Khortytsia

Khortytsia is about twelve kilometres long and lies in the Dnipro at Zaporizhzhia, a granite island of steppe, oak wood and cliffs that is both a nature reserve and the central place in Cossack memory: the Zaporozhian Sich stood on islands in this stretch of river. A reconstructed Sich of timber buildings sits on the island, along with a museum of Cossack history, prehistoric sites, and rock outcrops above the water on the eastern side.

Background

Stretching 12.5 km, with a width of up to 2.5 km, the island covers 23.59 square kilometres within the city limits of Zaporizhzhia. Its northern end is rocky and stands 30 m above the river bed, while the low southern part is often flooded by the Dnieper. People have lived on the island without a break for the last five millennia, and the nearby islet of Sredeny Stih, excavated in 1927, is the namesake of the Sredny Stog culture. Khortytsia became a historical and cultural reserve in 1965. On Savutyn summit stand three transmission towers 74.5 metres tall, known as the Zaporizhzhia Pylon Triple.

Source: Wikipedia, "Khortytsia"

The main sights

• The reconstructed Sich - a timber fort and settlement built as a museum complex.
• The Cossack museum - the collection covering the Zaporozhian period.
• The granite cliffs - rock outcrops above the river on the eastern shore.
• The steppe - protected grassland and oak wood across the island's interior.

When to go

April to October is the comfortable season. The museum closes on some weekdays. Summer brings horse shows and historical events at the Sich.

Before you go

The Sich is a modern reconstruction on a site that is not the original one. The island is large and getting between the sights means a vehicle or a long walk. Labelling is in Ukrainian.

Nearby

Zaporizhzhia surrounds the island, and Dnipro is upstream.

Key facts