Top 5 unforgettable places to visit in Ukraine in the fall

Summer is behind us, as is the holiday season, so short weekend trips are becoming relevant again. And in the fall, it's worth making a choice in favor of places where nature is combined with architecture, because the bright colors of autumn reveal the elegance of man-made beauty even better. OBOZREVATEL has selected 5 fairly safe places to go to this weekend for inspiration and relaxation.

Alexandria Arboretum in Bila Tserkva

Everyone knows the legendary Sofiyivka in Uman, with its lake, fountain, waterfall, and gardens. Meanwhile, just 90 kilometers south of Kyiv, over the Ros River in Bila Tserkva, there is an even larger dendrological park called Oleksandriia. It is decorated with many sculptures and architectural structures, boasts a wealth of more than 2,200 species of plants, including giant ancient oaks, and in summer a 0.2-hectare rose garden blooms. During the golden autumn, Alexandria looks simply fabulous. But don't forget to bring treats for the local squirrels.

Castles of Lviv region

Before the war, a weekend trip to Lviv was #1 on every Ukrainian traveler's bucket list. And after the invasion began, the City of Lion, one of the most beautiful cities in Ukraine, sheltered thousands of Ukrainians. So there is no need to advertise its needs separately. The same cannot be said about the ancient castles located in the Lviv region, which can be visited as part of a special tour. The ancient garden and church of the royal Pidhirtsi Castle, the carefully restored territory and buildings of Zolochiv Castle, and the impregnable and picturesque Olesko Castle are the three main pearls in the so-called Golden Horseshoe of Lviv region. In addition to them, it is also worth visiting Svirzh, Starosilsky, Zhovkva, and Pomoriansky castles, which look especially magnificent in the fall against the backdrop of vibrant nature.

Chernivtsi

On the first Saturday of October, the capital of Bukovyna celebrates its City Day, so what better reason to visit? The main attraction of Chernivtsi is, of course, the former residence of the metropolitans, which now houses Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, which is compared to Hogwarts, where Harry Potter studied magic. The local ancient architecture is in no way inferior to Lviv's, but there are fewer tourists in Chernivtsi, so the city looks not noisy and cozy.

Berehove, Mukachevo and Uzhhorod in Zakarpattia

Speaking of holidays, in early November, when it's still warm and pleasant in Zakarpattia, they celebrate St. Martin's Day. He is the patron saint of winemakers and pets, so there is no need to explain for a long time what exactly is served at the festivities in his honor. St. Martin is the patron saint of the city of Mukachevo, so the epicenter of the celebrations is located here. Although this holiday is also popular in Berehove and Uzhhorod. The young Transcarpathian wine, goose pates and other delicacies, street musicians, beautiful architecture, and golden autumn, which lasts a little longer here than in the rest of Ukraine, are worth visiting.

 Radomysl in the Zhytomyr region

A private museum near the town of Radomyshl stands over the Myka River at the point where it flows into the Papiriansky Pond, so it looks like the castle is on an island. By the way, there are real islands here too. The castle is surrounded by a landscaped park that boasts rare plants, waterfalls, and sculptures. The castle itself houses a museum of Ukrainian icons. The premises of the building have been carefully restored, recreating the interiors of the XVII-XIX centuries. A hotel was opened for those who want to stay longer.