Excursions around the Dnipro Embankment

Dnipro State Circus is a building in the form of a tent, built in 1980, which has no analogues in the world (architects P. Nirinberg and S. Zubarev). The circus features a dome, which enables mounting of the artist’s equipment suspension and also creates excellent acoustics. In the evening, the building of the circus is highlighted and resembles a volcano. Light effects serve the circus advertising made by architectural means. The capacity of the hall is 1914 seats. In the arena of the Dnipro Circus, Y. Kuklachov, I. Kio, Y. Nikulin and other well-known figures of circus art once performed.

The Towers Residential Complex had been built during 1999 – 2005 on 35B Dzerzhynskogo Street. They consist of the Western and Eastern towers. Each of them has 28 floors, united by a three-level platform. The height of the buildings reaches 106 m, which at that time was the maximum height for buildings in Ukraine. For its high quality of construction works, in 2003 the “Towers” residential complex won the All-Ukrainian competition for the best buildings and facilities. The peculiarity of the complex is that the main entrance is projected from the second floor and begins with a spacious lobby, connected to a bar and a billiard room. There is a sports and recreation complex. Here you can spend your leisure without leaving your home. Towers are often depicted on postcards and magazines as the main highlight of the city. Apartments here are ones of the most expensive in Dnipro city.

The former parochial secondary school for girls is one of the biggest educational institutions in the city at that time (25 Yefremova Street). The building of the school was built in the 1870s. In the 1920s, the building was already occupied by labour schools, by an orphanage, and since 1933 – by the regional communist newspaper technical school. In 1934, an agricultural institute was moved from Kyiv to Dnipropetrovsk, which occupied the premises of the former parochial secondary school for girls. In this regard, by 1936, the building was reconstructed. In 1943 the building of the Institute got burned down. The restoration project of the old academic building was completed by the end of the 1940s. It was then that the complex acquired its modern classical look. Today, the Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University (main building) is located here.

The Monument of Eternal Glory was opened in 1967 and is dedicated to the partisan soldiers and under cover fighters who died during the World War II. It is located at the beginning of the Yavornytskyi Avenue and is one of the main symbols of the city. It is a stele made of granite with the figure of a young woman, cast from titanium on top of it. The woman with a torch and a palm branch in her hands personifies the Motherland. At the base of the Monument one will find figures of soldiers carved from white stone. The height of the monument is 29.5 m. On both sides of the pedestal there are two granite slabs with memorial inscriptions. In front of the Monument, there is the Eternal Flame that burns in memory of the dead. The Monument of Eternal Glory that proudly stands above Dnipro, is a favourite place for citizens, wedding couples and tourists.

The “Roaring Waterwall” is an artificial waterfall (17-m high and 20-m wide), located on the natural slopes of the Monastery Island. Opened in 2013, the waterfall became an adornment of the Dnipro embankment and a must-see place for tourists. Up to 4 cubic meters of water at the depth of 3 m are pumped there. The waterfall capacity is 1060 cubic meters per hour, which is comparable to 18 railway tanks. Above the waterfall you can see an observation deck. The “Roaring Waterwall” waterfall operates during the warm season.

The Merefo-Khersonskyi Bridge is a railway bridge across the Dnieper River. Due to its artistic expressiveness and technical features it was taken under the protection of the state as a monument of architecture. The uniqueness of the bridge is that it is the only railway bridge in Europe, which has a curvilinear trajectory. The construction of the bridge began in 1914. During the World War I, the construction was suspended. They resumed construction only in 1928, and in 1932 it was already brought into service. During the World War II, it was destroyed. The bridge was restored after the war. At that time 50 million rubles and 30 thousand cubic meters of high-quality concrete were involved. The bridge lies through the Monastery Island. The Merefo-Khersonsky bridge with its openwork arches is considered to be the most beautiful bridge in the Dnipro city.

The Monastery Island is located on the Dnieper River and is connected to the city by a pedestrian bridge. Part of the island belongs to the Taras Shevchenko Park. The first mention of the Monastery Island is found in 1651. The island was named supposedly after the proceeding Byzantine monastery, founded in the 9th century. The southern side of the island is covered with sand, which makes this place popular for rest in summer. Near the pedestrian bridge, built in 1956, there is an artificial waterfall “Roaring Waterwall”, located on the granite rocks (17-m high, 20-m wide).

A railway bridge passes through the Monastery Island. In 1959, a monument to T. Shevchenko was established here, which is considered to be one of the highest monuments of the Kobzar in Ukraine and in the world (8-m high). In 1994, a memorial cross was established to commemorate the Byzantine monks. In 1999 the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas was opened on the territory of the island. Today, the Monastery Island is one of the favourite places for time spending. There is a yacht club, an aquarium with fish and seaweed and an amusement park for children.

The Potiomkin Palace was built in 1790 by the order of Prince Potiomkin, and is a historical and architectural monument of national importance. The palace is located on the territory of the former garden belonging to the retired Zaporozhian captain Lazar Hloba. Having bought a plot from Hloba, Potiomkin decided to build a palace here and laid out the English style park, which later became a citizens’ favourite place for leisure. The palace had a classical composition, striking with its harmony. It consisted of the central part and side wings with recessed balconies, including galleries and colonnades. The central hall was so large that it could house a whole regiment. Despite the magnificence of the palace, Prince Potiomkin has never visited it (he died in 1791). The building of the palace fell into decay.

In the late 1830’s the Potiomkin Palace was handed over to the local nobility. The palace was restored with some changes applied to its original appearance and adapted for noble assemblies. Since 1849 there was a museum of antiquities. During the war periods, the palace was used as a hospital. In the period of 1899-1903 the building was hosting classes for students of the Higher Mining College. Also in the Potiomkin Palace, there were various exhibitions and festive events. During the World War II the building was destroyed. Only walls and columns remained from the former view. In 1952 the palace was restored and transformed into the Palace of Culture of the city’s students. Today it is the Palace of Students at the Dnipro National University. The student’s Cultural Center became the highlight of the university. 16 creative teams work here.

Taras Shevchenko Park is the oldest park in the city of Dnipro. It’s one of the main garden and park complexes of the city, which has about 8 thousand trees and more than 2 thousand bushes of 68 species. It was founded in the late XVIII century at the site of the winter-house of the Zaporozhian captain Lazar Hloba. In the 1790’s Potiomkin Palace (today it’s the Palace of DNU Students) was built in the adjacent territories and the garden was laid out. Before 1925 the park was called the “Potiomkin Garden.”

At the turn of the XIX – XX centuries the park served as one of the main places of rest for the townspeople. After reconstruction in the 1930’s it became the “Taras Shevchenko Park of Culture and Leisure”. In 1957, the Monastery island was added to the park. Since 1990, The Taras Shevchenko Park has become a monument of landscape art of national importance (36 hectares). It consists of the mainland and the Monastery Island, connected to the mainland by a pedestrian bridge. In the park there is a cascading fountain, and in the island you will find an artificial waterfall “Roaring Waterwall”. In 2017 the “Scene: Stage” space was opened, where music and dance events are held. There is an observation deck with a panoramic view of the left bank of the Dnieper river.

The “White Swan” fountain is a floating light and music fountain, located on the Dnipro embankment. The fountain is unique, as it’s location on water and revolves changing configuration of jets and illumination. Its height is 50 m. The name was received due to the silhouette that reminds of flapping of wings of a bird floating above the waves. The “White Swan” fountain has become not only an embankment decoration but also a popular place among wedding couples who come here on the day of marriage for photo shoots. Near the fountain, next to the sculpture “Youth of Dnipro”, there are two more small fountains called the “Geyser”. Their streams are struck directly from the ground. In summer, children like to play here and splash in the “Geyser”.

The “Ball of Wishes” is a glass ball, located on the Festival dock in the Dnipro city. Having appeared in 2005, it became one of the city’s symbols. It was broken in 2014, and a new ball was installed in 2016. The locals unofficially nicknamed it “the ball of wishes.” The second name is “the Ball of Peace and Love”. It symbolizes our planet. The ball is made of fireproof and shatterproof material. In the evening it glows with colorful lights and can keep notes with wishes.

The Family bench is a 50-meter bench located on the Dnipro Embankment. Today it is the longest bench in Ukraine.

The Dnipro Embankment is the longest one in Europe. Its length is more than 20 km. It consists of three streets – Zavodska Embankment, Sicheslavska Embankment and Peremohy Embankment. The embankment is a favourite place for the townspeople time out and a main hghlight of the Dnipro city. The construction of the embankment started in the 1950s. Before that, the coastal part of the city was not really maintained.

In the period between 2005-2007 the embankment was completely reconstructed. Walking along the embankment, you can see a monument to Afghan warriors, a sculpture “Youth of Dnipro”, “The White Swan” light and music fountain, a 50-meter bench and a pyramid with a glass ball. The Dnipro Circus is located on the Sicheslavska Embankment. The embankment opens an unbelievable view of the Monastyrskyi Island, the St.Nicholas Church and the bridges of the Dnieper river.