Chernivtsi.
Your next chapter?

Overview

Chernivtsi (Ukrainian: Чернівці; Romanian: Cernăuți) is a city in Western Ukraine. It was also previous known as Chernowitz after its German name (Czernowitz) or Chernovtsy after its Russian name (Черновцы́).

Understand

Chernivtsi, like every city in the region, has a long and complicated history. A fortress existed here before the 13th century and was destroyed by a Mongol invasion; later, the settlement was part of Poland, Moldavia and Austria-Hungary (Chernivtsi was the capital of one of the regions, Bukovina, this was the time of greatest development). In the 20th century, Chernivtsi belonged to Romania, the USSR and, since 1991, independent Ukraine.

The city was always very multinational. Jews, Ukrainians, Romanians, Germans, Poles, Roma, etc. mixed here. In 1930 Jews were 27% of the population, today it's 1.2%. During World War II, Chernivtsi was captured by both sides. During the rule of Romanian military dictator Ion Antonescu (Romania was part of Axis forces at that time) around 50,000 Bukovinian Jews were confined to the ghetto built in the city and later moved to concentration camps. Romanian city mayor Traian Popovici and army officers were able to save 20,000 Chernivtsi Jews.

Talk

Ukrainian is the only official language in all of Ukraine, and it is also spoken by most of its population (about 70% speak it as their first language). Western Ukraine is also the part of Ukraine where the Ukrainian language is most strongly rooted. Ukrainian is very similar to Belarusian, so Belarusian speakers should be able to understand Ukrainian for the most part.

However, most people you will come across inside Chernivtsi will also speak Russian. If you leave for the surrounding villages, this situation may change. Everyone understands Russian, but some may respond in Ukrainian, a language they feel more comfortable with. Ukrainian is only partially mutually intelligible with Russian.

If you speak Polish or Slovak you may try it as well since these languages are relatively similar to Ukrainian. There is also a Polish minority in Chernivtsi.

As the entire Bukovina used to belong to Romania prior to World War II, a large Romanian population in Northern Bukovina (about 20%) still speaks Romanian. This is true mostly for the areas near the Romanian border, rather than the regional capital. As with other Romanian speakers they can also understand Italian and some other Romance languages to a certain extent.

English and German are the two most common foreign languages in Ukraine after Russian, however, you should not expect to find many speakers of these languages around. Some Jews in Chernivtsi may speak Yiddish, which is intelligible with German, and there are some elderly native German speakers.

Get in

By plane Due to the state of war, Ukraine's airspace has been closed to civil aviation.The closest operating airport is in Suceava: Stefan cel Mare International Airport .

Chernivtsi-Central Train Station. Kyiv (85 грн, 12½ to 15 hr, 2 per day), Lviv (50 грн, 5½ to 11 hr, 3 daily) go via Ivano-Frankivsk. Local trains arrive from Kolomyia (5 грн, 2 to 2½ hr, at least 4/day. You can get to Chernivtsi by train either from Romania or from within Ukraine. The train from Kyiv or Lviv is probably the best option as they are comfortable and cheap.

Chernivtsi-Pivnichna Railway station. Northern suburb station.

Chernivtsi-Pivdenna Railway stations. Southern suburb station.

Central Bus station. There are frequent minibuses from Lviv to Chernivtsi (costing 106 грн as of end-2011). Buses to Khotyn (10 грн, 2 hr, half-hourly to hourly), Kamianets-Podilskyi (15 грн, 2½ hr, half-hourly), Ivano-Frankivsk (24 грн, 4 hr, at least 3 daily) and Lviv (42 грн, 7½ hr, at least 2 daily) . Services to Kyiv (90 грн to 100 грн, 9 hr, 2 daily) and Odesa (100 грн, 13 hr, 2 daily) to Simferopol in summer. To and from Kolomyia (12 грн, 1½ hr) do pass through Chernivtsi station, but many instead terminate at Kalynivsky Market, where you must change to local marshrutky. North, you can catch services from the market to Kolomyia, but the chaos makes choosing the right bus difficult. - One daily bus serves Chernivtsi from Suceava. The bus from Chernivtsi to Suceava (68 грн as of end-2011) leaves at 07:00 every day arriving in Suceava in Romania around 10:30-11:00 depending on the number of people on the bus and therefore the time spent crossing the border.

Get around

By foot The city centre is small and you can manage it all by foot.

By public transport Chernivtsi has a convenient public transport system:

Schedules are available on the official website (in Ukrainian), on the map (in Ukrainian) and on the second map (in Ukrainian).

You can also check information about public transport on EasyWay and Google Maps.

By taxi Taxi is the easiest way of getting around the city. Some popular taxi companies include:

By scooter Kick scooter is a funny way to shorten your time while getting around the city.

See

The old town is mainly of Baroque style. Most of Chernivtsi's attractions are located within the historical centre. Some of the centre is a pedestrian zone.

Chernivtsi National University. The complex was built in 19th century in historicist style used to be the palace of the Governor of Bukovina (in 2011 the residence was inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List). You can also visit its gardens and two churches.

German House. Concentrated cultural activities of the German-speaking inhabitants of the city. Now although their number decreased significantly it is still active. Built in 1908-1910. Architect: G. Frich in partnership with engineer E.Müller. The house was built for the fund collected by Verein der christlichen Deutschen in der Bukowina (Union of Christian Germans in Bukovyna) representing the German community in Bukovyna.

Main (Central) Square Complex. The town hall, the Museum of Arts, Taras Shevchenko monument, the old post office. Downtown represents Central Square, Market Square, which was the heart of the city for almost two centuries. The idea of creating the area was born from the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. The architectural ensemble of the Market Square, which began to emerge at the turn of 18th-19th centuries, began to impersonate a new image of the city.

Turetska Krynytsia Square Turkish Ensembles. In this part of town, just outside the city walls, the Turkish community living in the 17th century. Near the old wooden well Turks built stone fountain. Since ancient times, there was a city room, which operated till Soviet times. Also part of the square is a Turkish bridge (Турецький міст) built in the 19th century. Recovered a wooden pavilion (джерелом павільйон) built in an Oriental style arcade over the fountain.

Armenian Church. Built in 1869-75. Designed by Czech architect Glavka. Remarkable acoustic hall used since 1992 for concerts.

St. Paraskeva Church. The first Orthodox stone church in the city built in 1864.

Former monastery. Built in the 1930s.

Jesus Heart Church. Built in 1892-4, in Neogothic style.

New Synagogue. Mordko and Taubi Kron Synagogue, built in the late 19th century, in neo-Romanesque style.

Great Synagogue. - Completed in 1853.

Synagogue Beit Biniamin Tfila. Built in 1923. Well preserved. Of particular value are its internal painting by a local artist. From 1959 to 1994, it was the only functioning synagogue in the city.

Former Synagogue 'Templ'. Since 1959 a cinema. Renaissance and Gothic-style with exotic Moorish motifs.

Choral Synagogue Beit Ares. Built in the early 20th century, in the Moorish style. In 1952 was adapted for the gym. Now the building was restored, the facade has retained its old form.

Holy Spirit Cathedral. Built on the initiative of Metropolitan Gakman E. in 1860, in the neo-Renaissance style. There is a monumental dome, height of 46 m.

Jesuit church. - Built in the late 19th century, through application of the missionaries of the Society of Jesus.

Uniate Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Church or Russian Orthodox Church. The 1st stone Greek Catholic church in Austrian times was called the Russian Church (i.e., the Ruthenian - Ukrainian).

Saint Cross Cathedral. Built in 1787-1814. Rebuilt in 1814 on the personal order of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. after visited the city. Reconstructed in 1910. One of the few Catholic churches which survived the Soviet era. Almost fully preserved interiors.

St. Anne Church. Built in the 1810s.

St. Anthony Church. Part of the former Catholic monastery of the St. Urshuliia Leduhovska

St. Nicholas Church. Bukovinian style. Built in 1607. It is one of the earliest sites of wooden architecture in Bukovina. 1996 was restored.

St. Nicholas Church. Built in the 1900s.

St. Nicholas Church. Built in the 1900s.

Former Seminar church, now Yuriy F. University. 1878.

Gorecha, men's monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

Former Saint presentation of Mary female monastery.

Former monastery. Built in the 1890s.

Chernivtsi Municipal Museum. Dedicated to local history and natural history.

Chernivsti Museum of Arts. Exhibits local art from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as regional applied arts.

Chernivtsi Museum of Bukovynian Jewish History and Culture. The Museum of Bukovynian Jewish History and Culture invites you to make a trip through time and feel the atmosphere of Jewish life in Bukovina in 1774-1941. The exhibition reflects the foundation, expansion and latterly decline of the Jewish community in the area. You’ll get the opportunity to see the unique documents and materials, authentic objects of the everyday life, exhibits of sacred objects and also you’ll get to know about the rich Jewish architectural heritage of the region.

Museum of Ukrainian Diaspora. This museum focuses on the Ukrainian emigration from Bukovina, but also shows some cultural exponents from the German diaspora in Chernivtsi.

Regional Museum Of Folk Architecture And Life. Outdoor architectural complex of traditional wooden buildings from Bukovina region, from 17th-20th centuries.

Regional Art Museum. Built in 1901 by architect Aizenberg for Bukovyna savings bank. Viennese Art Nouveau style.

Regional study of local lore museum.

Literature-memorial museum of Mikhai Eminesku.

Shymonovych pharmacy museum. Built in the early 20th century in the neoclassical style.

Memorial Museum of Vladimir Ivasyuka.

Literary - memorial museum of the writer O.Yu.Kobylyanskoyi. Other unit? Vul. Dimitrova ( Димитрова вул.), 5.

First Electrical Station. Built in 1813.

Old Bristol Hotel. Now a medical student dormitory.

Old Bukovina Regional Seym (Government). Built in 1875. Designed by the architect von Glaubits, with the participation of the Czech architect Y. Glávka in 1871-1873 years.

Old Court of Justice. Constructed in 1904-1906 years. Now a seat of state administration.

Old Province Office. Built between 1871 and 73.

Dwelling 'Ship' house (Shyfa). The building form resembling a ship (for Bukovynian dialect "Shyfa").

House of the Governor-General Baron von Bukovyna Entsenberg. This was the first stone apartment building in Chernivtsi.

Former Jewish House. Today it is a palace of culture.

Ukrainian National Home building. Built in 1899.

Town hall and clock tower. The facade is decorated with coat of arms. Daily, the 50-foot clock tower rises trumpeter in folk Bukovynian costume and exactly at midday melody plays from the balcony of the song "Marichka" - a musical business card Bukovyna.

Do

Khotyn Fortress. State historical-architectural preserve.

Toporivtsi St.Elias church. Built in 1560.

Central city park of the name of Shevchenko T.H.. Here is the

Cemetery. First in 1866 buried here. There are a Romanian square stele, a Polish chapel and family vaults of the late 19th century.

Musical Society Hall (Philharmonic hall).

Chernivtsi Oblast Puppet Theatre. Former Colonel House (Будинок полковника). Built in 1782.

Music and Drama Theatre. O. Kobylians'ka.

Eat

Café Français. You can eat some French food in a very good restaurant. The "filet mignon with gratin dauphinois" is very delicious. The interior decoration is also French.

Wine cellar Count Vorontsov. Situated in the very centre, this is a very good place to settle down for a hearty meal in a 19th-century decor.

There is a good Sushi bar near the theatre.

Drink

Chocolat. They have extremely thick chocolate here (served with a bit of water to thin it a little).

Videnska Kava. A coffee house with impressive dessert selection and wide variety of coffees and teas served.

Sleep

TIU Chernivtsi Backpackers. The common room has computers, plasma tv with surround sound with English-speaking channels and the kitchen is fully equipped.

International Hostel Chernivtsi Backpackers.

Like Hostel. Double from 200 грн, Dorm bed (14 bed) 80 грн, Dorm bed (6 bed), Dorm (12 bed) 100 грн

Hotel Premium. Some English, German speaking

Privat Apartman. - ул. 28 июня. дом 18 3-й этаж