Kamianets-Podilskyi is a city that could not fail to appear, the only one in Ukraine, and even more so in the world, unique and full of history.
An island on earth, home to seven different cultures, a mixture of ethnicities: being in this city, you feel like you are in Ancient Rus, in Uniate Poland-Lithuania, in Catholic Europe, not to mention the Muslim East or, where else – in the land of Israel. A traveler who has crossed the city border is immersed in the warmth and comfort that can only be felt here – you are at home. And at the same time, you are in the past, transported back centuries, such is the effect of this magical city. Here, different confessions coexist side by side, proud of their temples of various shapes. Magical places – canyons with sharp slopes, bridges from which it is impossible to look down, ancient architectural structures, and without a doubt the local pearl – the old fortress.
And that's all – Kamianets-Podilskyi, the famous flower on the stone.
Since ancient times
The limestone island, which grew out of the land, served as a home for people for a very long time, since the Paleolithic period. It is surrounded by the Smotrych River, and it was here that the "Kamenets land" arose.
There is no clear date of birth that all historians would agree on - it is rather conditional, where one boundary is the 2nd-3rd century, and the other is the 14th.
But despite the arbitrary opinion of chroniclers regarding the date, the city, according to the guidelines of Magdeburg law, received self-government in the second half of the 14th century. And it was here that the Armenian community, the largest in Russia, was located and felt very comfortable.
The attractive city became a prize in the struggle between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, with the latter winning the battle. Thus, from 1434, Kamianets-Podilskyi became the center of the Polish province.
A combination of different cultures
The end of the 17th century brought the city the next stage - the times of Turkish rule. This stage lasted 27 years. And during this time, the Poles, who could not accept the loss of the magnificent city, made efforts to return it. And they succeeded, in 1699, the Treaty of Karlowitz secured the city for the Poles.
Another period of Polish history in the life of Kamianets has come. Craft workshops have developed, a statue of the Virgin Mary was installed on the minaret (an echo of Turkish culture) of the cathedral. The persecution of Jews, the arrival of Peter I, the departure from the banks of the local river Smotrych, which damaged houses and even fortified fortresses, and terrible outbreaks of plague are the main historical facts of the city of that period.
In 1812, the fortress was turned into a prison. The first, unfortunately not a guest, but a permanent resident, was Ustym Karmelyuk, about whom legends were made. The 19th century was the beginning of the expansion of the city and the transition to the opposite bank of the Smotrych. This was facilitated by the newly built Novoplanivskyi Bridge, 136 meters long and 38 meters high.
The twentieth century was remembered by the city for the short (two days) rule of the Austro-Hungarians, the creation of the State All-Ukrainian University, and for six months the city proudly called itself the capital of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
Overall, the Podolsk land has a rather eventful and interesting past.
Echoes of the past
The history of the city is also interesting for its various architectural monuments. Their concentration and richness in such a small area gives Kamianets an undisputed victory even over the glorious Lviv.
The easiest way to get to Kamianets-Podilskyi is by train. For example, from the capital, it is convenient to get here by the following trains:
- Podolsk Express. The journey takes 7 hours.
- Night train No. 139, departure time – 9 p.m. You will arrive in the city at 5:30 a.m. The only pity is that the schedule of this train is very tricky, even or odd days alternate, you have to be careful.
And there is a new one – 111 "Bukovyna". Departure time is at 8 pm, in Kamianets-Podilskyi at 3:24 am.
To get to the Old Town, walking from the railway station - the path is simple: Pryvokzalna Street will take you to Koriatovychi - and this artery of the city will lead you to your destination. It is here that the bus station and the market are located, Koriatovychi Street will be your path into history. You can use transport, but the road is interesting and short - 30-40 minutes, so a walk will give much more pleasure than a trip by public transport.
And here it all begins. We recommend that you do not miss the most interesting places in the city:
- The Town Hall. It was built in the 1430s-1440s. The clock, which has been operating since 1884, deserves special attention.
- The Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This is the one with the minaret in the courtyard - by the way, it is the only one that combines so many different religious buildings. The cathedral is also famous for its organ music and Laura's tombstone.
- Trinitarian Church. It was built in 1750-1765, in the Baroque style, and is located on the way to the Fortress.
- St. Nicholas Church. One of the oldest churches in Kamianets.
Monument of the Seven Cultures. It is a reinforced concrete disk, which is a symbol of historical millstones. Around it are seven stones, and each of them symbolizes a people that left its mark on history. The path to the monument is quite simple, but not short. To do this, you will have to completely bypass the fortress, so you will find yourself in the place where the soldiers stood, attacking the fortification from the front. This will allow you to feel like a military commander.- Novoplanivsky and Zamkovy (Turkish) bridges. You can't pass them without noticing them, even if you wanted to.
And these are just a small number of famous and interesting ancient buildings in Kamianets-Podilskyi. The architecture here makes you look at each building, losing track of time.
You will get great satisfaction if:
- Descend from the sky, from the bridge to the very foot of the Old Fortress, and there you will see the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (which was built to replace a 17th-century temple) and the Russian Gate (1527).
- You will walk along thin but safe suspension bridges to the waterfall near the Novoplanivskyi Bridge.
- You will take a leisurely walk through the alleys of the Old Town, even though they may take you off the direct road to the castle.
- You can take some time to visit the Khotyn Fortress, 20 km from the city. You can get there by suburban bus or hitchhiking.
You will not regret this trip!
Organizational and household issues when traveling and
There are plenty of hotels in the city, but they are becoming increasingly expensive. One of the more economical options is to rent an apartment for a few days.
A trip to Kamianets-Podilskyi is a great option for spending the weekend; with proper planning of such a trip, it is quite possible to make it to work on Monday.
To ensure maximum comfort and ease of movement along tourist routes, it is better to look for accommodation closer to the city of Novoplanivs'koye, but no further than a 30-40 minute walk. This will allow you to spend time in picturesque places, and not in search of a way from new areas, or admiring the view from the minibus window, or on the road during the night. 
The issue of food can be solved very easily, there are many places for this, but do not forget - the closer you get to the fortress, the more expensive the food will be. It is quite possible to do without expensive restaurants by making your own food supplies - a sandwich or a piece of sausage stocked in advance will allow you not to be distracted from contemplating the beautiful views.
But the issues of food and accommodation are the least of the concerns of visitors to Kamianets. Unlike the question of where to find more time to visit the maximum number of attractions of this beautiful city. Flowers on a stone, blooming again and again.
Based on materials from igotoworld.com
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