Impressive landscapes and places of interest in Ukraine
We spent a long time deciding where to go as a family and it is useful to spend a vacation in Ukraine with pleasure. We always try to combine active recreation with beach recreation, we love swimming, tanning, spending time in nature, mountain walks, fresh air, we are interested in important medieval historical monuments, from time to time we visit castles, fortresses and protected places. Among entertainment, we prefer pubs, we love craft beer and thematic establishments.
Various places were considered, including: Shatsky Lakes, Zakarpattia, Prykarpattia, Carpathians, the city of Odesa, the Odesa Region and the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. Most of all, we wanted to swim in the sea and sunbathe, but after several conversations with the hoteliers of Odessa and the Odesa region, who assured us that the beaches and exits to the sea are closed, and swimming in the sea is prohibited, our choice immediately fell on the city Kamianets-Podilskyi.
We have never even been to the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. Previously, we familiarized ourselves with the nature of the region and important places that we can visit, both in the city itself and not far away. When we finally decided that we were going to the city of Kamianets - Podilskyi, we started looking for accommodation for the vacation period, choosing between hotels, apartments and guest houses in the city. Due to the fact that we work online, we were tired of the apartment and decided to choose a hotel with a gazebo in the fresh air "Nazar Stodolya".
The hotel is located in the private sector, the "Polish Filvarky" microdistrict, a luxurious place with incredible views, opposite Kamianets - Podilska fortress, the originality and uniqueness of the place lies in the harmonious combination of the landscape of the Smotrych Canyon and the Smotrych River and the town-planning structure of the medieval city, in which the military engineers of that time, using the natural properties of the landscape, created a fortification system that has no analogues in Europe. In the Nazar Stodolya hotel, there is a unique opportunity to spend time after the curfew in the open air in the gazebo, listening to the singing of birds and crickets, the advantage is the absence of mosquitoes and gnats, and there is also the opportunity, if desired, to grill meat and vegetables.
The city center can be reached in two ways in a 15-minute walk, the first through the city park, passing the Novoplanivsky bridge and the Smotrytsky canyon, visiting the Swan Lake with live black Austrian and white Ukrainian swans, watching a small waterfall with the opportunity to taste delicious ice cream and listen local musicians. The second no less scenic path along the canyon and the Smotrych River near the "By the River" hotel across the bridge to the Lower Polish Gate along the steps of Farentzholz with access to the observation deck in the very heart of the city.
In addition to the impressive views, location and history of the neighborhood, the Nazar Stodolya hotel has wonderful owners, extremely nice people, Mr. Igor and Mrs. Tetiana. They made our stay fantastic.
We arrived at the hotel around 10:00 a. m. Ms. Tetiana prepared coffee for us, offered to take a shower after the journey, and we could prepare breakfast if we wished. We were sent to our room almost immediately, we did not wait until 2:00 p. m. The rooms are new, very well-kept without extraneous odors, clean, the rooms have fresh new towels, bed linen, a very comfortable bed with an orthopedic mattress, there is an iron, a powerful hair dryer, shower gel and shampoo, free WI-FI and parking, if necessary, there is a laundry with drying The rooms are diverse, furnished with taste for any choice, the room is cleaned as needed, even if every day. The kitchen has everything you need for food storage and cooking.
I did not notice any disadvantages. Our rating is 10 out of 10 I would like to specially thank the owners for their hospitality!
Mr. Igor conducts impressive personal tours, he opened for us incredible views of the Dniester Canyon created by the Dniester River, Lake Bakota - a flooded village and the Bakota Mykhailivskyi Cave Monastery - a former rock monastery, the national natural park "Podilsky Tovtry", the remains of the Potocki Castle and many others. He told many interesting stories about the formation of tovtrs, the exploits of the Hun warrior Attila and his sword, Princess Elena the Great, introduced us to plants included in the Red Book of Ukraine.
With great pleasure, we visited with Mr. Igor the medieval fortification - the Khotyn Fortress and the geological monument of nature of national importance - the Crystal Caves in the village of Kryvche, and also saw the scenery of Karmelyukova Mountain, we still had time to collect mushrooms and listen to stories unknown to us until now, enjoy the scenery and rare plants.
A special thank you from me for giving me to read the book Grand Duchess of Russia - Ukrainian Elena Glinskaya author Ivan Streletsky.
The city of Kamianets - Podilskyi is extremely green, has 3 picturesque parks with fountains, many sculptures, which alone is worth the Artisans Park. Interesting places that are simply necessary and recommended to visit: Old Castle, Town Hall (Polish Magistrate), Cathedral Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Castle (Turkish) Bridge, Laura, Cmotryck Canyon, Strymka Lan Bridge, Armenian Well, Kushnir Tower with a wind gate, Swan Lake, Museum of Miniature Castles of Ukraine, Botanical Garden, Cathedral Arch, Polish Gate, Novoplanivsky Bridge. Pottery Tower, Bank, Trinity Church, Turkish Bastion, Powder Warehouses, Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
The city also has a large number of restaurants where you can have a delicious and fun time.
Personally, I really liked the cakes at the Madam Bushe pastry shop, burgers at the "Three in the Canoe" sandwich bar, kebabs and ribs with beer at "Rebernya na Troitskaya", interesting and tasty at "Frant", "Coffee from the Police Master" , "NIKA", tavern "Sazhotrus", but we did not manage to visit all establishments.
The problem with the absence of the sea was solved by visiting the hotel and entertainment complex "Bubbles" located in the village of Smotrych, 20 minutes' drive from the hotel "Taras Stodolya", the complex is new, it has been operating for the second year, the territory is well-kept and cleaned, the pool is clean, the slides are new, the staff is polite. Bubbles offers its guests a wide range of services: comfortable sauna rooms, a tub, a jacuzzi, 2 outdoor pools for adults, gazebos, a summer lounge bar, a volleyball court, parking, free Wi-Fi throughout the entire territory, so you won't have to miss it. Among the minuses, the cuisine is not tasty, almost all frozen semi-finished products, pizza, burgers, French fries, that's for sure.
Cocktails are not bad, there is a selection of beers.
And for those who like hiking and scenic walks, I recommend walking from the "Bubble" complex to the "Taras Stodolya" hotel. along the road, you can visit the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Zdvychensk churches, see the remains of St. Anna's bastion by climbing the stairs to the Castle Bridge, see the Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress, as if in the palm of your hand, cross and descend from the other side of the Castle Bridge on the stairs and walk barefoot along the bund with spring water. You won't see this in a car and you won't get the same pleasure as walking.
I wanted to get into the vats with a view, the locals recommended the "Ksenia" complex in the village of Vrublevtsi, but unfortunately we didn't have enough time. The vacation was wonderful, exciting, the best!!!
We will definitely return to the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi to the hotel "Nazar Stodolya".
