Explore Ukraine’s Kiev Architecture As It was Rebuilt

Modern-day Ukraine stands on the original “Kievan Rus,” the territory marking heart of Slavic civilization. As early as the 5th century, the city now called Kiev was marked with buildings and churches. Amazingly, buildings dating from the tenth to twelfth century can be seen today.

St. Sophia’s Cathedral is the most well-known, as a major landmark and historical site in Kiev. Among other important activities, the famous chronicles were written at St Sophia’s, as Yaroslav the Wise established the first library and scriptorium there. From St. Sophia’s, another place to explore Kiev’s rebuilt architecture is along Gorodetskiy street.

The National Theater, named after the writer Ivan Franko and the presidential palace are along the way to the famous House with Chimeras, by the architect Vladislav Gorodetskiy. (These chimeras are hunting scenes and wild animals favored by Gorodetskiy, rather than illusions as the word sometimes indicates.) House with Chimeras is an excellent example of rebuilt architecture. The exotic building, like nothing else in the city, was built in 1901 and was occupied by the architect, then sold after he defaulted on construction debts. Following the revolution, the house was converted to communal apartments and occupied by many families, then finally to a polyclinic for Soviet Elite. Portions of the exterior were destroyed. Finally, in 2002, the polyclinic operators were evicted and restoration begun; since 2005, the building has been used for presidential business and important occasions.