Volodymyrska Street ( uk, вулиця Володимирська) is a street in the center of
Kyiv
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...
, the capital of
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
, which is named after the prince of
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rusʹ, also known as Kyivan Rusʹ ( orv, , Rusĭ, or , , ; Old Norse: ''Garðaríki''), was a state in Eastern and Northern Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century.John Channon & Robert Hudson, ''Penguin Historical Atlas of ...
Vladimir the Great
Vladimir I Sviatoslavich or Volodymyr I Sviatoslavych ( orv, Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь, ''Volodiměrъ Svętoslavičь'';, ''Uladzimir'', russian: Владимир, ''Vladimir'', uk, Володимир, ''Volodymyr''. Se ...
and which is one of the oldest streets in the city, and arguably among the oldest constantly inhabited residential street in Europe. There are many educational, culture and government institutions on this street, as well as historical monuments. Four buildings from Volodymyrska Street are depicted on reverses of
Ukrainian hryvnia
The or ( ; uk, гривня , : ''hrn''; sign: ₴; code: UAH) has been the national currency of Ukraine since 2 September 1996. The hryvnia is divided into 100 . It is named after a measure of weight used in medieval Kievan Rus'.
Name Etym ...
Tsentralna Rada
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
building on 50 hryvnias, Red University Building on 100 hryvnias and building of the Presidium of the
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU; uk, Національна академія наук України, ''Natsional’na akademiya nauk Ukrayiny'', abbr: NAN Ukraine) is a self-governing state-funded organization in Ukraine th ...
on 1000 hryvnias).
History
10th to 18th centuries
Volodymyrska Street is one of the oldest in Kyiv. The part of the street between
Church of the Tithes
The Church of the Tithes or Church of the Dormition of the Virgin ( uk, Десятинна Церква, ) was the first stone church in Kyiv.Mariya Lesiv, ''The Return of Ancestral Gods: Modern Ukrainian Paganism as an Alternative Vision for a ...
and Sofiyska Gate appeared not later than the end of the 10th century. After construction of Saint Sophia's Cathedral at the beginning of the 11th century and
Golden Gate
The Golden Gate is a strait on the west coast of North America that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It is defined by the headlands of the San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Peninsula, and, since 1937, has been spanned by th ...
around 1037, the street was enlarged to reach both of them and became the main street of the city, which was going through the City of Volodymyr and the City of Yaroslav, which are the oldest parts of Kyiv. Also Irynynsky Church, Georgivsky Cathedral and St. Theodore Monastery were constructed on the street, as well as houses for both the nobility and usual people.
After Kyiv was ruined during
Mongol invasion of Rus'
The Mongol Empire invaded and conquered Kievan Rus' in the 13th century, destroying numerous southern cities, including the largest cities, Kiev (50,000 inhabitants) and Chernihiv (30,000 inhabitants), with the only major cities escaping destr ...
, the street remained in ruins long after. In the 17th century, Saint Sophia's Cathedral was reconstructed and a chapel was built on the place, where Church of the Tithes was. The upper half of Volodymyrska Street became a part of Old Kyiv Fortress. After a long break, at the end of the 18th century, intensive construction started on the part of the street below the Golden Gate. The remains of Kievan Rus' defence walls and Old Kyiv Fortress were demolished.
19th century
After expansion of Kyiv in 1830s the street was expanded far south. In 1837-1842 Red University Building was constructed. From this moment the modern look of the street started to appear. Several 1-2 floor buildings were constructed, followed by 3-5 buildings. Many hotels and administrative, community and residential building buildings were constructed. On the place where remains of Irynynsky Church were found, the St. Irene Column was erected from the ancient stone, which stood till the 1930s. At the end of the 19th century
sett
A sett or set is a badger, badger's den. It usually consists of a network of tunnels and numerous entrances. The largest setts are spacious enough to accommodate 15 or more animals with up to of tunnels and as many as 40 openings. Such elaborat ...
was put on the street, gas and later electric lighting appeared. In 1895 the tram line was constructed on the street.
20th century
At the beginning of the 20th century, the new city theatre was constructed to replace the old one, which suffered from fire. A
revenue house
A revenue house is a type of multi-family residential house with specific architecture which evolved in Europe during 18th–19th centuries and became a precursor of what is now known as a rental apartment house and a tenement. In various Europea ...
on the corner with Prorizna Street was also built, which is now a valuable place of interest in Kyiv; Pedagogical museum building, which will be the seat of the
Central Council of Ukraine
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
; Olgynska gymnasium building, which is now the seat of Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine;
zemstvo
A ''zemstvo'' ( rus, земство, p=ˈzʲɛmstvə, plural ''zemstva'' – rus, земства) was an institution of local government set up during the great emancipation reform of 1861 carried out in Imperial Russia by Emperor Alexander ...
building, which is now the seat of the
Security Service of Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine ( uk, Служба безпеки України, translit=Sluzhba bezpeky Ukrainy}) or SBU ( uk, СБУ, link=no) is the law enforcement authority and main intelligence and security agency of the Ukrainian ...
.
There were no major constructions on the street during the rest of the century, apart from construction of the building for the
National Museum of the History of Ukraine
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine (MIST; ''National Museum of Ukrainian History'') illustrates Ukraine's history from ancient times till nowadays. It is one of the leading museums in Ukraine. It holds about 800 000 items in its colle ...
. Nowadays, Volodymyrska street is one of the most important streets in Kyiv. It is also a very important tourist site due to historical monuments of the 11th to 19th centuries, including an archaeological complex on Starokyivska Hill at the top of the street.
Places of interest on the street
Notable cultural and historical monuments, institutions on the street from north to south:
* St Andrew's Church
*
National Museum of the History of Ukraine
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine (MIST; ''National Museum of Ukrainian History'') illustrates Ukraine's history from ancient times till nowadays. It is one of the leading museums in Ukraine. It holds about 800 000 items in its colle ...
* Remains of the
Church of the Tithes
The Church of the Tithes or Church of the Dormition of the Virgin ( uk, Десятинна Церква, ) was the first stone church in Kyiv.Mariya Lesiv, ''The Return of Ancestral Gods: Modern Ukrainian Paganism as an Alternative Vision for a ...
* Embassy of
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
National Police of Ukraine
The National Police of Ukraine ( uk, Націона́льна полі́ція Украї́ни, translit=Natsionálʹna polítsiya Ukrayíny, ; , NPU), often simply referred to as the ( uk, Поліція, lit=Police, label=none), is the nation ...
Security Service of Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine ( uk, Служба безпеки України, translit=Sluzhba bezpeky Ukrainy}) or SBU ( uk, СБУ, link=no) is the law enforcement authority and main intelligence and security agency of the Ukrainian ...
*
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
, Dorozhno-patrulnaya sluzhba, abbr. ДПС, DPS), Russian Traffic Patrol Service
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS; uk, Державна Прикордонна Служба України, ''Derzhavna Prykordonna Sluzhba Ukrayin ...
*
Golden Gate
The Golden Gate is a strait on the west coast of North America that connects San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It is defined by the headlands of the San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Peninsula, and, since 1937, has been spanned by th ...
* Embassy of
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
in Kyiv
*
National Opera of Ukraine
The Kyiv Opera group was formally established in the summer of 1867, and is the third oldest in Ukraine, after Odessa Opera and Lviv Opera.
The Kyiv Opera Company perform at the National Opera House of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko in ...
* Leonardo Business Center
* Presidium of the
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU; uk, Національна академія наук України, ''Natsional’na akademiya nauk Ukrayiny'', abbr: NAN Ukraine) is a self-governing state-funded organization in Ukraine th ...
Central Council of Ukraine
The Central Council of Ukraine ( uk, Українська Центральна Рада, ) (also called the Tsentralna Rada or the Central Rada) was the All-Ukrainian council (soviet) that united deputies of soldiers, workers, and peasants deputie ...
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Kyiv University or Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ( uk, Київський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка), colloquially known as KNU ...
* Division of the
Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine
The Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, VNLU ( uk, Національна бібліотека України імені В.І. Вернадського) is the main academic library and main scientific information centre in Ukraine, one of t ...
* Taras Shevchenko Park
* Administration of the
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Kyiv University or Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ( uk, Київський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка), colloquially known as KNU ...
*
National University of Food Technologies
The National University of Food Technologies is a Ukrainian university located in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Campus
The campus includes eight buildings. Building "A" hosts the University administration section, Assembly Hall, Academic Council Hall, Dean o ...
*
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
delegation to Ukraine
People
*
Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky
Ivan Semenovych Nechuy-Levytsky (born Levytsky; – 2 April 1918) was a well-known Ukrainian writer.
Biography
Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky was born on to the family of a peasant priest in Stebliv (Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine). In 1847 he en ...
- writer (lived in house #7)
* Amvrosy Buchma - actor and director (lived in house #14)
* Vasyl Kasiyan - artist (lived in house #14)
*
Nikolai Leskov
Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov (russian: Никола́й Семёнович Леско́в; – ) was a Russian novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and journalist, who also wrote under the pseudonym M. Stebnitsky. Praised for his unique w ...
- novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and journalist (worked in house #15)
*
Mikhail Ikonnikov Mikhail Ikonnikov (russian: Михаил Степанович Иконников; uk, Михайло Степанович Іконніков, Mykhailo Stepanovych Ikonnikov) was a Kiev Guberniya architect, once famous among Kiev city residents.
In ...
- architect (lived in house #18/2)
*
Mykhailo Hrushevsky
Mykhailo Serhiiovych Hrushevsky ( uk, Михайло Сергійович Грушевський, Chełm, – Kislovodsk, 24 November 1934) was a Ukrainian academician, politician, historian and statesman who was one of the most important figure ...
- academician, politician, historian, and statesman (gave speeches from balcony of house #21, worked in houses #35 and #57)
* Volodymyr Zabolotny - architect (lived in house #22)
*
Vladimir Korolenko
Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko (russian: Влади́мир Галактио́нович Короле́нко, ua, Володи́мир Галактіо́нович Короле́нко; 27 July 1853 – 25 December 1921) was a Ukrainian-born ...
- short story writer, journalist, human rights activist and humanitarian (lived in house #24b)
*
Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky
Mykhailo Mykhailovych Kotsiubynsky ( uk, Михайло Михайлович Коцюбинський), (September 17, 1864 – April 25, 1913) was a Ukrainian author whose writings described typical Ukrainian life at the start of the 20th centur ...
- writer (lived in house #28)
*
Viktor Vasnetsov
Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (russian: Ви́ктор Миха́йлович Васнецо́в; May 15 ( N.S.), 1848 – July 23, 1926) was a Russian artist who specialized in mythological and historical subjects. He is considered the co-founde ...
- artist (lived in house #32)
*
Boris Balinsky
Borys Ivanovych Balinsky (23 September 1905 – 1 September 1997) was a Ukrainian and South African biologist, embryologist, entomologist, professor of Kyiv University and University of the Witwatersrand. Pioneer researcher in the field of exp ...
- biologist, embryologist and entomologist (lived in house #36)
*
Alexander Vertinsky
Alexander Nikolayevich Vertinsky (russian: Александр Николаевич Вертинский, — May 21, 1957) was a Russian and Soviet artist, poet, singer, composer, cabaret artist and actor who exerted seminal influence on the Ru ...
- artist, poet, singer, composer, cabaret artist and actor (born in house #43)
*
Mykola Murashko
Mykola Ivanovych Murashko ( uk, Микола Іванович Мурашко, translit=Mykola Ivanovych Murashko; 20 May 1844, Hlukhiv, Glukhov, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire – 22 September 1909, Bucha, Kiev Oblast, Bucha, Kiev Go ...
- painter and art teacher (lived in houses #46 and 47)
* Mikhail Tereshchenko - landowner, owner of several sugar factories, and financier (lived in house #51a)
*
Vladimir Vernadsky
Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky (russian: link=no, Влади́мир Ива́нович Верна́дский) or Volodymyr Ivanovych Vernadsky ( uk, Володи́мир Іва́нович Верна́дський; – 6 January 1945) was ...
Danylo Zabolotny
Danylo Kyrylovych Zabolotny ( uk, Дани́ло Кири́лович Заболо́тний; 1866 in Chobotarka, Podolia Governorate – 1929) was a Ukrainian epidemiologist and the founder of the world's first research department of epidemi ...
Aleksandr Palladin
Aleksandr Volodymyrovych Palladin (russian: Алекса́ндр Влади́мирович Палла́дин; uk, Олександр Володимирович Палладін, 10 September 1885 – 6 December 1972) was a Ukrainian biochemist, ...
- scientists (worked in house #54)
*
Volodymyr Vynnychenko
Volodymyr Kyrylovych Vynnychenko ( ua, Володимир Кирилович Винниченко, – March 6, 1951) was a Ukrainian statesman, political activist, writer, playwright, artist, who served as the first Prime Minister of Ukraine. ...
- statesman, political activist, writer, playwright, artist (worked in house #57)
*
Symon Petliura
Symon Vasylyovych Petliura ( uk, Си́мон Васи́льович Петлю́ра; – May 25, 1926) was a Ukrainian politician and journalist. He became the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Army and the President of the Ukrainian People' ...
- publicist, writer, journalist, politician, statesman (worked in house #57)
*
Alexander Blok
Alexander Alexandrovich Blok ( rus, Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Бло́к, p=ɐlʲɪˈksandr ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕ ˈblok, a=Ru-Alyeksandr Alyeksandrovich Blok.oga; 7 August 1921) was a Russian lyrical poet, writer, publ ...
- lyrical poet (born in house #79)
Also a lot of notable people studied or worked in Imperial University of St. Volodymyr (now
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Kyiv University or Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ( uk, Київський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка), colloquially known as KNU ...
), which is situated on Volodymyrska street.
Gallery
101 Андріївська церква.JPG, St Andrew's Church
Національний музей історії України.JPG, National Museum of the History of Ukraine
1-3-17 Velyka Zhytomyrska Street, Kiev.JPG, Kyiv department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Будинок Присутствених місць з будинком міської поліції 01.jpg, Kyiv department of the National Police of Ukraine
Пам'ятник Богданові Хмельницькому Monumento a Bogdan Khmelnitsky.jpg, Bohdan Khmelnytsky Monument
Chrám svaté Sofie (Kyjev).jpg, Saint Sophia's Cathedral
Дзвіниця, Собор Софійський.JPG,
Bell Tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral
The Bell Tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv is a monument of Ukrainian architecture in the style of Ukrainian (Cossack) Baroque.ДЗВІНИЦЯ СОФІЙСЬКОГО СОБОРУ. Православний Київ. 23 березня 2011 ...
Будівля СБУ, Київ.jpg, Security Service of Ukraine
Revenue house on Volodymyrska Street, 39.JPG, Revenue house on Volodymyrska Street, 39
Golden Gate, Kyiv.jpg, Golden Gate
Kiev Opera House - 005.jpg, National Opera of Ukraine
Vl07.JPG, Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Volodymyrska2.jpg, Leonardo Business Center
Teacher's House, Kyiv.jpg, Teacher's House
The Maksymovych Scientific Library (Наукова бібліотека імені М. Максимовича).jpg, Maksymovych Scientific Library
Київ, Володимирська вул. 60, Університет св. Володимира.jpg, Red University Building of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Shevchenko park 2016.jpg, Monument to
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko ( uk, Тарас Григорович Шевченко , pronounced without the middle name; – ), also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobzar (a kobzar is a bard in Ukrainian culture), was a Ukraine, Ukrainian p ...
in the Taras Shevchenko Park
National University of Food Technologies main building.jpg, National University of Food Technologies
Delegation of the EU to Ukraine.jpg, European Union delegation to Ukraine and Embassy of Ireland