Ukraine might not be the best-known country in the world, but it’s certainly home to some amazing historical and cultural landmarks.
To make it even better, the people of Ukraine were allowed to vote back in July 2007 which ones should be included in a list referred to as the “7 Wonders of Ukraine.”
This was around the same time that people from all around the world were able to vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World which were supposed to replace the old list with Ancient Wonders, of which only the Great Pyramid of Giza still stands.
So what did the people of Ukraine decide? In this list, you’ll find out!
1. Khortytsia
Khortytsia is the name of the largest island on the River Dnieper, the main river in Ukraine and one of the major rivers in Europe. This river island has a total length of 12.5 kilometers (7.77 miles), a width of 2.5 kilometers (1.55 miles), and covers an area of 23.59 square kilometers (9.11 square miles).
The island has played an important role in the history of Ukraine and has a unique flora and fauna as well. The rocky northern part of the island reaches a height of 30 meters (98 feet) above the river and contains oak groves, spruce woods, meadows, and steppe.
2. Kamianets National Historic-Architectural Reserve
Kamianets-Podilskyi is a city located on the Smotrych River in the western part of the country. It has a rich history and is believed to have been founded by the Dacians in Roman times.
Over the centuries, numerous people have lived in the city who all left their mark on it. Therefore, the city is rich in architectural sites including the cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Holy Trinity Church, the city hall building, and multiple castles. Because of this, the city has grown into the main tourist center of Western Ukraine since the 1990s.
3. Khotyn Fortress
Khotyn Fortress is another castle located in the western part of the country near the Dniester River. It’s named after the city it’s located in, Khotyn, in the Chernivtsi Oblast province.
The castle is located on the boundary of the historical Bessarabia region in Eastern Europe, now the border between Ukraine and Moldova. This is not too far from the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. The construction of this famous castle started in the year 1325 and was improved multiple times, once in the 1380s and another time in the 1460s.
4. Sofiyivsky Park
Sofiyivka Park is a type of botanical garden referred to as an arboretum. It also includes a scientific research center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It’s located in the central part of Ukraine in a city called Uman in the Cherkasy Oblast province.
The park is located near the Kamianka River and was established in 1991. It covers an area of 1.79 square kilometers (0.69 square miles) of which many parts resemble a traditional English Garden. It has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country and is visited by over half a million people every year.
5. Saint Sophia Cathedral
Saint Sophia Cathedral is one of the most famous churches in the country is located in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv. It’s also the first monument in the country to have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1990.
Apart from the main building it also features several other structures including the bell tower and the House of Metropolitan. It was named after another famous church, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which was completed in the 6th century. The Saint Sophia Cathedral was completed in the 11th century and the church was founded in the year 1011 making it one of the most fascinating of the 7 wonders of Ukraine.
6. Chersonesos Taurica
Chersonesos Taurica is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Ukraine as it holds the remains of a Greek Colony that was founded over 2,500 years ago. The site is located in the southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula and is now often simply referred to as “Cherson.”
The Ancient city was founded on the shores of the Black Sea near the suburbs of the modern-day city of Sevastopol. The word “Chersonesos” means “peninsula” in Greek which describes the location of the city. In ancient times, the city of Chersonesus which is now one of the 7 wonders of Ukraine already operated as a democracy.
7. Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is also known as the “Kyiv Monastery of the Caves” is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery. It’s located in the Kyiv neighborhood to which it gave its name and it was founded as the cave monastery in the year 1051.
It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral in the year 1990 even though it’s not part of the same sanctuary and is not located in the same area of the city. What’s remarkable about this historical site is that it’s still active and over 100 monks currently reside at the monastery!
