Sometimes, there comes a moment when you get tired of the bustling rhythm of the city, of the monotonous noise, of the grayness and mundanity of city buildings, of the constant chaotic movement of transport and people.
It is at such moments when we want to relax and change the usual urban landscape to something picturesque and exciting that we begin to look for unusual and exciting places to travel. The easiest way to get distracted from everyday life is in parks, especially when there is not as much time for rest as we would like. Therefore, we suggest visiting the unique and picturesque Sofiivka dendrological park in the city of Uman. This place was created for love, shrouded in romantic legends, permeated with sunlight and filled with the aromas of flowering plants in spring and summer.
Marquise of Angels
The source of inspiration for the creation of the most beautiful park-arboretum was the inexhaustible power of love of the Polish magnate Stanisław Potocki for his wife Sophia. A woman about whom novels could be written more powerful than any women's stories. One version of her biography speaks of her noble Greek origin, although another claims that her lineage dates back to a cattle dealer. A beautiful woman played many real roles during her life - a courtesan, a pimp, a wife, a mistress, all of them of different, but equally eminent noblemen, among them Grigory Potemkin. This intelligent beauty, as contemporaries said, was not far from political or spy games.
But with all the variety of her talents, the main one is in another. In the fact that she carefully, so "femininely" delicately hinted to Pototsky, who was madly in love with her, that in the Uman lands it would be appropriate and wonderful to create something like the Arcadia Park, located not far from Neborov. And so the countdown of the history of the famous Sofiyivka began.
The life of this couple was filled with many very different events, but they played a major role in the creation of the park. In 1796, engineer Ludwig Metzel undertook the construction of a park in the Kamyanka tract. The park was named in honor of Sophia Hlyavona - her surname before she became Potocka in April 1798.
And the work began to boil. The earth and rocky barriers erupted, the picks of invited workers rumbled, who were punching grottoes in the rocks, later called the grottoes of Diana and Calypso. A system of water resources was developed, ponds were dug. Trees and shrubs were planted. Work was found for more than 800 peasants. The financing of the park reached 2,000,250 rubles in silver. And already on quiet May days, Sophia could be met on the alleys of the newly created park - such a gift for her name day was prepared by a landowner in love. And he named the park after her. Not every beauty can receive such a declaration of love. However, in addition to Potocka, the park was owned by another important person - Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Emperor Nicholas I. In 1832, when the uprising in Poland was suppressed and all the possessions of the noble Potocki were confiscated, the park became a gift for someone else.
Romantic spirit of antiquity
Now Sofiivka is the National Dendrological Park of Ukraine, and also plays the role of a research institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Today, you can see 3323 species of different sizes, shapes and varieties of trees, shrubs and other flora, local and exotic. It is unlikely that one visit will be enough to see and fully appreciate the beauty and diversity of the park, but even one meeting with it is enough to fall in love with this place and want to return here again and again.
The area of the park is quite large and amounts to 179.2 hectares of land. It has not only diverse and amazing vegetation, but also many other masterpieces created by human hands from natural materials. Without changing anything significantly, new almost natural wonders were created, slightly straightening something, slightly supplementing or processing something. And here we have: the Flora Pavilion, the Assembly Square, the Serpent Fountain, the Tarpeian Rock, the Grotto of Fears and Doubts, the Venetian Bridge, the Grotto of Scylla, statues of gods and heroes of ancient Greek and Roman myths, a waterfall falling from a great height, the Valley of the Cyclops, a river running underground, snow-white swans, nimble humpback whales on the flat water surface of the pond.
Walking through the park, you seem to be transported back to the times of antiquity. You discover statues shyly hidden in secluded corners, a new turn reveals tall flowering trees before you, you see sparkling fish in the depths of the waters. And you want to stay here to live, in this peace of the ancient idyll.
One day will clearly not be enough to see all the attractions of the park. However, even in this short period of time you will be able to enjoy the peace, greenery, and clean air of the park.
Sofiivka Park opening hours
The official time when you can visit the park is from April 12 to November 15. The opening hours usually start at 9 am. For an additional fee, which is not included in the standard ticket price, you can walk along the underground river called Acheron, ride with the breeze on a catamaran or ferry, on land - on horseback or in a carriage, whichever suits your taste.
Features of recreation in the Sofiivka dendrological park
On weekends and holidays, the number of people wishing to enjoy their vacation here is simply huge. Therefore, we highly recommend that you visit the park on weekdays - it is both quieter and the ticket price is lower. This way you will be able to stroll through the park's alleys almost alone, which is impossible on weekends, walking in the stream of tourists.
As for the time of year when the park is most beautiful and can fully open up to you, it is spring, the time when all the trees bloom and open up to the sun and air, or golden autumn, closer to November. It is then that there is an opportunity to briefly touch the very heart of the beauty of Sofiivka, who, like every woman, is reverent about her appearance.
At the end of September or in October, the Jewish New Year falls - this is worth considering, because at this time the Hasidim go on their pilgrimage - they go to Uman to the grave of Tzadik Nachman. There they celebrate Rosh Hashanah. It is also better to spend these days in another place and not disturb them.
There are two modern and comfortable hotels in the park, and a cafe is open. It is very romantic to stay in one of the hotels - at night the magical aroma of the park will float through the windows. You can also stay in other hotels in Uman - of course, a little further from the park, but it is more pleasant for the traveler's budget. It is better to eat in a restaurant or cafe, you can take provisions from home, but you should not risk trying to get enough food at the local bus station, however, as at most of them. This will not only not be tasty, but may also be harmful. If your plans did not include staying for more than one day - well, this option is also not bad, especially for the first time. You can plan a longer visit later, for the future. You will spend a maximum of three to four hours on the road from Kyiv to Uman, so these distances are not so great. You can get there both by train and by bus, the main thing is to catch the last one. If you are traveling by car, we recommend leaving early - it may not be easy to find a parking space.
Summarizing all that has been said, you will remember the time spent in Sofiivka Park forever and will probably want to repeat the visit again and again.
Based on materials from igotoworld.com
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