Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus is a full-scale medieval city, Ancient Kyiv of the 5th–13th centuries, the capital of the great state of Kyivan Rus. It is located in Kyiv Oblast, Obukhiv district, in the village of Kopachiv.
Ancient Kyiv is the starting point of Eastern European civilisation. After all, to understand Western Europe one must understand Ancient Rome, and to understand Eastern Europe one must understand and see Ancient Kyiv. In its grandeur and influence on humanity it stands alongside such great ancient cities of the world as Babylon, Jerusalem, Rome and Constantinople.
Ancient Kyiv in the “Kyivan Rus Park” is the energy centre of Ukraine. If you draw imaginary lines between four Ukrainian shrines – from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in the north to the St Nicholas Church in the village of Kulevcha, Odesa Oblast, in the south, and from the Pochaiv Lavra in the west to the St Sophia Church in Kharkiv in the east – the “Kyivan Rus Park” ends up at the point where these lines intersect.
Every year thousands of people come here from all corners of Ukraine and the world to heal soul and body. Many people who have visited the Park note that they feel a special, unique energy on its grounds, comparable only to the energy of the holiest places in the country. Guests say that at the “Kyivan Rus Park” they are charged with energy and optimism, forget about illnesses and are filled with youth.
And, most interestingly, the mystery of the “Kyivan Rus Park” does not end there. Since ancient times the stone of Veles has lain here – a sanctuary of one of the main Slavic gods. In ancient times people came to this stone as people go to church today, to ask for health, success in business and in journeys for themselves and their loved ones. If you place your hands on the stone of Veles and mentally make similar requests, you can still be convinced of its power today.
Another manifestation of ancient knowledge that you will encounter in the “Kyivan Rus Park” is a conversation with the runes. A pagan priestess will ask you to draw one of the runes from a pouch and tell you from it what awaits you in the near future, or how best to act in your current situation. Come to Ancient Kyiv and feel the energy and mystery of this amazing place!
Every day, guests of Ancient Kyiv are met with a real journey in time 1,000 years back and the chance to see an ensemble of masterpieces of wooden architecture and medieval architecture.
The master plan of Ancient Kyiv of the 5th–13th centuries was developed by the team of the Principality together with leading specialists in history, architecture, ethnography and cultural studies from different countries, on the basis of scientific knowledge, and was approved by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The scholars taking part in the implementation of the Ancient Kyiv project in the Principality of Kyivan Rus are the most prominent researchers of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and scientific institutions of other countries who study the archaeology, history and architecture of Ancient Kyiv and the Kyivan Rus era. The scientific director of the project is Hlib Yuriiovych Ivakin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The project is recognised and supported by both national and international organisations: the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Kyiv City State Administration, the Kyiv Oblast State Administration, scientific institutes, embassies of foreign states in Ukraine, and state institutions of Ukraine and other European countries.
The main goal of the project is to broaden the world’s picture of the significance, role and influence of Ancient Kyiv, Kyivan Rus, Ukraine and the whole of Eastern Europe on the formation and development of civilisation in the past, present and future.
Architectural masterpieces of Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus
The territory of the Principality of Kyivan Rus covers more than 20 hectares, on which stand buildings of the 5th–13th centuries that existed within the borders of the Kyiv Detynets (citadel) and the Suburb (Peredhorodia, Posad).
Today visitors can see the outline of 10th-century Kyiv, surrounded along its perimeter by defensive structures with a total height of up to 15 m.
The defensive complex is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, consisting of:
- a nine-metre rampart (with a total length of one and a half kilometres) and a partially defensive moat,
- the only wooden fortress wall in the world, 300 m long – the zaboroly – entered into the National Register of Records of Ukraine,
- the Mykhailivski Gates of the Kyiv Detynets, 21 m high.
In addition, guests from all over the world can see the best examples of medieval urban planning:
- entrance gates with watchtowers
- the road network of Ancient Kyiv
- homesteads of Kyivans of the 11th–13th centuries
- trading stalls of Kyiv craftsmen of the 11th–13th centuries
- a povalusha tower of the 11th–13th centuries
- the prince’s court and stands
- large and small tournament grounds
- a fair of craftsmen
- a nomad camp
- Perun’s hill
- the cave of Nestor the Chronicler
- the terem of Yaroslav the Wise
- the 10th-century Church of St Basil
- Yaroslav’s Gates
There are exhibitions of siege engines and medieval shipbuilding with a unique exhibit – the longship “Prince Volodymyr” of the 9th–11th centuries – and of medieval torture. Museums of historical costumes and armour of the 5th–13th centuries, musical instruments and wooden architecture are open.
The following will also be recreated and reconstructed on the territory of the Kyiv Detynets:
- The ancient hillfort of the 5th–9th centuries
- The dwelling of Prince Kyi
- A sanctuary-shrine
- Askold’s Palace
- Palaces in the prince’s court – of Oleh, Ihor, Sviatoslav and Princess Olha
- The Palace of Prince Volodymyr
- The Hrydnytsia (princely guard hall)
- The Sophia and Podil Gates
- The Church of the Tithes
- The Fedorivskyi Monastery
- The St Andrew’s Church
- The Church of the Exaltation of the Cross
- The Yanchyn Monastery
- The princely residence “Great Yaroslav’s Court”
- Boyar estates, craft quarters and other civil structures
- A rotunda of the 12th–13th centuries
- Other masterpieces of architecture of the Kyivan Rus era
- A living museum of historical horse breeds
The pride of Ancient Kyiv is the First Living Museum of Historical Horse Breeds. More than 20 breeds of horses have been gathered here, whose ancestors were known thousands of years ago and played a decisive role in the development of horse breeding in the world. Among them are Akhal-Tekes – the horses of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Darius the Great and other great commanders; Arabian steeds, whose endurance and speed were admired by King Solomon; Boulonnais horses, who trace their lineage back to the times of Ancient Rome; elegant and spirited Andalusian horses, on which Spanish kings rode out to parades and conquistadors conquered the New World. Visitors can admire the exterior of the pearls of royal stables – Friesians, knightly Brabants, cowboy Quarter Horses and many other horses.
“Bread and circuses” every weekend!
All year round, every weekend and on holidays, guests of Ancient Kyiv are treated to “bread and circuses”: shows, cultural and historical festivals, equestrian stunt shows and international championships in ancient martial arts. The Principality of Kyivan Rus is the only venue of its kind where large-scale historical battles are recreated in an authentic historical setting, spectacular medieval combat championships and tournaments of foot and mounted archers are held, the equipment of medieval warriors is displayed, and the culture, daily life and atmosphere of Kyivan Rus are recreated.
Tasty food and entertainment
Ancient Kyiv offers guests tasty dishes of medieval and Ukrainian national cuisine. Meat and vegetables are cooked by the prince’s cooks over an open fire according to ancient recipes. You can enjoy the dishes in gazebos and in the Prince’s Tavern. At the “25 Runes” drinking house you can try various natural drinks and tinctures.
The Principality of Kyivan Rus offers guests plenty of entertainment. You can go horseback riding on purebred horses and ride in elite carriages, fly on the “Politailo” cable slide and the “Zmii Horynych” speed slide, test your accuracy in archery or in throwing knives, axes and spears, mint a coin yourself at the prince’s mint, make a clay item, take part in lively games and amusements, attend workshops by folk craftsmen, and arrange a colourful photo shoot in historical costumes. You can also rest from the noise of modern life at the Forest Lake.
The traditional culmination of the festivals in the Park is a rich night programme with fire shows, firing burning projectiles from a trebuchet, and fantastic fireworks.
Accommodation in the Principality
For those who wish to extend their stay, it is possible to spend the night in the hotel-type house “4 Rooms”, in rooms with a medieval setting, in a hostel or at a campsite.
Touch history and become part of it!
Ancient Kyiv in the “Kyivan Rus Park” is undoubtedly an ideal place for corporate events, weddings and family celebrations. After all, it is unique in scale and possibilities, and has rich experience in holding festivals, theatrical performances, competitions, exhibitions, fairs and mass folk festivities.
Ancient Kyiv is a great place to visit with family, with friends or alone. It is not a dusty museum but a living city, another world. Here you gain practical historical experience – not only knowledge, but also a sense of direct participation in these events. You will be able to “touch history” – hear the creak of cart wheels and the sounds of battle, try on a helmet and chain mail, sit in the saddle of a war horse and shoot a bow at a gallop, catch the smells of potter’s clay and wooden buildings. Your own historical discoveries await you.
Switch on your genetic memory and feel what it means to you personally to be part of Ancient Kyiv – the source of the culture and statehood of Ukraine in particular and of the countries of Eastern Europe as a whole, the cradle of one of the ancient world civilisations that played the most important role in the development of humanity.
