Holiday in Kharkiv

About Kharkiv

Kharkiv is the second largest city in Ukraine and was the first capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1919 to 1934. The city in the northeast of the country is a significant university and cultural center with a rich architectural history ranging from the constructivism of the 1920s to baroque churches. Note: Kharkiv has been heavily affected by armed conflict since February 2022. The following descriptions refer to the cultural and historical significance of the city. Travelers should urgently check the current security situation before considering a visit. Freedom Square (Ploshcha Svobody) was the largest square in Europe at the time of its establishment in the 1920s and one of the largest in the world: over 12 hectares in size, dominated by the Derzhprom building, a milestone of Soviet constructivism, completed in 1928. The structure consists of three interconnected high-rise buildings with air bridges and is considered one of the first high-rise complexes in Europe. Kharkiv University (Karazin University), founded in 1804, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Eastern Europe. Nobel laureate Ilya Mechnikov (Medicine, 1908) and numerous other scholars taught here. The university building in neoclassical style shapes Sumska Street, the main boulevard of the city. The Assumption Cathedral with its golden dome and the Pokrovsky Monastery are among the most impressive sacred buildings. Gorky Park and Shevchenko Park offer green oases in the city center. The Kharkiv Art Gallery houses one of the largest collections of Ukrainian and Russian painting.