Uman: Parkland and Cultural Heritage

Two distinct travel interests can guide your choice of hotel in Uman: the expansive parkland of the Sofiyivka National Dendrological Park near Uman and the city’s historical heritage. This lets you shape your trip around whether you want to focus on botanical diversity, activities in the park, or architectural and urban history.

Sofiyivka Park: Landscape and Plant Life

The Sofiyivka National Dendrological Park near Uman covers 180 hectares. Its landscape composition combines water, earth, rocks, and plants with architectural structures and sculptures. Natural elements and designed park architecture are therefore both central to a visit.

The park’s botanical role is another distinct focus: Sofiyivka is considered the largest center for the introduction and acclimatization of plants in the forest-steppe zone on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Ukraine. The park contains more than 3,000 plant taxa. Its designation as a dendrological center and the size of its grounds give the site a strong botanical dimension in addition to its landscape design.

Rides and Activities in the Park

Visitors can take rides on Verkhnii Stavok in boats, catamarans, and the Sofiya ship. Another boat trip follows the underground Akheront River from the Amsterdam Lock to Lake Akheront. These two water experiences differ in their waterways and the stated starting and ending points.

Other offerings include horse-drawn carriage rides and horseback rides accompanied by a riding instructor. At Zvirynets, visitors can observe animals from an observation platform. Visitors with toddlers, as well as those who find it difficult to cover long distances on foot, can travel through the park in an electric vehicle; a guided tour is also available. Alongside its landscape and plant life, the park thus offers a variety of activities on land and water.

Historic Sites in Uman

The Stara Uman State Historical and Architectural Reserve covers 82 hectares in the historic part of Uman and includes 68 cultural heritage sites. These include the nationally significant architectural monuments Torhovi Riady (City Hall) and the Church of the Dormition. These buildings illustrate two of the historic sites within the reserve.

A staged tour leads through the underground passages of the former Basilian monastery. It brings the past to life through sight, hearing, smell, and touch; advance booking is required. This experience differs from viewing the architectural monuments: here, the focus is on conveying the history of the monastery through the senses.

Construction of the Church of the Dormition began in 1780 on the grounds of an old Polish cemetery. Since March 1974, the city art gallery has been housed there as the art department of the Uman Local History Museum. The building of the State Local History Museum also has its own history: until 1924, it housed a private hospital built in 1900–1902.

Pilgrimage Tradition and City History

The grave of Tzadik Nachman draws thousands of pilgrims from more than 20 countries every year for Rosh Hashanah. A historical and cultural center was established at the gravesite in 1994 by Presidential Decree No. 283/94 of June 7. Another site mentioned in connection with Uman’s history is a monument: the city is home to Ukraine’s only monument to Ivan Gonta and Maksym Zalizniak, leaders of the Koliivshchyna uprising of 1768–1769.

Discover more destinations: Chesnivka, Monastyryshche, Kaniv, Starosillya, Rodnykivka, Mel'nyky, Horodets'ke, Khrystynivka.

For the regional travel overview: Cherkasy Oblast.