Located on the shores of the Dnepr River, Kiev is one of the biggest and oldest cities in Europe with invaluable historical and cultural monuments. The art and architecture of Kiev are considered world treasures. The most renowned landmarks include: Cathedral of St. Sophia with outstanding mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century; Kievo-Percherskaya Lavra featuring several monasteries and cathedrals; Golden Gate of Kiev, which date back to 1037; Ukrainian Baroque Church of St. Andrew; the magnificent 19th-century Cathedral of St. Vladimir; and many other attractions. As the largest city of Ukraine, Kiev is a leading industrial and commercial center of the country. Kiev’s major industries include: food processing , metallurgy, manufacture of machinery, machine tools, rolling stock, chemicals, building materials, and textiles. The development of Ukrainian economy gave impulse to business activity of the city.

Picture: view on the St André descent, Kiev © ukraine-découverte.com

Built in the times of Yaroslav Mudry, the cathedral was supposed to be the counterpart of Saint Sofia in Constantinople. It served as a social, political and cultural center of Kievan Rus, where foreign ambassadors were received. Yaroslav Mudry’s ruling was the time when art, education and culture prospered. The construction of Sofia cathedral played an important role in Kiev’s look formation. The cathedral was founded in 1037. Originally it had 5 naves and was surrounded with 2 circled galleries. Despite it was badly damaged during the Tatar yoke and burned many times, the Cathedral is still considered as a masterpiece. Nowadays the building of the cathedral combines constructions of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. For many years St. Sofia Cathedral served as a burial place of Kiev princes, such as Yaroslav Mudry, his son Vsevolod, and Vladimir Monomakh.

Picture : Saint Sophia cathedral © Ukrainian Ambassy in Paris

Located in southern Ukraine, Odessa is the biggest city and the major seaport of the shore of the Black Sea. The city is well know for its entertainment industry, with many theatres, concerts, museums. Visitors may find many activities on the shore such as cultural centres, restaurants, casinos and clubs which all contribute to the fun of the city. But one says its most beautiful jewel may its inhabitants : because they are always cheerful and optimistic, Odessa has been nicknamed “capital of humour”. This is why humour contests and musical festivals eliven the city each year.

Picture: Odessa opera © ukraine-découverte.com

Well know for the famous agreements that were signed in 1945 to settle the fate of Europe after the fall of the Third Reich, Yalta is primarily a resort town known as the most popular in the periphery of the Black Sea after the Tsar Alexander II chose the closer city of Livavia as a summer residence. However, it had a relative economic decline after the fall of the Soviet regime, as rich people preferred to stay in the deserted stations resorts of Western Europe. Ideally located on the southern coast of Crimea, Yalta has many walks to be performed on pebble beaches, before visiting the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, a fine example of neo-Byzantine, or the former summer residence of the Romanov palace in a Renaissance style surrounded by a beautiful French garden. Finally, the house in which the great Russian composer Chekhov spent the last five years of his life was converted into a museum, and has become a must for any admirer of the composer.

Picture : Yalta © Ukrainian ambassy in Paris

© Ukrainian ambassy in Paris

Bandura refers to a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements of a box zither and lute, as well as to its lute-like predecessor, the kobza.
The term is also occasionally used by when referring to a number of other Eastern European string instruments such as the hurdy gurdy and the 5 string guitar (commonly referred to by the diminutive bandurka).Musicians who play the bandura are referred to as bandurists. Some traditional bandura players, often blind, were referred to as kobzars.

© Ukrainien ambassy in Paris