User:DDima/Sandbox/Kamianets-Podilskyi Historical Complex

The Old Town in Kamianets-Podilskyi (Старе місто Кам'янця-Подільського; Stare Miasto w Kamieńcu Podolskim) is the historic city center of Kamianets-Podilskyi in Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province) in western Ukraine. It is an important tourist attraction featuring close to 200 of Kamianets' historic and architectural monuments. The neighborhood, along with the Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle form the National Historic-Architectural Reserve "Kamianets," a state preservation district established on May 18, 1977.

The Old Town, located on a peninsula formed by the winding Smotrych River, is divided into three main quarters, each featuring its own diverse architectural style and characteristics, reflecting the multiple ethnic groups that once resided within Kamianets;  the Polish Market in the western part, the Ruthenian Market in the northern part, and the Armenian Market in the southern end.

The "Kam'ianets" reserve is the only such preservation district in Ukraine which is currently undergoing mass restoration efforts to re-establish the Old Town's architectural integrity, rebuilding demolished buildings and structures and preserving decaying ones. Along with the castle, the reserve is also a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site, nominated in 1989 by the Ukrainian representatives. On August 21, 2007, the complex was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine when it came into 3rd place with 36 points.

History
The city of Kamianets-Podilskyi was first mentioned in 1062 Armenian chronicle, which described the town as part of the ancient Kievan Rus' state, although archaeological evidence suggests that human settlement in modern-day Kamianets-Podilskyi dates back thousands of years. After the Mongol invasion of Rus' of 1242, the city was destroyed. In 1374, the town was granted Magdeburg rights by the Prince of Podolia, George Koriatovych.

Kamianets-Podilskyi was an important settlement, located on a strategic trade route between Western Europe and the eastern lands, which contributed to the city's architectural diversity. The city is located just 16 km away from the Dniester River which separates Podolia from Moldavia, and close to the traditional border with Galicia.

From the 16th to the 17th centuries, the largest community residing within the Old Town of Kamianets-Podilskyi was the Armenian community.

From 1941 to 1943 a Jewish ghetto was established by the Nazi German occupying forces. According to a report, a total of 23,600 Jews were killed, the first of a large-scale mass murder in pursuit of the "Final Solution" which became known as the Holocaust.

Neighborhoods


Kamianets-Podilskyi was called the "city of three nations," because it was divided into three main neighborhoods each settled by their respective ethnic groups—the Poles resided in the Polish Market; the Ruthenians in the Ruthenian Market; and the Armenians in the Armenian Market. Each community had its own market square, magistrate, and religious buildings. The Polish community was governed by the Magdeburg rights, while the Ruthenian and Armenian communities were each governed according to their old traditions. Each of the three markets feature their own distinctive architectural style and characteristics unique to their own cultures.

Overall, the territory of the Old Town consists of four squares, 21 streets, two descents, and five alleyways, although in the past there was a couple more alleyways, which were absorbed and built up throughout the years. Their exact names and locations were established by the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council on September 11, 1990, which oversaw the revival of their respective historic names after subsequent name changes during Soviet times.



The center of Kamianets-Podilskyi's Old Town was the Polish Market. In the past it was the center of the city's commercial and social life. Today, the Polish Market consists of four relatively quiet town squares. A couple of times out of the year, the Polish Market serves as the host for a couple of summer festivals.
 * Polish Market

Ruthenian Market Already in the XIX century. the name of the street market Ruses Kamenet inhabitants could learn only from historical literature and translations of old-timers. In the past century the square has changed many names: Trade, Zarvanskiy, Meat area Obzhornyy number and, finally, the last name, which survived until recently - market square. In November 1990 the City Council of the square was returned ancient name - Ruses market.
 * Ruthenian Market

Ruses magistrate, as a body of self-government local people, originated in 1432 and lasted until the year 1670. House magistrate was directly the place where the meeting took place and the Ruthenian viyt lavnykiv, where n was carried out of life community. In 1658 Rus magistrate of the square was transferred to "Kiriachynskoyi buildings" near the church sv.Yana (present address - Bloc, 9, here is the National Directorate of historical and architectural reserve). These movements associated with the unrealized plans of the Polish government to build in this part of the new fortifications. In one of the oldest documents describing the historical topography of the city - "Narrative Kamenetz in 1700" - this part of the square is marked as "ground belonging to the city Kamenets jurisdiction"

The third of the Old Town's main quarters was the Armenian Market, which closely resembles the Market Square in the city of Lviv's own Old Town neighborhood. It is named after the Armenian community of Kamianets-Podilskyi, which was the largest of its kind at the time in Ukraine and included over 300 families. The Armenians settled on the southern slopes of the canyon. Along with the Poles and Ruthenians, the Armenians of Kamianets had their own local self-government, magistrate, and market buildings. Historian Oleksandr Prusevych in his essay "Kamianets-Podilskyi" (1915) noted that the Armenian Market was an important trade center, where merchants from the east with caravans of trade goods sold supplies to northern and western merchants who travelled here.
 * Armenian Market

Architecture


The city has close to 200 state monuments of historical and architectural significance, making Kamianets-Podilskyi the third city in Ukraine (after Kiev and Lviv) by the number of historic monuments the city includes within its boundaries. An additional 121 monuments are of state significance, while 54 monuments are of regional significance, maintained by the Khmelnytskyi Oblast administration. Listed below are the Old Town's main attractions:

In addition, the neighborhood also features the ruins and remains of a couple significant constructions which were ravaged by numerous warfare throughout the years, or destroyed during Soviet times.


 * Remains of Armenian Cathedral

Restoration


У 1980 році була проведена консервація та часткова реставрація Руської брами. And now a few words about Polish cooperation in the reconstruction of the old town of Kamenets. Since 1996. two universities in Krakow every year, sending researchers and students to collect historical material and faktograficznego this wonderful city.

Kazematna tower built in the southern part of the Old City. Built in 1783 on the site of an earlier building (1667), which was part of the southern city fortifications. In 2007, Reserve made restoration and repair work on the monument: cleared basement, arranged sklepinchaste overlapping, shingle roof and adapted for exhibition and exposition space reserve.

To date, conducted anti-wreck of the Gate at the Tower and barbican, during which written primarily restoration work. further adaptation and use it as the sign of a tourist facility and one of the leading architectural objects nomination will have an organizational and informational support from local authorities Kamenetz-Podolsk.

N gate with towers and fortifications - one of three ancient entrances to the Old Town, complicated by the space-planning structure and function of the historical complex of medieval buildings. It is located in the southwestern part of the canyon, forming the towers, walls, buildings defensive system that completely crossed the river canyon canyon. According to the investment project set n gate will fit into cultural and craft center. We invite investors to cooperate.

In culture
The entire Old Town of Kamianets-Podilskyi along with the city's castle was nominated by the Ukrainian government in 1989 as a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site. On August 21, 2007, the complex was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine when it came into 3rd place with 36 points. Відомо, що перші повітряні кулі літали над Кам’янцем ще 1784 року, а сьогодні вони курсують над Смотричем регулярно. Щороку в травні тут проводять змагання як загальноукраїнського, так і міжнародного масштабу, а займається цим, зокрема, громадська організація «Кам'янець-Подільський центр повітроплавання «Триглав».