“The city on the Ingul or the legends and secrets of old Mykolayiv”

A bus-foot tour of the city. At first sight – it is a usual city: shipbuilding plants, bridges, moorages, parks, And if to walk along the old streets, one can set against a fortified wall. Where is the fortress from? For what and who built it in the steppes at the end of the XVIII cent.? And what about the gaps in the old cellars and straight in the middle of the streets – these are not the defects of the city planning, but just the mysterious, kilometres-long, secret catacombs. Who and why had built them, and the witnesses of what stories were these stone erections? The gold carriage, the janissaries’ treasures, and the aged Egyptian temple under the ancient barrow, as well as many other objects will revive in your imagination.

During the tour you will visit the famous Museum of Shipbuilding and Fleet.

Escort of the group.

“Marble angles of sorrow”

A foot tour. In the old Mykolayiv necropolis, among the lilac tangles the marble faces of angles can be seen. And lower there are crypts, chapels, graves. And there our ancestors – Mykolayiv citizens are buried. Admirals and generals, governors and composers, painters and artists, cadets, cornets, lieutenant… And there is someone’s own life under each gravestone…

Necropolis – in translation from ancient Greek is a town of the dead. It is the same age as our city. The oldest burial of 1808 is the grave of the Greek archbishop Zahariy Petropulo. Beside there are the graves of Russian admirals, participants of the Russian-Turkish and Crimean wars, pedagogues, doctors, priests of Mykolayiv temples. The monuments to the honourable men of the city, councilors of State, petty bourgeoises, servicemen rise along the paths…  Next to the church of All the Saints (1808) there one can admire a chapel, where the members of the Arkases and one of Mykolayiv founders – M.L.Faleyev are buried. Near it, under the black marble monument there is a grave of A.I.Kazarskiy - the hero of the battle between “Mercury” brig and two Turkish ships (1829). Further ahead one can see the bas-relief on the monuments to V.Loskutov-Maksymov (1898) – the artist of Imperial theatres and to the pastor Johann Dol (1853) – the founder of the church, to S.I.Gajduchenko (1922) – the founder of the local history museum and a chapel of V.N.Kazarskiy – the initiator of Kharkiv university creation.

One can bow to the graves of the famous musicians – G.F.Manilov and A.P.Pogodayev, to look round the burials of the foreigners born in France, Germany, and Poland.

“The secrets of Mykolayiv churches”

A bus-foot tour. There were 45 churches in our city till 1917. They include orthodox churches, a Roman Catholic Church, a Lutheran church and a Jewish synagogue. One can see the wonder-working icons and ancient iconostases in Mykolayiv temples, stand by the graves of the church founders (they are buried in the temple vaults), admire the paintings of the walls in the reviving cathedrals.

…Some years ago a coffin was discovered in the vault of one of the churches. There was a skeleton of a woman with remains of clothes, a hand squeezing a cross, a withered bunch of flowers. Who is she and why was she buries in the deep vault?

…While the temples’ destroying the earth sinked under the people’s legs and the secret underground passages appeared. Where do they lead? Why were the temples built above us? What was discovered there, below?

…In the time of the temple’s reconstruction the bullet holes were noticed on one of the icons. Who could bring himself to the shrine? And why did the founder of the Catholic Church entrust with his body in the catacomb under the temple burying? And how did Saint Nicholas save our city during the war – all this you will see and hear at the excursion.

“The city of stone lions”

There are few streets in Mykolayiv, where at least one house with the image of a lion has saved. Being majestic and grinning, noble and condescending, they have been looking at us the third century already. Once they decorated the front access door of the celebrated Arkases’ house. During all the years of Mykolayiv existence this Greek dynasty presented it the admirals, pedagogues, archaeologists, historians and even composers. Mykolay M. Arkasov is also the author of the opera “Catherine” (on the motif of T.G.Shevchenko’s poem) and the wonderful book “The History of Ukraine-Rus”. How did the stone lions appear in the main square and in general – why did the King of beasts like Mykolayiv city? You will know this during the bus-foot tour of Mykolayiv.

“Derybas House in Mykolayiv or the foreigners on the Ingul banks”

A bus-foot tour. Everybody knows: the main street in Odesa is Derybasivska, and the sea port was called by Odesa citizens in honor of Devolan. And the Palace in Prymorskiy Boulevard belonged to count Vorontsov. Perhaps, that’s enough to speak of Odesa. But if we show you Derybas house and the places, where the consuls from 12 countries had been living and working, in our city?! Meanwhile we will not forget about admirals A.S.Greige and von Glazenape, count Totlebene and marquis de Traverse. Moreover we will tell about the famous doctors and English gardeners, and many-many others as well. Just imagine, that Mykolayiv is not a “small Europe”!

“Pre-revolutionary millionaires of Mykolayiv”

A bus-foot tour of the city. Everybody has heard of Odesa clandestine millionaire Koreiko. Everybody is fond of listening to the stories about the riches and all the more wishes to become a millionaire himself. And till the revolution – they were here after all! And a lot! Even one street was called “Bankivska”. But what about the secret monetary transactions or the splendid frauds, what bank, jewelers’ and rich madams’ robberies there were! If you are not a millionaire yet – so listen about the others!

“Rafting on the Bug rapids”

Moving to Mygiya village.

A tour of the landscape park, the biospheric reserve “Granite Steppe Pobuzhya”. The acquaintance with the monuments and events of Zaporizka Sich period: meadow saffrons, stone crosses at the graves of Zaporizhya Cossacks, the stories and legends of the land is awaiting for you here.

Moving to the place of rafting. Mastering of the technical skills and rafting tactics. Rafting (on the inflatable rubber frameless boat) escorted by the experienced instructors. Passing the rapids and stone areas.

After the rafting, a real Cossack dinner is awaiting for you on the equipped forest glade.

Resting, bazing, horse riding anв other pleasures.

Coming back to Mykolayiv.

Escorting of the group.

“Protected Voznesensk district”

Leaving Mykolayiv.

Arrival to Voznesensk town. The town sightseeing tour with the visit of Ostrovskiy park, where the historical and architectural attraction, the so-called Rotunda, which was built to the arrival of Mykolay I in 1837; the orthodox Cathedral of St. Olga; the historical place at Voznesensk gates, where Moisha-Yakiv V. Vinytskiy, i.e. legendary Mishka Yaponchyk.

Leaving for Aktovo village. The tour of the canyon: Arbuzynka canyon, “Exhausted paradise”. Walking along Arbuzinka canyon. The canyon is a gap in the middle of the bare steppe, a granite gulf in the crystalline shield, on the bottom of which the Mertvovid River purls.

Leaving for Trykraty forest. It consists of 2 tracts: “Vasyliyiva paseka” (Vasyliv apiary) and “Labyrinth”. This forest was planted in the 70-th of the XIX cent. by Count V.P.Skarzhynskiy. Dense thickets, rocks conglomeration, streams of cold crystal pure water make this place fabulously beautiful. Foot tour of the forest.

Rest, picnic under an oak.

Leaving for Mykolayiv.

“Trip to “Savanna”

Leaving Mykolayiv.

Arrival to the ostrich farm “Savanna” in Stavky village. A fascinating story of African ostriches’ world is waiting for you, there will be an opportunity to see a full cycle of an ostrich developing – from an egg in the incubator to a mature bird. There is also a field for mini-golf in the farm’s territory in immediate proximity to the birds. Playing it will give great pleasure to children and adults as well.

In spare time – taking photographs as a remembrance, purchasing souvenirs, having a rest.

Leaving for Mykolayiv.

“The steppe wonder” on the Ingul banks”

(The St. Michael (Pelagiyivskiy) Convent)

Leaving Mykolayiv.

Arrival to Pelagiyivka village. You will visit the most majestic and the most long-suffering Cathedral in our region, erected by Isidor Durylin in memory of his beloved wife Pelagiya, which had been suddenly and tragically lost.

It became famous owing to the marvelous history, unique architecture and inimitable nature. There are two miracle-working icons in the nunnery: the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God, which shed tears twice in 2000 and 2004 years, and the icon of the XVI century with the image of Jesus Christ, damaged by the time, began to reveal the details of the picture, which had not been seen earlier.

The tour of the regional landscape park “Pryingulskiy”.

Leaving for Mykolayiv.

“Ochakiv and legendary Olbio”

Leaving Mykolayiv.

Arrival to the national historical-archaeological reserve “Olbio”. The city of ancient Greeks is awaiting for you after 2,5 thous. years. Narrow streets and houses, temples, a museum, crypts, waters of the estuary compose a good receipt for happiness.

Dinner (packed meal).

Moving to Ochakiv. A sightseeing tour of the town, along the streets of which people have been walking already 700 years. It was this town, where the fortress of Ottoman Empire was situated, where in 1788 the battle under the command A.V.Suvorov started, which purpose was to drive away the Turks. Even today the ditches of the fortress are seen, and there is an orthodox cathedral on the place of the ancient mosque. Visit of Sudkovskiy museum.

Leaving for Mykolayiv.

“Along the routes of the war glory”

A group leaves Mykolayiv.

Moving to the Museum of the rocket forces of strategic purpose.

In the territory of the base you will see the models of the rocket engines, automobile and rocket carriers, fuel servicing trucks, a model of the nuclear warhead, and also the rockets R-12 (which had been of the primary importance during the Caribbean crisis of 1961) and RS-20 V (SS-18 “Satan”). In the barrack premises you will get acquainted with the everyday life of the warriors-rocketeers, you will be told about the intercontinental ballistic missiles (IBM) launching, and also you will be familiarized with the stages of the 46-th rocket division’s fighting track.

Departure.

Visit of the outdoor Museum of the warlike equipment – Yuzhnoukrayinsk town.

Leaving for Mykolayiv.