If you want to visit a quiet, soulful, not metushlivye and at the same time colorful and rich in memories, then we kindly ask you to Vinnitsa. This old town is located on the Malovnichy banks of the Pivdenny Bug.
It is not surprising that these lands were inhabited back in the old days, because here nature itself favored the development of settlements. Dense forests, full-flowing rivers and mild, favorable climate since the Paleolithic period have privatized here various ancient tribes.
The history of Vinnitsa is closely connected with the name of the Lithuanian prince Olgerd, who in 1362, after the victory over the Tatars, gave these lands to his tribesman Fedor Koriatovich. This very year is considered to be the date of Vinnitsa’s foundation. This is how the first defense structure — a wooden fortress built on the high bank of the river — was built. As for the city itself, there are several versions. In the Old Slovak language, «v’yano» means «gift» — a dowry given by the Koriatovychs. «vinnitsa» means a distillery, where vinni beer was brewed. And another version is that the name comes from the name of the river Vinnichka.
Because of its favorable location, Vinnitsa quickly develops and grows, and as early as in the XV century Vinnitsa received the official status of the city, and after a few decades and Magdeburg right. At the beginning of the XVI century Vinnitsa became a part of Poland and in 1598 it became the center of Bratslav army. At that time the city was crossed by great trade routes — Kolomiysky and Chornomorsky. This served to make Vinnitsa a great trade center.
The history of Vinnitsa is rich in many significant events, such as: Voluntary War of the Ukrainian people 1648-1654, in which the city heroically defeated the Poles; Andrusivskie Armistice; Buchatskie Peace of 1672, for which part of Bratslav, Podilsk and Kiev military districts was given to Turkey. At the beginning of the XVIII century, the famous village rebellion led by Semyon Palya passed through these lands, and then the famous village war of 1768 — Koliyivshchina.
At the end of the XVIII century in the history of these lands there were cardinal changes. After the second fall of Poland Podillya and Bratslavschina became part of the Russian Empire, and Vinnitsa became its provincial town. In the next decade the development of the city went even faster than before. In 1870 not far from it there was built the railroad line Kiev-Balta-Odesa. In 1914 Vinnitsa became the administrative center of Podilsk province, and with the advent of Radyansk power — the center of Vinnitsa region. Vinnitsa and its residents played a great role during the Great Patriotic War. During the hours of occupation here were active anti-fascist and sabotage groups.
The tragically famous Hitler’s «Werewolf» headquarters was located near Vinnitsa. During the years of Nazi occupation here were killed about 40 thousand civilians, destroyed a large number of residential buildings and industrial enterprises. But thanks to the selflessness, industriousness and patriotism of the citizens of Vinnitsa during the war years the city was quickly renewed.
Today Vinnitsa is a quiet city, which attracts you with its unpretentious hospitality, attractiveness and warmth of the local population, and its memorials will reveal to you the rich and interesting past of this ancient land. In order to fully appreciate the unique flavor of this wonderful city, you should take a leisurely walking tour. In the center of the city the oldest monuments of architecture have been preserved. On Sobornaya Street there is the only defensive building of the middle of the XIV century, which has survived to our times — the Ezuyitsky monastery or as it is called «Muri». The spirit of the old town is evident in the streets of the Jewish quarter, which has been called «Jerusalem» since ancient times. A famous accent memorial of Vinnitsa is museum-sadiba of the prominent surgeon and great scientist Pirogov. What else should we pay attention to? It is the Mikolayivska Church, a masterpiece of village architecture, located in the so-called Old Town, the Orthodox Transfiguration Monastery, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels. Well, if you want to learn more thoroughly and deeply about the history of Vinnitsa, then go to the Museum Square to the Regional Museum of Local History.