Guided tours and cultural programs

 

You have the possibility to choose any cultural program as it is or as complementary to your study of Russian language. The excursions are usually held at the weekend. You have an unique possibility to discover cultural and historical Kyiv and at the same time to practice your listening and communication skills.

Cultural programs are available in Russian, Ukrainian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and some other languages.

  1. Walking tour "Shevchenko park"
    Plaсes to see: monument to Taras Shevchenko, landscape architecture of the gardener Christianiny, the main building of National Taras Shevchenko university, Faculty of Linguistics (projects of Beretti and his son), Tereshenkivska street.
    Lecture includes: the history of the area, historical portraits (Shevchenko, Tereshenko, Hanenko), the art of architecture (Beretti, Christianiny), the reconstruction of the area (original building system).
  2. Walking tour "Volodymyr Hill"
    Places to see: Prince Volodymyr monument, the funicular, Kokorev’s alcoves, the sculptures in the park.
    Guided tour includes: the history of the area, historical portrait of Prince Volodymyr, landscape architecture, the history of the construction of the funicular (original plans for its placement, activity of engineers ), the reconstruction of the area (pavilion “Golota”), role of sculptors Demut-Malinovsky and Klodt in creating monuments to Volodymyr the Great, eminent people about Volodymyr Hill.
  3. "Touring the Mykhaylovska Square"
    Places to see: St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral, monument to the Princess Olga, monument to victims of Holodomor, panorama from St. Sofia Cathedral.
    Guided tour includes: the history of the area (town of Iziaslav-Sviatopolk, the history of construction and destruction of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral, activities of Makareko in saving the Cathedral, project plans of building governmental center on the Mykhaylovska Square and surrounding area, preserved building of Michael’s Golden-Domed cathedral, Ukrainian baroque style, historical portrait of the architect Ivan Kavaleridze, the history of the monument to Princess Olga, the monument to victims of Holodomor, features of St. Sofia Cathedral panorama.
  4. Walking tour "Askold’s Grave"
    Places to see: St. Nikolas rotunda-church, the monument to the Heros of Kruty, St. Andrew’s Chapel, monument to the Apostle Andrew.
    Guided tour includes: the history of the “Ugorskoe” area, the legend about Askold and Dir, the construction of the church-rotunda by the architect Melensky, the reconstruction of the area (T. Shevchenko’s illustration), grave site of the heroes of Kruty, the erection of St. Andrew’s Chapel and the monument to Andrew (the portrait of the Apostle Andrew)
  5. Walking tour "Kyiv City Park"
    Places to see: The Mariinsky palace (exterior), the flower fountain, the garden sculptures of Lesya Ykrainka and Mariya Zankovetska, the bust of composer Glinka, the Summer theater, panorama of the stadium “Dinamo”, the bridge of love, the old constructions of the Kyiv water system, the reconstruction of the area, “Pavlin” mosaic.
    Guided tour includes: the history of the area, reconstruction of the area (the Mariinsky palace, palace park, the greenhouses, Chateau de fleur (castle of flowers), historical portraits of Rastrelli, Paton, Kalchenko, analysis of the garden sculptures to Lesya Ykrainka, Mariya Zankovetska; originality of the park bridge project engineer, mosaic of 20th century on the cinema “Dnepr” made by artist Frolov.
  6. Walking tour Kreshatiy Park
    Places to see: the Philharmonic Hall, the Arch of Reunion, the panorama, the European Square.
    Guided tour includes: the history of the park creation and the history of building construction where the philharmonic works, historical portrait of architect Nikolaev and tragic fate of his constructions. Reconstruction of the area: European Square, the fountain “Ivan”, the first electrically driven tramway in the Russian Empire, the monument to Alexander II; the history of European Square.
  7. Kyiv through the eyes of Bulgakov
    Kyiv through the eyes of Bulgakov: the first gymnasium for boys (now Faculty of Linguistics of the National University), the main “Red” building of the National University, The Teachers House (the Pedagogic museum), National Opera, St. Sofiya Square, the Volodimyr Hill, the Andreyevsky Decsent (house №13-Kyiv residence of M. Bulgakov).

Extra sighseeing tours for learners:

Kyiv of the 15th centuries

  1. Starokyivska Gora.
    Origin of the city. The legend about the founders of Kyiv – the brothers Kyj, Shchek and Khoryv and their sister Lybid. Remnants of defence constructions, the ancient pagan temple and the palace of princess Olga. The legend about princess Olga. The Upper City and the Lower City in old time. The panorama of Kyiv Hills, Urochische Kozhumyaki and Gonchary, Podil. The City of Vladymyr: the Desyatynnaya Church, palaces, Gridnitsa (durbar), remake plans. The history of the ruin of city during the Khan Batiy invasion, mass grave of Kyivans, defenders of Kyiv in 1240.
  2. The Upper City
    The plan of Sofia Gate. The city of Yaroslav Mydry: Sofia Square, panorama from St. Sofia Cathedral. City building project of Yaroslav Mydry. The Brama (Gate of Zaborovsky). The Golden Gate.
  3. Kyiv Podil, City of the 13-17th centuries
    Kontraktova Square, Sagaidachnogo st., Pochtova Square. Trading quarter in old times. Kyiv after the Mongol-Tatar invasion. The Magdenburg law. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The Kontraktovy House. The fountain “Samson”. The Pirogoshey church. Monuments to philosopher Scovoroda and Hetman Sagaydachny. The Dnieper Harbour.
  4. Pechersky Park. Maryinska Square.
    City of the 18th century. Centre of aristocracy. The park area and the Mariinsky Palace (exterior).
  5. Kyiv of the19th century
    Vladymyrska st., Bogdan Hmelnitskiy st., Shevchenko Blvd. The Opera House, The Teacher’s House, private residence of the countess Levashova, University’s buildings, St. Volodymyr Cathedral.
  6. The modern city
    Kreshaty Park – Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
    The geographical position of Kyiv. The left and the right Dnieper banks in Kyiv. Peculiarities of geographical location of the city. Panoramic view of the city. Modern housing projects and their influence on the town image.

Literary Kyiv

  1. Taras Shevchenko
    The great Ukrainian poet, artist.
    Shevchenko park, monument to the poet. Memorable places connected with the life and work of T. Shevchenko in Kyiv.
  2. Lesya Ykrayinka
    The Ukrainian eminent poetess. The city park. Monument to Lesya Ykrayinka. Life and work of the poetess in Kyiv.
  3. Alexander Pushkin
    The great poet of Russia. The Glory Square. Monument to Pushkin. Grushevskogo st. with the “Pushkin’s” house. Residence of poet in Kyiv. Writings of the poet dedicated to Kyiv and Ukraine.
  4. Mykhail Bulgakov
    “The most famous Kyiv’s writer”. The house of Bulgakov. Vladimyr Hill. “Kyiv period” in the life of the author of the book “The Master and Margarita”.
  5. Onore de Balzak
    “St. Petersburg is a new city, Moscow is an old city, but Kyiv is everlasting…”, these are words that belong to the great French writer after visiting Russia and Ukraine. Kontraktova Square, the Kontraktovy House. Balzak’s visits to Kyiv in the time of his courtship and marriage to Evelina Ganskaya.
  6. Mykola Gogol
    The great Ukrainian and Russian writer.
    Pechersk. The Dnieper Steeps. Kyiv in the works of Gohol. Unfulfilled hopes of the writer.

Kyiv Theatres

  1. National Opera House of Ukraine
    Teatralna square, the Opera house, monument to the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, called “the sun of Ukrainian national music”. Eminent opera artists of Ukraine, artists of the Ballet. Role of Lysenko in foundation of the first musical theatre and his work in the Opera House.
  2. The Franko Ukrainian drama theatre
    Franko square, the theatre, monument to the Ukrainian actor Yakovchenko, the House with Khimeras. History of the theatre. Prominent actors.
  3. The “Berezil” theatre
    Prorezna st. The building of modern “Youth” theatre, monument to Les Kurbas. The Executed Renaissance. Tragedy of the Ukrainian culture in the 20th century.
  4. Kyiv Philharmonics
    European square. The Philharmonics building. The city park. The Summer theatre. The history of the Philharmonics foundation. Eminent actors. “Night serenades” by Bogodar Kotorovych.
  5. Theatres in Andriivskyi descent
    The Academy theatre, the theatre in Podil, the Koleso thetre. Street-museum, street-theatre, street-art gallery. The oldest Kyiv street as city’s visiting card.
  6. The Operetta Theatre
    Sportivnaya square. The Operetta Theatre. The Sports Palace, the Olympic Stadium. Sport and musical arenas of Kyiv.

Architecture in Kyiv

  1. Ukrainian baroque
    Style of the Hetmanshina epoch. Analysis of the style with an example of St. Michael Golden-Domed Cathedral. Great Ukrainian architects of baroque Grigorovych-Barsky and Kovnir.
  2. The Russian baroque
    The construction of the eminent Russian architect, Italian by birth Rastrelli. Andriyivska Church. Mariinsky Palace.
  3. Epoch of Classicism
    Works of Beretti and his son. Building of the International Cultural Center (former Institute for Noble Maidens) on the Instytutska st.
  4. Architect Andrey Melensky
    Classical constructions of Melensky: church-rotunda in Askold’s grave, churches in Podil, Kontraktovy House. Founder of Kreshatik Street as the main street in Kyiv.
  5. Romanticism in architecture
    Creative work of Vsevolod Gorodetsky the eminent architect, traveler and hunter. The museum of Ukrainian visual art, Kenasa, House with Hymeras, The Novonikolaevsky Church.
  6. The Kyiv protestant church
    Lutheranska street. Pseudo-Gothic construction of architects Shtrom and Shleyfer. History of the protestant church. The German community in Kyiv.

Specialized program "Our country today"
The special course "Our country today' is aimed at students on the levels Advanced and Proficiency. Using materials from the mass media the goal of the course is to enhance understanding of the current political, economic, and cultural life in Ukraine, to improve knowledge of the modern Russian/Ukrainian language, and to provide an introduction to the peculiarities of the language of mass media. The course is for students interested in issues connected with the modern Russian/Ukrainian language and contemporary Ukraine, and for those specializing in linguistics, journalism, political science, sociology, psychology, economics and other disciplines.

In this course you will enrich your vocabulary of the Russian/Ukrainian language; improve your background knowledge of modern Ukraine; study different genres of printed and television journalism; be introduced to a variety or contemporary mass media sources; learn to read and understand papers and magazine articles on current issues; learn to listen to and comprehend Russian/Ukrainian speech from television sources; learn to express your own thoughts on articles and TV programs of your choice; learn to discuss international, social, and economic topics.

 

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