-Baroque architecture. The staircase in particular stands out because of its immense grandeur. The first floor contains eight luxurious rooms, as well as a library. The building is often used as a setting for historical films.

Zoloti Vorota is without a doubt one of the most impressive metro stations in Europe. Tourists who wanted to visit the old gateway to Kiev had to get off here. Today the construction serves as a… bomb shelter.

This chic district in Kiev was only created in 2000. Each facade is a work of art in itself, the colorful houses together form a rainbow. Vozdvizhenka is popular for a stylish photo shoot, but because of the sky-high prices hardly anyone will live there. The locals call this place the ‘dead city’ or the ‘haunted village for millionaires’.

A Grand Canyon in Ukraine? It shouldn’t get any crazier. And yet… This natural beauty is located fifty kilometers from Kherson, the first major city to fall into the hands of the Russians. The mountains were just now beginning to grow into a tourist attraction. Thanks to the Ukrainian singer Andriy Kuzmenko, who recorded his video clip there.

At 102 meters, this impressive monument is even a bit taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York. The sword alone weighs nine tons, the shield depicts the hammer and sickle of the Soviet Union. A museum is housed below the statue, focusing on Ukraine’s role in World War II.

Stay connected. And love each other. That message radiates from the mural in Popasna. The Donbass region has been ravaged by war for eight years, but children are not let down by it. Let it be a wise lesson…

For centuries the beating heart of Kiev and the most historic site in the country. Revolutions took place here (the last in 2014; ed.), victories were celebrated and festivals celebrated. Meanwhile, the Slavic goddess Berehynia towers over all activity. The square got its name in 1991, the year Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union.

Also read: INTERVIEW. Suddenly old threat of the atomic bomb is back: “Yes, Putin is a villain. But negotiate, please. Because there is nothing worse than a nuclear war.”