Uman

Places of interest in Uman

Arboretum Sofiyivka (1796-1805) - a masterpiece of landscape art of world level, a great example of the landscape composition of water, land, architectural structures, and sculptures. There are a lot of waterfalls and narrow, arching stone bridges crossing the streams and scenic ravines.

Probably, these bridges inspired Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. His famous quote is: “The world is just a narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to be afraid.” It was set to music in both Hebrew and English, and is still sung by Jews around the world.

In total, there are more than 100 monuments of history and culture here. We recommend visiting the park on weekdays, on weekends, there are too many visitors. The park is open for visits throughout the year.

Grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov - a historical and cultural center, one of the most revered shrines of Hasidim, the place of annual mass pilgrimages. During the Second World War, the grave was destroyed. In Soviet times, a residential neighborhood was built on the site of the cemetery.

After 1991, pilgrims again could freely visit this place. The surrounding houses were partially or completely redeemed, a temporary synagogue was built on the site of the grave. The plans are to build the world’s largest synagogue for 5,000 people.

St. Nicholas Cathedral (1812) - a monument of architecture of the 19th century built on the donations of the townspeople in honor of the victory over Napoleon. It is located in the center of Uman, on the territory of the former fortress.

Uman Light and Music Fountains. The complex of light and music fountains “The Pearl of Love” was opened in the park named after Taras Shevchenko in 2017. Placed simultaneously on land and on water, the fountains in Uman are among the three largest fountains of Ukraine.

The complex includes the main bowl of the fountain on land with a light and music show on the water screen, a floating fountain on Ostashivs’kyi pond and three static fountains with a light-dynamic illumination. In light-music mode, the fountains work daily from 21:30 to 23:00.

Uman National University of Horticulture (1859). In the middle of the 19th century, the Main Horticulture School was transferred from Odessa to Uman. The school became responsible for the Sophia Park (also known as the Tsar’s Garden). In the service part of the park, a two-story building in the style of classicism was constructed. Since then, students are courting the park, using it to improve their gardening skills.

Basilian Monastery (1764-1784) - the oldest building in Uman constructed for the Uniate monastery with the Catholic Basilian school, which became the cradle of the poets of the “Ukrainian school” in Polish literature. The monastery was closed in 1832.

Today, the complex of the Basilian Monastery is occupied by the Pedagogical School named after Taras Shevchenko. In underground spaces, the tourist route “Mysterious dungeons of the Basilian Monastery” is organized.

Uman Local History Museum. The museum is located in the building of the former private hospital built in 1906. There are three departments devoted to the origin of life on Earth, geological structure, minerals, water system, soils, climate, flora and fauna.

There are stuffed animals and birds listed in the “Red Book of Ukraine.” In the historical department you can see a model of the Uman fortress, old weapons and armor.

Uman Picture Gallery. The picture gallery occupies the building of the Assumption Church built in 1826. There are two permanent exhibitions: “Western European and Ukrainian art of the 19th - early 20th centuries and “Contemporary Ukrainian Art”.

Uman features

Uman is a city of regional subordination with developed industrial, scientific, educational, socio-cultural, administrative, and tourist functions. The tourist infrastructure is developing at a low pace, its level so far leaves much to be desired.

The highway M05 (Kyiv - Odessa) passes near Uman. The newly renovated bus station is the point of departure for suburban and intercity buses to such cities as Kyiv, Cherkasy, Odessa, Vinnytsia, and is also a place for transfer from all corners of Ukraine.

The climate of Uman is moderately continental with mild winters and warm summers. The average temperature in January is minus 7 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 22 degrees Celsius.

The city has a rich historical and cultural heritage. Three sights of Uman are the national monuments of Ukraine: National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka” (1896), Shopping Rows (1780), the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin (1826). In the city there are more than 30 monuments of local importance. The complex of architectural monuments of Uman is declared the State Historical and Architectural Reserve “Old Uman”.

Also Uman is the world famous center of the Hasidism. The grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the founder of the Breslov Hasidism, is located here. Every September, on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), mass Hasidic pilgrimages are made to Uman from all over the world, more than 30,000 pilgrims (mostly men).

This practice dates back to 1811, one year after Rabbi Nachman was buried here. Before his death, he told his followers that they should join him for Rosh Hashanah. That’s why pilgrims still visit him every year during the Jewish New Year. In Soviet times, the pilgrimage was forbidden by the authorities. In 1989, it was resumed.

Uman is a city located at the confluence of the Kamenka and Umanka rivers in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine.

It was first mentioned in historical documents in 1616, when it was under Polish rule. In 1648 it was liberated from the Poles by Ivan Hanzha, a colonel of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and became the administrative center of Uman regiment. After being returned to Poland in 1667, the town was abandoned by many residents, who moved to Left-Bank Ukraine. Under the ownership of the Potocki family of Polish magnates (1726–1832) the town grew in economic and cultural importance. A Basilian monastery and school were established. The Uman region was the site of the haidamaka uprisings in 1734, 1750, and 1768, when the town was captured by Maksym Zalizniak and Ivan Gonta and most of its Polish, Jewish, and Uniate residents were killed. After the partition of Poland in 1793, Uman was annexed by Russia, and in 1795 it became county center of Voznesensk gubernia, and in 1797 of Kyiv gubernia. At the beginning of the 19th century Uman became an important center of Hasidic Judaism and Rabbi Nakhman of Bratslav was buried there. At the end of the 19th century Uman was linked by railway to Kyiv and Odesa, and its manufacturing industries began to develop rapidly. Its population grew from 10,100 in 1860 to 29,900 in 1900 and over 50,000 in 1914.