The Ternopil Region: Tourist Gold Mine

by Natalia Rudnichenko © PANORAMA

I had heard about the unique beauty of the Ternopil region, its rich traditions and its hospitable citizens long ago. But that the Ternopil region is a real oasis for tourists was a real surprise for me! Extreme, green, regional, historic and spiritual tourism: Ukraine’s purest ecologic environment, 25 waterfalls and more than 100 caves, the Dnister river canyon (one of Europe’s longest!), 34 castles - and that is not all that this wonderful region has to offer the active traveller

Preparing to the tour the Ternopil region, I dug through various types of literature, materials from the Internet and finally even press-releases. But the old saying that “seeing once is better than hearing twice” was completely true in my case. “Speleological tour”, “float down the Dnister”, “excursion to old castles”, “journey on the trail of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army”: I thought these could only be words from a tourist booklet. Instead, they turned into time wonderfully spent and unforgettable memories, and overall left me with the sincere desire to return here again and again.

To Become a Yogi

The Ternopil region welcomed us with rain - not unusual weather for this region. But I had come prepared with a raincoat, umbrella and second pair of shoes, so everything was all right. In addition to what I brought it is advisable to bring two sets of comfortable sweat suits and a jacket, as well as clothes for hot weather including a swimsuit, flip-flops, sunglasses and hat.

The first stop our group made was at the village of Zaliske, 25 km from Ternopil. Nearby are the Mlynky Caves, where we were welcomed into the caves by instructors-guides who equipped us with coveralls and helmets with lanterns.

I will confess that the speleological tour (excursion through the caves) is only for people with strong nerves! It meant navigating through extremely narrow passages so that I felt like I might have to become a Yogi in order to do so! Only with incredible flexibility is it possible to complete the whole route. But it will give you a good dose of adrenaline and such sights! It is even a little bit romantic, because the underworld is full of natural wonders like stalactites and multi-colored crystals. Speaking of caves, Ukraine’s longest is in the Ternopil region - Optimistic Cave, 220 km long.

Trade Your Mouse for an Oar

The next morning in the village of Koropets we took a float down the Dnister. The catamaran’s route traversed the famous Dnister canyon - one of the longest in Europe (more than 250 km). Here the climate is mild and Mediterranean. According to historians, millions of years ago the warm Sarmatian Sea splashed here. In fact, from the end of the 19^th to the beginning of the 20^th century respectable and rich people from all over Europe came to vacation on the banks of the canyon.

Once on the Dnister our group rowed vigorously. Having traded our computer mouses for oars, everyone was now enjoying the clean air and luxurious natural surrounding: primeval forests, red rocky banks with thousand year old stone formations and numerous streams and waterfalls. I must confess that I really did not want to row but to just enjoy the unique landscapes and absorb all this incredible beauty. After our work-out with the oars it was nice to replenish our strength with tasty home cooking on the bank of the river.

In the evening we saw one more wonder of nature - the Silver Waterfall near the village of Skomorokhy. The waterfall is named so because the water appears silver in the sunlight. Walking along the waterfall, we drank from the Wishing Spring so we could return home and embrace our loved ones even stronger.

Journey Through the Ages

Those interested in history and folklore will enjoy the Ternopil region. In fact, in Kremenets I learned that Kiev University’s botanical garden named after the academician Fomin was taken from the botanical garden of the Kremenets Lyceum, famous throughout Europe in the 19^th century. In Koropets I visited Count Badenia’s Palace, built in the Viennese Renaissance style. Though the state of the former Count’s manor leaves much to be desired, the restoration work offers hope for the revival of its former grandeur.

Another project also currently under restoration is the Vyshnevetskyi Palace Complex, dated from the beginning of the 17^th century (the village of Vyshnevets, tel: (+38 3550) 312-24). In 1848 the famous Honore de Balzac even compared it with Versailles. Last year this family manor of the Vyshnevetski Princes earned the status of a monument of national significance. The once luxurious manor in the village of Zolotyi Potik, as well as the Yazlivetskyi, Kremenetskyi and Buchatskyi castles also all have historical significance. I was left with unforgettable memories at the village of Antonivtsi, where the headquarters, church and shelters of the Ukrainian Partisan Army were based. While there you can even speak with witnesses of those events.

Spiritual Purification

According to our ancestral traditions, the energy of your soul and body should be revived in places of natural energy pathways. The Ternopil region is impressive with the number of different Christian affiliated cathedrals, wonderworking icons and sacred places.

So after having prayed in the Pochayivska Lavra of the Holy Assumption (Pochayiv, tel: (+380 3546) 62-218), we went to the Holy Mountain near Kremenets. According to local legends, in the 13^th century a bright column arose and the Blessed Virgin came out from it. Now pilgrims from all parts of the world come here in order to receive healing and blessing. For this they have to spend a night on the mountain in the cave, awake in the morning with the light of dawn, then wash and have a drink of water from the healing stream nearby.

Refreshed after a peaceful night’s sleep, we then went to the village of Onyshkivtsi and the baths of St. Anne, 8 km from Kremenets. Throughout the year the temperature of the baths does not rise above +10, but the incredible cases of healing of those who have bathed in the waters with sincere faith and prayer prove to me that there is still nothing impossible for the Almighty.

Calling All Investors!

The Ternopil region is a real gold-mine for developing tourist related businesses. Wonderful ecological environment, rich natural surroundings and historic monuments all guarantee a myriad of tourist options and unforgettable travel experiences. Recently the Department of Tourism Affairs of the Ternopil Regional Administration approved a program for investors and is ready for constructive cooperation (www.oda.te.gov.ua).

Anyone searching for a great holiday or wanting to create wonderful vacation options for others, this legendary land of forests and mountains, castles and palaces, streams and caves - the “Ukrainian Mediterranean” - welcomes you! So now you have heard more than twice, and you need to see at least one time for yourself; because in Ternopil, and really throughout Ukraine there truly are lots of fantastic places!

Information for Tourists

Department of Tourist Affairs of the Ternopil Region Administration
Ternopil, tel: (+380 352) 43-3529,
web-site: www.ternotour.com.ua, E-mail: tourism tr@utel.net.ua

Castles of the Ternopil National Reserve
Zbarazh, tel: (+380 3550) 23-449, E-mail: diaz@zba.te.ukrtel.net

Kremenets-Pochayivskyi Reserve
Kremenets, tel: (+380 3546) 2-37-87, web-site: www.turdiaz.org.ua

Oksamyt KL Tour Operator
Organizing excursions, folk tours and also boat trips along the Dnister. Tel.: (+380 352) 43-0923, 52-7048, web-site: www.oksamyt-kl.com.ua, E-mail: oksamit@tim.net.ua

Places to Stay and Relax

Nad Strypoiu (Over Strypa) Tourist Base
In the primeval forest near Sribni Vodospady (Silver Waterfalls) and the Strypa River there are cottages with every convenience, coffee houses and sauna.
Skomorokhy village, tel: (+380 3544) 31-092

Pochaivskyi svit (Pochaiv World) centre
Modern hotel complex 2 km away from Pochaivska Lavra.
Pochaiv, tel: (+38050) 358-2105

Cells of the Yazlovetskyi cloister
Real coziness for those who want to rest both heart and soul
Yazlivets, tel: (+380 3544) 41-486.

Eden Hotel Complex
Comfortable rooms and a restaurant with outside tables and seating area.
Kremenets, tel: (+380 3546) 24-939

Alligator Entertainment Complex
Hi-tech style vacation centre with hotel accommodation, billiard, bowling and discotheque
Ternopil, tel: (+380 352) 52-8282.

Getting there

kiev flights There are comfortable daily trains to Ternopil from Kiev (465 km) or Lviv (127 km). Ukraine International Airlines offers direct flights from Kiev to Lviv from the many large cities of Western Europe, also from Frankfurt to Lviv (on Tuesdays and Fridays), from Vienna to Lviv (daily except Saturdays) and from Barcelona to Lviv (on Thursdays). With your Panorama Club Card you earn 311 miles in conomy Class and 467 miles in Business Class on the Kiev-Lviv route; 1000 miles in Economy Class and 1500 miles in Business Class on the Frankfurt-Lviv and Vienna-Lviv routes; and 1203 miles in Economy Class and 1805 miles in Business Class on the Barcelona- Lviv route.