On Lesia Ukrainka's footsteps: what cities did the poetess love?

The whole world has heard of her, from Estonia to Egypt. She is adored in Italy and Berlin. There are monuments to her in many European countries. And in Georgia, she is generally considered to be their own. But it is ours. And we are proud of this, so we will not stop honoring her memory.

To celebrate Lesya Ukrainka's birthday, we have collected her favorite routes for you. Read below to find out where the poetess loved to visit.

Zvyagel (formerly Novohrad-Volynskyi)

Our first stop is the place where the writer was born. It has always been special to her. She devoted a whole collection of her works to her native land, Children's Games, Songs, Fairy Tales. From the Kovel, Lushchyna, and Zvyagelia Districts of Volyn".

Please note that Larysa Petrivna used the old name of the town as a matter of principle. Zvyagel was renamed after it became part of the Russian Empire, during the reign of Catherine II. But the Kosach family never recognized its new "name".

Here, in the hometown of the famous Ukrainian poet, there is a literary and memorial museum. It preserves the entire heritage of Lesia Ukrainka and her mother, Olena Pchilka. It displays the women's belongings, lifetime publications, and photographs. Fragments of the home and study are also recreated.

Nechymne

The writer's uncle Lev Skulynskyi lived in the picturesque village. She visited this place very often. She loved coming and walking along the local trails, watching nature and listening to the birds chirping. It was here that she was inspired to write the drama-fairy tale The Forest Song. The village even has a museum dedicated to this work. And there is a tourist route from Kovel to Nechymne.

By the way, when you're here, visit the Skulynskyi forest. The locals say that foresters, nymphs, and ghosts really live there. But be careful, they love to scare tourists.

Crimea

At first sight, Lesia fell in love with the nature and climate of the peninsula. During their trip with her mother, they visited Yevpatoria, Sevastopol, and Yalta. They visited the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai and stayed in the Lishchynskyi house. It was here that the famous exposition was later opened. After some time, the monument gained the status of a museum.

Unfortunately, after the annexation of Crimea, it is impossible to follow Larysa Petrivna's route there. But we believe that after the victory, every Ukrainian will be able to visit this place.

Kyiv

The capital also has many monuments dedicated to the poetess, including the Lesia Ukrainka Museum. It was in this house that she once lived. Therefore, many of her personal belongings remain here.

The exhibition hall also contains the first editions of her works and exclusive photographs that forever capture pleasant memories of the writer's life.

Next, head to the Ivan Franko Drama Theater. Lesia was a frequent visitor here. Not far from this attraction is another attraction associated with the poetess. It is the National Art Museum of Ukraine. Within its walls is a portrait of Larysa Petrivna painted by the impressionist painter Ivan Trush.

Lviv

A popular tourist city can also tell us something about a famous writer. It was here that a thirteen-year-old girl published her first poem under a well-known pseudonym. Her mother helped her choose her second name.

Lesia loved visiting Lviv. She often came here to visit Ivan Franko's family.

If you want to follow in the writer's footsteps, go to house number 10 on Ivan Franko Street (formerly Zyblikevych Street). Also, take a walk to the European and Georges hotels. The famous woman also used to stay here for the night.

Chernivtsi

In 1901, Lesia Ukrainka's best friend, Olha Kobylianska, invited her to visit her. In two days, the girls visited many locations. They walked through the Narodnyi Sad (now Taras Shevchenko Park). They visited the park of Bukovinian metropolitans and walked down Panska Street.

They also managed to visit the nearest villages: Bila, Striletskyi Kut, Revna. Of course, they did not miss any public meetings and literary gatherings, where they had plenty of time to talk to famous artists and theatergoers.

Because of her illness, Lesia Ukrainka traveled constantly. She was often treated abroad. She visited Austria, Egypt, Georgia, and other countries. So she left her mark on the history of many countries.