Not only big Ukrainian cities can boast of beautiful architecture, peculiar atmosphere and antiquity. Even small towns of this country keep a lot of interesting, original, attracting tourists. One of such cities is Kirovograd, located in the valley of the Ingul River in the heart of Ukraine — its geographical center.
Kirovograd, or Elisavetgrad, as the city was called until 1939, was founded in the picturesque steppes of the Dnieper region in 1754. The birth of the city was given by the Fort of St. Elizabeth founded in the same year — a fortress, from where the expansion of land holdings of the Russian Empire in the northern Black Sea region was carried out. The erection of the fortress gave an impetus to the active settlement of the adjacent territories. The first inhabitants of the young city, named in honor of the Christian saint — the mother of John the Baptist, were Cossacks, Serbs, Jews, Croats and Germans.
Until the beginning of XX century Elisavetgrad grew and developed, many significant historical events took place here, for example, the Russian army, which defeated the Zaporozhian Sich, came from Fort of St. Elizabeth. But above all, the history of Kirovograd is connected with trade. Located on an important trade route, in the XVIII century Elisavetgrad became a major trade center of Ukraine. Merchants from Poland and many other countries came to the fairs held in the city. All this led to the fact that in the period from the middle of XIX to the beginning of XX century Kirovograd experienced its «golden era» — the blossoming of culture, active development of industry and other spheres.
The life of the founder of the Ukrainian theater — playwright I. Tobilevich, who created the first professional theater in Ukraine in his estate in the suburbs, is connected with Kirovograd. The manor, and now — the state museum-reserve of I. Tobylevich, introduces everyone to the house where the famous figure lived, opens to visitors the beauty of the magnificent pond and park, and, of course, keeps as an important historical monument for the Ukrainian theater Summer Theater, on the scaffolding of which the theater culture of Ukraine was born. Tobilevich, who held many events here, which were attended by intellectuals, turned the suburb of Yelisavetgrad into a real creative oasis. In the second half of the XIX century, Yelisavetgrad was even considered one of the most culturally developed district towns in southern Ukraine.
Tobilevich’s estate is one of the many beautiful historical places of the former Yelisavetgrad, the sights of Kirovograd, which have survived to our time from the XIX — early XX centuries, are interesting and diverse. Kirovograd temples shine with light and beauty: the Greek-Vladimir Cathedral, built in 1812 on the site of the first wooden church of the city and preserved for almost two hundred years the original wall and dome paintings, the tomb of the Raevskys of the second third of the XIX century, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and Holy Protection Church built in 1849.
The very first Potemkin Park, created by the decree of Catherine II for the supply of fruits and vegetables to the «highest court» in 1764 and has always been a favorite place of rest of citizens and visitors, including Pushkin himself, has been preserved in the city. The history of Elisavetgrad is associated with many famous names — at different times A. Mitskevich, M. Kutuzov, A. Suvorov and many other famous figures visited here. And each of them was charmed by the beauty of the city and the friendliness of its inhabitants.
The center of Kirovograd has preserved the beautiful architecture of the XIX — early XX centuries, strolling along the cozy streets, you can tirelessly admire the low graceful buildings, abundantly decorated with stucco, sculpture and other decor.
The modern city of Kirovograd has preserved its charm, coziness and beauty, created back in the XIX century. Originally erected as Fort St. Elizabeth, this city became something much more than a defense station, over time it became the heart of the country, literally and figuratively, because it was from here that Ukraine began its journey to the Black Sea, becoming what it is today.