Donetsk.
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Overview

Donetsk (Ukrainian: Донецьк, Russian: Доне́цк) is a city in the Donetsk People's Republic, on the banks of the River Kalmius.

Understand

Donetsk has a population of around a million people, making it the fifth largest city in the country. Donetsk is the unofficial capital of Donets Basin (Donbass) region, the most industrialized part of the country, and as with the surrounding region, it is mostly populated by ethnic Russians, who consistently favour pro-Russian candidates in the elections.

The swift development of Donetsk began in 1869 due to John Hughes, a Welsh businessman, who started to exploit the coal mines on what was then the southern reaches of the Russian Empire, and established the local steel industry, founding "Yuzovka" (Hughes' village) . It was renamed "Stalino" and greatly expanded during the Soviet period.

World War II shook the city hard, leaving it not much more than mounds of rubbles. After the war, the city was extensively rebuilt, losing its original layout and architecture reminiscent of British towns. After Stalin's death, it was as well renamed Donetsk.

Donetsk's Donbass Arena was one of the venues for UEFA Euro 2012, the only European football championship that took place in Eastern Europe so far, which was jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Lying on the Eurasian steppe inland from the sea, Donetsk has a typical continental climate: While temperatures lower than -30°C (-25°F) were recorded, a more realistic expectation from winter lows (Oct–May) would be -7°C (19°F). Summers, on the other hand, can go up as much as 38°C (100°F), although expecting around 27°C (81°F) would be more typical.

While spring and summer months (May–Jul) are statistically the wettest, rains are more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. But an average year sees about 492 mm (19.37 inches) of precipition anyway, which is about half of what is typical for oceanic climates common in northwestern Europe.

Get in

Donetsk International Airport was destroyed in the war in 2014.

Tsentr Bus station. For local transport.

Zaliznychnyi vokzal Bus station. For local transport.

Zakhidnyi (North) Bus station. Secondary main station.

Krytyi rynok Bus station. For suburban buses.

Velyka Mahistralna Bus station. For suburban buses.

Motel Bus station. For suburbs buses.

Shyrokyi Bus station. For suburban buses.

Shchetinina Bus station. For suburban buses.

By train There is also a direct train once or twice a week from Almaty (Kazakhstan) via Atyrau and Volgograd. However, you will need at least a Russian transit visa, which is generally quite expensive.

Halopom po Yevropakh. Transport tickets

Roial Voiazh (Royal Voyage) Travel agency. Buy transport ticket.

Get around

Public transportation Public transportation is cheap but can be crowded. Be prepared to stand up most of the time, and you may have to make waves when you want to get out. There are four main types: the trolleybus, bus, tram and minibuses (marshrutki). Tickets are to be bought from the conductor, which is on board of every tram and bus. At the central market there is one of the many depots. These forms of transport stop at every stop on the route.

Semi-public transportation (minibuses) The minibuses (singular marshrutka, plural marshrutki) operated by non-municipal companies can be found throughout the city. They are like the buses, but faster, smaller, and they stop on request. If you are on board you must yell to the driver that you want out at the next stop, and if you are waiting for one, you must flag it down. Depending on the driver, these can get very crowded.

Taxi Most tourists find the taxi to be their best option. Taxi cabs are on every corner and they are relatively cheap.

There are numerous dispatch taxi services. For example, 381-0000 or 0-67. Keep your eyes open for more numbers, usually printed on the side of the cab in large font.

Also, on the first ride in the taxi, ask the driver if he would like to drive you around on a regular basis. That way, you can have a chauffeur for the time of your stay.

See

Ahat Cami Mosque. A congregational mosque was named in honor of Akhat Bragin and one of its minarets is named after Rinat Akhmetov. It is the first mosque that was built in Donets basin since the fall of the Soviet Union. In 1993 in the Donetsk Muslim community established Star of the Prophet. One year later the foundation was laid for the region's first mosque - Ibn Fadlan. The plans for the project were taken from one of Istanbul’s mosques. The main sponsor for the building was Akhat Bragin. After his death on October 15, 1995 the mosque was named in his honor. On the first floor of the mosque is Ukrainian Islamic University, the first Muslim institution of higher education in Ukraine. The official opening of the Ahat Cami mosque and Ukrainian Islamic University was held on September 3, 1999.

Roman Catholic church of parish of St. Joseph. Orgona Concerts. In 2006 the first divine service took place in the Roman Catholic church of Donetsk. It is the first Catholic church in Donetsk. A temple, built at an assistance the Catholics of Poland and Germany, was named the name of Christ Reigning. In 2012, the Donbass region has 8 Roman Catholic churches.

Svyato-Iverskiy Ukrainian Orthodox Nunnery. Opened in 2001 at a temple in honor the Iverskoy icon of the Mother of God as the court of St. Mykolskiy convent. The monastery keeps a list Iverskoy icon of the Mother of God, which was written on Mount Athos, by a Russian monk, in Yanysom Panteleymonova monastery. This icon was in six different churches every place took a religious procession. Monastery parts are the St. Yverskoho church with a bell tower, a nursing corps and business buildings. Also in the monastery is the orchard and berries, the plants was donation from the Donetsk Botanical Garden.

Temple of the Exaltation of the Cross. Patronal Feast every September 27

Sviato-Voskresens'kyi temple. Since 2005 working, made by a joint-stock Mine Company donation, the golden-domed Holy Resurrection Cathedral. Also here is the Saint Barbara chapel (built in memory of the lost miners).

Forged Figures Park. Forged Figures Park was opened in 2001 and is one-in-a-kind object. International Smithcraft Festival takes place in the park every year. The most impressive masterworks remain in the city as a gift expanding the number of park’s “residents” - These sculptural compositions, more than 160 sculptures, forged from a metal. In 2002 in a park set 2 arbours. In 2004 in a park set «Arbour of falling in love». In 2005 in a park an alley appeared «Signs of zodiac». In 2009 an alley is opened to the favourite city.

Kyivskyi district State Administration.

Ekspodonbass Exhibition center. One of the largest exhibition centers in Ukraine. Annually 20 exhibitions are held in the center, including international ones.

Donetsk railway Museum. More than 2000 exhibits are presented, including documents, rewards, forms of clothes, railway instrument and equipment, old pictures and other collection material.

Journalists and writers Monument. An honour for journalists and writers, whose lost in Great Patriotic War.

Mother Monument. It is a unique monument, devoted to a woman-mother on the territory of Ukraine. A woman's sculpture standing in complete growth & holds a little child on hands. A height of the sculpture is 2 m.

Student Monument. The monument is a bench on which stands a student sculpture in full size. The Student relies on the bench hand and knee.

Zoia Kosmodemianska Monument. About a young communist who died in Moscow in the Second World War.

Degtyarevu Vladimiru Ivanovichu Monument. Degtyarev was the first secretary of the Donetsk regional committee of communist party of Ukraine from 1953 to 1975. During his guidance, becoming of Donetsk happened as a large modern city.

Palm of Mertsalov. -Forged from a rail at the end of 19th century made by blacksmith Alexei Ivanovich - Mertsalovi, awarded at the Paris International Industrial Fair 1900 Grand Prix prize. Depicted on the arms of Donetsk region. A public image of Donbass. There is a project to install copies of the Palm Mertsalova in the capitals of major countries. In 1999 in Donetsk in the area was deployed first copy Mertsalova palm covered with a glass cap, its height is 420 cm.

Yosyp Kobzon Monument. Opening of monument is timed to the day of city. A monument is a 2-m, pour-off from a bronze. Sculpture of singer represented afoot with the overcoat thrown on shoulders, in opinion of townspeople, illustrates popular in our edge miner's song "Went out in steppe Donetsk fellow of young". Kobzon during all creative activity.

Breaking crutches. Original sculpture from a bronze in human growth - contribution of high confession of art of surgeons, returning a health to the people, to gettings into trouble.

Interdonbas gallery. Organization of exhibitions, fairs, presentations is conducted in the galleries of Interdonbass; marketings services.

Bubka S.N. Monument. Monument in honour the Olympic champion, prominent sportsman, setting 35-m records in pole vaults Sergey Nazarovicha Bubki.

Artem (F.A.Sergeevu) Monument. Usually written as "Artem (Sergeev)", it is a statue of the Russian revolutionary, Ukrainian and Soviet political figure, founder of the Donetsk-Krivorozhskoy republics. This imposing six-metre statue on Artema Street is a tribute to one of the Soviet Union’s most celebrated politicians. A pedestal is executed from granite. A monument is a bronze sculpture of Artem in complete growth. Weight of sculpture 16 tons. A general height of monument is 10.5 m.

Tsar Pushka (A tsarist cannon). Copy of sight of Moscow Kremlin of car-pushki, made in 1586 Russian master by Andrey Chokhovym. Weight is 44 tons, one kernel are 120 kg. A copy made at the Izhevskom metallurgical plant.

Bokhum of bell Copy. In 1997 was complemented with the copy of bell sister city of Bokhuma - to Donetsk

John James Hughes Monument. John James was a Welsh industrialist, founder Yuzovky (modern Donetsk). the third school buildings Donetsk National Technical University and the library profession can symbolize John skid control - British engineer of the plant. The monument cast in the central mechanical repair workshops and established on September 2001. The monument stands on a low pedestal, actually in human height.

Monument to the teachers, pupils at Donetsk polytechnic institute. There is inscription on a monument : «Eternal glory to the teachers, students, employees of the Donetsk polytechnic institute, to falling in Great Patriotic war 1941-1945»

Beatles Monument. The Beatles brought in a monumental contribution to development of popular music, attaining unprecedented popularity. Figures approximately 2 m, and represent musicians during a concert.

Monument to the Lost Warriors-Afghan. Sculptural composition in honour the lost warriors-afghan from the Donetsk area. A monument is a sculpture of fighter on the block of stone, which symbolizes the rocks of Afghanistan. Round a block 36 memorial plaques are located with the 254 last names of lost and the area of quiet which is formed a park is selected.

To the city liberators. Greatest on a size monument on south-east Ukraine. It is sculptural composition - miner, soldier with a colour and row of stel.

Mikhail Archangel Monument. A sculpture is a figure of archangel as thin youth in complete growth, dressed in the long blown about cloak. In a right arm for an archangel sword, and in left is a shield.

Sviato-Preobrazhens'kyi orthodox Cathedral. Adopted in honour the Christian holiday of Transforming Lord, which is celebrated on August 19. The first wood church was sanctified in 1886.

Shevchenko T.G.. the first printing book, going out in Donetsk after October, was "Kobza-player", published in 1920 in Mariupol.

Regional art museum. A museum has in the collection more than 11 thousand works of painting, graphic arts, sculpture and decorative-applied art.

Krupska scientific library. Reconstructed in 1956. Building has on facades bas-reliefs of writers-classics of sculptor N.Ginzburga.

Solovyanenko Anatoliy Borisovich Monument. Solov'yanenko is an opera tenor, folk artist of the USSR. A monument is a sculpture of Alexandra Solovyanenko in complete growth

Teatralna Square. The square is named after the theatre situated there — Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre Solovyanenko. The square is served by numerous marshrutkas, buses and trolley-buses. Attractions > Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre Solovyanenko, Cinema Shevchenko, Monument Gurov, Monument Grinkevich, Monument Solovyanenko, Scythian track & Dwelling houses.

F.A.Grinkevich Monument. A battle tank is set he on the grave of colonel F. A. Grinkevicha. The grave appeared high granit pedestal

Rivers of Donbass Monument. A sculpture is a cossack boat made from the zincked steel. A sail at a boat is executed as wings. A boat is in a small pool with a mini-waterfall. On the sides of boat the names of the largest rivers of the Donetsk area are written.

V. I. Lenin Monument. A monument is devoted the creator of Communist Party of Soviet Union and Soviet state, first chairman to Vladimir Ilichu Lenin. Sculptor was E. Kuncevich.

Pushkin Monument. A monument is a bronze bust. On the right side of pedestal Pushkin and dates of his life is located facsimile. Opening of monument was timed to the 170th year from the day of birth of poet and 100year of Donetsk.

Building Ministries of coal industry. A main facade is a portico with ten columns of classic style. An attika level crowns building with the developed cornice and deaf parapet. A socle facing the polished granite.

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Istoki Kalmiusa (Kalmius Source) Nature Monument. Source of Kalmiusa is a place, where ten of springs origin, being one of which is the headwaters of Kal'mius.

Donetsk minizoo. Exotic zoons are presented in a mini-zoo: napaceous, snakes, lizards, amphibians, beetles, palochniki, mantis, cockroaches, spiders and other.

Glade of fairy-tales. Tourist place. In the Lenin Komsomol Culture and Rest Park, Open air Sculpture Collection

Ukraine National academy botanical garden. 262.2 ha. There about 5,500 types of plants sprout on his territory. Structurally a garden is separate on four departments: dendrology and floriculture; mobilizations of vegetable resources; flora.

Ukrainskyi steppe Sculpture Park. Here are 11 sculptures. Made from the Crimean limestone (some sculptures are carved from oak) and are single and group compositions of people, beasts, and also sculpture-abstraction.

Park Shcherbakova. Parkland alongside a lagoon with views of the city skyline, fountains, and rides that look like they're about to fall apart.

Donbass Arena or Donbas Arena. A stadium with a natural grass pitch in Donetsk, Ukraine that opened in 2009. The facility is in the center of the city, in the Lenin Comsomol park. With a capacity of 52,518 spectators, the Stadium hosts FC Shakhtar Donetsk matches and hosted some matches of Euro 2012. It is also one of the popular nightlife spots in Donetsk. The soaring roof effect makes the Stadium resemble a flying saucer. The stadium has an oval shape and a glazed façade and is located near Regional Sport Complex Olimpiyskiy. The roof of the stadium slopes from north to south matching the landscape and contributing to the natural lighting and airing of the pitch. The external lighting makes the Stadium shine at night.

Druzhba Arena. An indoor arena in Donetsk, built in 1975, by a standard design (dated 1956), with a seating capacity of 4,700 people for sporting events and 5,100 for concerts. The Palace was reconstructed in 2010 in order to host the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, during the renovation facade of the building was updated, the facility was equipped with modern freezing system, the stands capacity was increased to 4,000 spectators from 3,500.

Swimming pool of the Donetsk national technical university.

Aquapark. This was opened in early winter 2012. This is one of the top aquaparks in Europe. The free-standing dome, made with OpenAire’s exclusive, maintenance-free aluminium truss structure, will be 26-m high with a diameter of 85m, and feature a unique retractable design that slides open in a smooth rotating motion, opening up to 50% of the structure to sunlight and fresh air. The 0.5-ha Aquatoria, slated to become the largest retractable aluminium-domed indoor waterpark in the world.

City house of creativity Concert hall.

Horkoho Culture Palace. Concert hall

Donetsk Workers Cultura House. Concert hall

Solov'yanenko Opera and Ballet Theater. 1941

I.Franko Culture Palace. Concert hall

A.S.Pushkin Culture Palace. Concert hall

Academic musical-dramatic theater. A theater except for a stage part is executed as an ancient Greek temple. A main facade with the six clonnad portico of corinth style is turned toward an area, the second facade goes out on boulevard of Pushkin. Visual hall has got 942 places. During the reconstruction of theater in 2000, it was decided to set the sculpture of muse of tragedy Melpomena from ancient Greek mythology. It is represented with a palm branch in hands.

Solov'yanenko Donetsk Academic State Opera & Balet. Built in 1936, the theatre, is a gem of a theatre with an elegant exterior and world-class performances inside. Donetsk is the home to the Donetsk Ballet company since 1946. In 1992 the Choreographic School, was established in the Theater. Architecture is decided in classic style. The theatre building was designed for drama theatre, construction works started in 1936. Ludwig Kotovskiy was the leading architect and overall management of construction project was scheduled by Solomon Krol'. The theater building is made in classic style. On three sides approaches to the theater are organized. The auditorium and the lobby are decorated with stucco details. The auditorium was designed for 1300 seats; it now has 976. Above the mezzanine and balcony of the auditorium, as well as in some niches of the foyer there are sculptural busts of composers, poets and decorative vases. The theater is equipped with mechanized stage, the main stage area is 560 m². It can withstand the load of up to 75 tons. Facades and interiors are distinguished by rich plastic expressiveness, a visual hall and lobby is decorated the sculptured details. Very beautiful visual hall with an enormous crystal chandelier, hanging dress-circle and balconies. Above a dress-circle and balconies of visual hall the busts of prominent composers and poets are set.

Shevchenko cinema. This movie theater was one of the first in Soviet Union multihall movie theaters. He went down in memory many the presence of cloak-room. On September 5, 1939, this temple of arts accepted the first audience. The main facade of movie theater has the arched loggia in two floors high. To the reconstruction disposed three halls on a 1400 audience.

Buy

Paduano-arte, gallery. It is the exclusive representative of network of galleries of prominent Italian galerista Antonio Paduano. 2000 m². Leader of salon, Karachanskiy Konstantin Edward, during three years personally mastered gallery business in the province of Naples.

Metro Cash & Carry Supermarket, Shopping centre.

Amstor. Other units: - Str. Sokolinaya, 38. Str.

Dytiachyi svit Shopping centre. Kids stuffs

Bilyi Lebid Shopping centre. Now the center is represented by five floors and a ground parking spaces designed for 400. The total area ​​4.7 ha. On the ground floor is a Boom «Бум» supermarket. The following three stories are shops for everyday, sport or formal wear and stylish shoes. There is a large amount of gift &jewelry stores. On the second floor there is a store of household appliances and "Foxtrot" «Фокстрот» electornic store and in the neighboring wing of an elite beauty salon Sh & Co. On the fourth floor trading facility and other sports accessories, massage chairs, and furniture. Top floor center for children. This 3 000 m² is the "Plastylyn (Clay)" «Пластилін» children's entertainment complex. Here is also store for office products.

Eat

Eli-peli Restaurant. Japanese & Italian cuisine, free Wi-Fi

There are various restaurants in or around the centre of the city:

E-moe. Gourmands start their familiarity with the restaurant from the chef's proposals, the aesthetes prefer the interior, the first thing evaluated by creative people is the genuine original atmosphere of the new institution.

McDonald's. Fast food, Wi-Fi. Other unit Str.

Legenda - Russian cuisine Tequila Boom - A Mexican restaurant Shato - Russian cuisine Marakesh - A Moroccan restaurant Netske - A Chinese restaurant Tri Tolstjaka - Western style restaurant Yakitoriya - Sushi bar Latin Quarter - Western style restaurant

Drink

Bar Strike. A wide range of appetizers, drinks and cocktails to suit any taste. (Billiards Bar, Hotel Bar)

Liverpool Live Music Bar in Liverpool Hotel The Golden Lion - an Irish pub

Sleep

Ekonom. Basic but clean and comfortable lodging if you don't mind sharing a toilet.

Donbass Palace Hotel. Tourist information center, Wi-Fi. In 2004 a hotel was opened as an elite five-star hotel «Donbass Palas». A hotel consists of 129 numbers, three restaurants, conference halls, also exist a representative floor on which is located 20 presidential numbers.

Atlas Hotel. Formerly a Ramada, it offers pretty contemporary lodging.