Travel Route: Kiev-Trypillia-Rzhyschiv

To see a Pre-Ukrainian calendar, to take a drink from Hlechik (traditional Ukrainian jug) of the Late Stone Age, to take a look of trunks where our ancestors used to keep their goods, and many other interesting things, you can do during a fascinating trip along the path of the motherland of the whole European civilization on Ukrainian territory, in the Trypillia Village.

Duration: one-day excursion
Distance: 75 km

Trypillia Village

The first stop in our trip is Trypillia Village, which is located 47 km away from Kiev.

How to get there by car: to go by the road Р01 (R01)
How to get there by public transport: from Metro Station “Vydubychi” by a shuttle-bus “Kiev-Rzhyschiv,” “Kiev-Kaniv” (through Rzhyschiv) to the stop “Shkola-internat – boarding-School” to the Trypillia Village.

Trypillia Village in the Kiev Region is located on the right bank of the Dnieper River in the valley of the Krasna River. It is on the territory of Trypillia Village where the remains of the ancient civilization of Trypillia – Cucuteni (or Ukrainian Aratta), which reached its apogee between 5500-2750 BC, have been preserved. The civilization was located between the Carpathian Mountains and the Dnieper River on the territory of modern Ukraine, Moldova, Rumania, with the area of over 35 thousand sq km. at the period of the flourishing, the quantity of the population of this culture was the highest in Europe, with population in some settlements exceeding 15 thousand. Trypilian Country is also known in non-scientific literature as “Ukrainian Aratta.”

What to see:

Regional Archeological Trypillia Museum. Here you will learn about the Trypillia culture, which had made an immense contribution to the world civilization. The most significant contribution of Trypillia culture is arable farming, development of crafts and arts. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Private Museum of Aratta-Ukraine. The founders of the museum claim that Trypillia has been recognized by every ancient nation: from China to Egypt. In fact, when the first pyramid was being built in 2060 BC, Trypillians had already been crafting their jugs for over than 2000 years. The museum is located on the Dnieper River and has a convenient landing. Address: Rybolovetska Street 1. It’s open on Tuesdays-Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The entrance fee is 20 UAH. Guide services cost 150 UAH without Entrance fees.

Khalepia Village

Next we go to the Khalepia Village which is located 3 km away from Trypillia.

The Old-Russian fortress town Khalep XI is located between two picturesque rivers. Here homes of Trypillians have been found.

What to see:

The house of Vikentiy Khvoyko. In the school building there used to live a scientist-archeologist, a discoverer of Trypilian archeological culture, Vikentiy Khvoyko. Now it’s a small museum with two exhibition rooms. The major exhibits are photos of maps, pictures, documents, and ancient things, which once belonged to Khvoyko. His unique collection includes painted jugs and crocks, interesting figures, stone tools that entered the history as Trypilian culture.

Ivan Franco Literature Museum at the Dnieper River. Here you can learn about the period of the “stone mason” in Kiev, and his marriage with Olga Khoruzhynska. The exposition includes Franco’s archives and library, his correspondence, as well as the history of the Francos in the Kiev region.

Rzhyschiv

The next stop is Rzhyschiv, located 27 km away from Khalep. Rzhyschiv is an ancient fortress town of XII century. Here archeologists have found fossils and homes of Trypilian culture. Also, festivals “Rzhyschivskyi Wreath” and “Trypilian Circle” take place here as well.

What to do in Rzhyschiv:

To visit the Archeological Museum. The exhibition includes materials on the ancient cultures that were found on the territory of Ukraine. Upon request, the visitors may see the archeological sites. The address: Rzhyschiv town, Petrenko Street 4.

To take a walk to the Trypilian Culture Square. There you can see enlarged reconstructions of Trypilian finds, as well as a 5-meter high sculpture of binocular-shaped tableware made by Trypillians. The tableware is painted on the emblem of Rzhyschiv and is the symbol of the museum.

To visit Troyitska Church built in 1853-1860 on the place where formerly a wooden church had been. The church is built in the diocesan style peculiar for Russian churches of XIX century, it bears features of the late classicism.

To see the flooded church. During the construction of the Kayievske groundwater reservoir in 1972, the suburbs of Rzhyschiv were flooded. However, a half-flooded church with a belfry remained. It is constructed in the Ukrainian baroque and is situated on a hill which had been turned into an island. In winter, you can approach it by walking on ice. In summer, you can take a boat trip from Rzhyschiv landing.

To visit the Transfiguration Monastery. This monastery is one of the oldest in Ukraine. According to a legend, it was founded by saint Antoniy and Feodosiy, who sometimes came to this remote place from Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The official date of foundation is considered to be 1626. It was one of three monasteries in the Kiev region where old and sick Cossacks lived their last days. You can see monastic cells of the late XIX century, located on a hill above the Dnieper River. Address: Rzhyschiv, Vorovskogo Street 42.

To dine in the former estate of the Dolgorukiys. In XVIII century, the estate belonged to general Du Pless, whose daughter married Prince P. Dolgorukiy. On the hill near the Dnieper, there still remained a part of the estate. This place is perfect for picnics. Address: Rzhyschiv, Menzhynskogo Street.