What Poshtova Square looked like in Kyiv almost a century ago: interesting photos

Poshtova Square is one of the oldest squares in Kyiv. It is located in Podil, between Volodymyrskyi and Borychevyi Descents, Petra Sahaidachnyi Street, Naberezhno-Khreshchatytska Street, and Naberezhne Highway.

Until the nineteenth century, the area was also known as Christmas Square, which originated from the Church of the Nativity (built in 1810-1814 and destroyed in the 1930s). In 1900, the Chapel of the Water Rescue Society was built nearby. Interesting historical photos have appeared online showing what Poshtova Square looked like in the early 1900s.

Archaeologists have discovered that settlements on the territory of the modern Poshtova Square existed as early as the fourth century. In the times of Kyivan Rus, this area was home to one of the eight trading squares mentioned in the chronicles.

The first postal station was built in Podil only in 1846, but the square has been known by its modern name since the first half of the eighteenth century.

In May 1861, the coffin with Taras Shevchenko's body was placed in the Church of the Nativity on Poshtova Square during his transportation to Kaniv.

In 1892, the first tram started running there, and it remained in operation until 1977.

In the mid-1970s, construction of a subway station began. Poshtova Square was radically redesigned, expanded, and even shifted to the north. As a result, it absorbed the lower part of Borychevyi Descent.

The pedestrian bridge was built in 1977-1979 by architect O. Ilyashenko. The bridge over the square was demolished during the 2012-2013 reconstruction.

Interestingly, in 2015, archaeologists found an entire street dating back to the times of Kyivan Rus on Poshtova Square. Fragments of buildings, old palisades, and log cabins, as well as artifacts dating back to the XI-XIII centuries have been preserved.

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