What to see Ivan Honchar’s Museum, Ukrainian Centre of Folk Art J-4, Ivana Mazepy 29, MArsenal’na, tel.
(+380) 44 288 92 68/(+380) 44 288 54 19, www. honchar.org.ua. The Museum was founded in September 1993 and is based on Ivan Honchar’s (1911-1993) private collection. During the Soviet period he was accused of nationalism. All those who manifested interest in his collection were registered with the KGB. The collection represents the “Ukrainahood” of the 17-20th centuries and has 15 000 pieces. The centre piece of Honchar’s collection are the folk pictures, the inventive hero “Mamai Cossack” is especially popular. Also impressive is the elaborate collection of clothes from the 18-19th centuries (2500 samples) as well as pottery art exhibits (630 plates, dishes, crockery and zoomorphic ceramic toys). QOpen 10:00 - 17:30. Closed Mon. Admission 15Hr, 3Hr for children.
Kyiv Fortress Museum A-6, Hospital’na 24A, MPalats Sportu, tel. (+380) 44 235 01 46. This part of the city’s fortifications was built in 1844. Arguably, this structure’s history has more do with defenseless people rather than defending people. It was here that supporters of the Tsar carried out executions of political prisoners, including the leaders of a Polish rebellion, in the 1860s. At the beginning of the 20th century, participants in a revolt of the Kyiv Pioneer Regiment met the same fate. Also during this time, ammunition and weapons were stored in this semi-underground fortress with solid brick and stone walls. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00, Fri 10:00 - 16:00. Closed Mon. Admission 14Hr. Museum of Modern Ukrainian Fine Arts Collection D-2, Hlybochyts’ka 17, MKontraktova Ploscha, tel. (+380) 44 463 76 69, modern-museum.org.ua. On the 17th of June 2005 the first Museum of Modern Art of Ukraine has hospitably greeted its visitors. First it was founded in a historical part of Kyiv, but in December 2009 the Museum moved to a new three-stories building at Glybochytska 17. Sufficient room (about 3.5 thousand square metres) enabled the creation of the first independent exposition of the best works in the collection (it is located on the second and third floors of the Museum). The exposition is to be changed every two years. Today the Museum displays collections of ancient Ukrainian icons, classics of Ukrainian painting of the beginning of the 20th century, Ukrainian art of realism and sociorealism of the second half of the ХХ century are widely represented here as well as the works by underground artists of 1960-1970s. There are also available two exhibition halls for temporary displays (the entire 1st floor and the small exhibition hall of the third floor). There is a functioning library in the Museum; theoretically-practical activities take place in a lecture hall: master-classes, lections, seminars, round-table discussions, conferences with invited Ukrainian and foreign art-scholars, artists and gallerists. QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon. Admission 20Hr, for students 10Hr.
Museum of Russian Art A-4, Tereschenkivs’ka 9, MTeatral’na, tel. (+380) 44 234 62 18, www.kmrm. com.ua/eng. Outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, one of the largest collections of Russian art is housed here. The building belonged to the upper-class Tereschenko family and was built in the 1880s. Private artworks confiscated and nationalised by the Soviets along with the Tereschenkos’ holdings formed the bulk of the museum’s exhibits when it was opened in 1922. The most prized displays are a collection of exceptional Russian icons dating back to the late 13th century. The museum features artwork from many famous Russian painters such as I. Repin, M. Vrubel and N. Rerikh, as well as sculptures, handicraft and graphics. Kids should be kept on a tight rein as the staff can be rude if little people get too close to exhibits. QOpen Tue, Fri 11:00 - 19:00, Wed, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon, Thu. Admission 30Hr, 10Hr for students, 5Hr for children. English tours 250Hr. kyiv.inyourpocket.com
Chernobyl
It’s not every trip abroad you have the chance to visit the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, is it? The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is only about a two-hour ride north of Kyiv. Travel agencies offer a day trip to the region, wisely realising that the market for overnight stays is not great. You can actually enter the contaminated zone, where you’ll be joined by your English-speaking guide, who will show you the fateful reactor N°4 (from a safe distance). You’ll also visit the nearby ghost town of Pripyat - where some apartments still bear witness to the haste in which 47,500 residents were made to leave their homes - and have a chance to converse with residents of surrounding villages who refused to move. A trip to the acres of fields filled with contaminated vehicles, helicopters, etc. used in the cleanup is optional. And in case you’re wondering, yes, your body will receive above-average doses of radiation throughout the day, but the effects are said to be harmless... If you are not convinced, you can satisfy your curiosity in radiation free environment: The National Museum of Chernobyl.
National Museum of Chernobyl (Natsional’nyi muzey Chornobyliu) D-1, Khorevyi prov. 1, MKon-
traktova Ploscha, tel. (+380) 44 417 54 27. This museum does an excellent job of actually making you feel like you are at the site of the infamous nuclear accident. Road signs from towns and villages near Chernobyl greet you as you ascend the stairs, and as you descend the signs are crossed out to signify your departure. It’s usually rather empty, but then again so is the contamination zone. A few exhibits could be a bit scary for kids, such as life-sized costumes with gas masks and pictures of deformed animals. Audio-guide is available in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Sat 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sun. Admission 10Hr, children 3Hr.
Chernobyl Tours Prime Excursion Bureau D-1, Schekavyts’ka 30/39, suite 4, MKontraktova Ploscha, tel. (+380) 44 227 77 78/207 12 55/0 99 550 00 00, info@primetour. ua, www.primetour.ua. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00. Sat, Sun 10:00 - 18:00 Mysterious Kyiv tel. (+380) 44 491 11 76, tour@ interesniy.kiev.ua, w w w.mysteriouskiev.com. QOpen 10:00 - 19:00. Winter 2013 - 2014
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