Khmelnitsky is a city in Ukraine, a regional center, standing on a river called the Southern Bug. Very soon this settlement will celebrate its 600th anniversary. It is believed that people have lived in these places since time immemorial. Despite its turbulent and eventful history, Khmelnitsky is a city that does not have many ancient sights. Is it worth including it in your tourist itinerary, what monuments and interesting objects can you see here?
The beginning of the history of the glorious city
It seems that people lived in the place of modern Khmelnitsky region at all times. During archaeological excavations in this area, settlements of the Scythian period - VII-III centuries BC were found. e., Chernyakhov culture - III-V century AD. e., as well as artifacts related to the early Iron Age (I century BC). When exactly the modern city was founded is not known for certain. The settlement with the name Ploskirov or Proskurov was first mentioned in historical documents dating back to 1493.
Much later, the modern name Khmelnitsky appeared. The city was called Proskurov for many centuries, often even today it is called that way.old-timers. At the beginning of the 15th century, this settlement belongs to Poland. At that time, a wooden fortress was being built on the right bank of the river, in which only about 100 people permanently lived.
War of Independence and Freedom
The small fortress was attacked many times by the Tatars. There were also peasant uprisings against the Poles in Proskurov. From 1648 to 1654 The War of Liberation continued. At that time, all the inhabitants bravely fought for the freedom of the city under the leadership of Ataman Bogdan Khmelnitsky. In 1672, the war with the Turks ended, few of the local population survived. In 1699, Proskurov again became a Polish city and Poles actively moved here. And in 1795 the settlement became part of Russia.
A little later, Proskurov becomes the center of the Proskurov district of the Podolsk province. At this time, trade and industry are actively developing in the city. Up to 14 times a year, magnificent fairs were held here, in 1870 the railway was launched. Khmelnitsky is a city that has preserved many luxurious buildings built in the 19th-20th centuries. It was also during the Soviet period, in 1954, that the city received its current name - in honor of Ataman Bogdan Khmelnitsky.
Khmelnitsky during the Second World War
During the Great Patriotic War, the city was captured by the Germans. A concentration camp was set up here, in which, according to preliminary estimates of experts, at least 65,000 people died. Local residents try not to remember those terrible times, but, nevertheless,this is the true story of the city. Khmelnitsky was badly damaged during the German occupation. Many citizens died, parks were cut down and much of the city's development was destroyed.
The concentration camp lasted about three years. On March 25, 1944, the city was liberated from the invaders by the Soviet troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front. The return of freedom was only the first step, the settlement (as well as the entire region) needed a long recovery. Indeed, during the war, residential buildings, administrative and public buildings, as well as other important objects were destroyed.
Second heyday of the liberated city
After the end of the war, the priority was the resumption of the national economy. As soon as the local population returned to a peaceful and fairly prosperous life, the city is expanded and literally rebuilt. Simultaneously with new residential microdistricts, large industrial facilities appear. These are factories of transformer substations, injection molding machines, radio engineering and Traktorodetal. At the same time, new educational institutions are opening, in particular Khmelnitsky National University.
At that time, Khmelnitsky was a promising city, an already established industrial center, in which enterprises of all-Union significance operate. In 1991, the population unanimously supported the declaration of independence of Ukraine.
City of Khmelnitsky: population and the most famous people born here
According toin 2006, the area of the city was 8600 hectares, and the number of its inhabitants was 256,000 people. The demographic situation in the region is good - the population is steadily increasing, people from the region come here for permanent residence, the birth and death rates are within the normal range. As of 2015, the population of the city is 300,100 people. Many people were born in the city, who became famous due to high achievements in various fields. These are the psychologist, philosopher and church leader Vasily Zenkovsky, People's Artist of the RSFSR Georgy Vereisky, an active participant in the Ukrainian revolution of 1917-1920. Kost Misevich, People's Artist of Ukraine Anatoly Molotai, Olympic champion in 1976, Honored Master of Sports Sergey Nagorny and many others.
Description and photo of the city today
Today Khmelnitsky is a large developed city. There are about 80 industrial facilities, an airport, two railway stations, an intercity bus station and two bus stations. There are enough institutions of pre-school and secondary education in the city, there are 15 universities, as well as professional lyceums and colleges. What does the city of Khmelnitsky look like today? You can see photos of its streets in our article.
The city is quite comfortable and clean. There are beautiful places for walking, majestic Soviet buildings have been preserved, and new interesting monuments are appearing.
Sights of Khmelnitsky
The history of the city is full of various events, often not the mostpleasant. For this reason, there are not too many historical monuments in this region. Tourists can visit local history and art museums today. Excursions to the Medzhybizh fortress, erected in the 14th century, are very popular. It is believed that Bogdan Khmelnitsky stayed here. Modern monuments are also noteworthy: the only sculpture of Baron Munchausen in all of Ukraine, a monument to those who died during local military conflicts, and a composition made up of the wreckage of a real SS-19 intercontinental missile.
If possible, be sure to visit Khmelnitsky. The sights of the city make a special impression at the first acquaintance and make you think about the different stages in the history of this locality and the whole country.
Tips for tourists
Specially to go to Khmelnitsky from another country does not make sense. But residents of neighboring regional centers and tourists who come to Ukraine for the whole vacation are happy to spend time getting to know this ancient city. A popular question among novice travelers traveling in this direction for the first time: "Where is the city of Khmelnitsky?" It will not be difficult to find it, since we are talking about the regional center.
Exact coordinates for the navigator: 49°25'35.9''N, 26°58'53.22''E. You can focus on the river Southern Bug. If you are planning to go on a trip by private car, there are waiting for you on the track.pointers. It can also be reached by plane, train and intercity buses from other Ukrainian cities. There are enough hotels and catering establishments in Khmelnitsky, and in the vicinity of the city there are sports facilities and rest houses.
