The identity of the Rakhiv region
The Kuziy tract
Kuziy tract is a protected massif, part of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, located in the Rakhiv region, not far from Velykyi Bychkov, behind the village of Luhy. Impressive here is primarily nature - a deciduous forest, mostly beechy, although there are places of growth of yews, the legendary táxus baccáta that once ruled here, as evidenced by place names, such as the river Tisza.
What to see here? Well, actually a lot of various points of interest. Rocks, galleries, and stones. Waterfalls and "white stream". Trees - common and unique species. The local flora is impressive - ferns of incredible colors and species grow on the rocks, as well as mosses and lichens. Moreover, there are a lot of different animals. It is said that wild goats, deer, and wild boar go down to the streams in the morning - although the average tourist, who does not know how to disguise himself, is unlikely to be lucky to see wild animals. Those who do not know how to behave unnoticed by animals in the woods have an opportunity to meet squirrels, slugs, and salamanders.
The culmination of the hike is Sokoline Berdo, a rock that rises among the beech forest. The cliff offers an incredible view of the valley, which is called the Cusian Basin. This is that very beauty for which you should live in the Carpathians, or come here to admire it.
Information taken from the website: https://www.ukrinform.ua/
Author: Tatiana Kogutich
The Strukivska Church
Church of the Ascension - one of the most perfect wooden churches in the entire Hutsul region, located in the village of Yasinya, Rakhiv district, Zakarpattia region.
The small and modest Strukivska Church is hidden away from the crowded road with tourists and cars. It takes to the center of the village from here three kilometers.
Nearby and just above the temple is an 11-meter bell tower (1813), cut from spruce logs. A carved iconostasis (19th century) with somewhat naive but sincere images of saints has been preserved - if you are lucky enough to get inside the church.
In June 2013, the Church of the Ascension (Strukivska) became one of the Ukrainian wooden churches included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. About 2,000 objects of wooden sacred architecture have been preserved in Ukraine, most of them in the West - and more than 120 - in Transcarpathia. Poland and Ukraine have decided to unite their efforts in the struggle for world recognition. The two countries submitted a joint cross-border application "Wooden Churches of the Carpathian region of Ukraine and Poland" to the UNESCO headquarters, which was supported in June 2013. As a result, 8 wooden churches from the Ukrainian side were included in the list of world cultural heritage - 4 from the Lviv region, 2 from Zakarpattia, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Carpathian Bedspread
Bedspreads are woven products made of natural sheep wool, usually with a pattern, which has a fluffy pile. Beds are common in everyday life: it can be a luxurious bedspread, carpet on the wall or floor, and dressed in a sheet it becomes light and a warm blanket. Bedspreads (Ukrainian –«lizhnik») warms in severe frosts and is considered a mandatory element of the wedding ceremony because it attracts good to the house and is a symbol of comfort and prosperity. The Carpathian lizard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Currently, these fluffy miracles are produced in almost all Hutsul villages, both in Transcarpathia and in the Carpathians. There is information that in the XVI century in the Carpathians made bedspreads, which were then exchanged for other goods.
Interestingly, the loom has hardly changed in the last 120 years - yes, it has become wider and lighter, but the technology itself and the stages of production remain unchanged.
The right bedspread must be heavy! This is good for health, they say cures sciatica. Sleeping under such a "blanket" is a pleasure because the bed is very warm and breathable at the same time.
Traditional Polonines Household
Mountain meadows (polonines) are forestless peaks of mountains and ridges covered with grass, shrubs, and moss-lichen vegetation. In different areas, the lower limit of the valleys lies at different heights.
Polonines household is one of the oldest and main crafts of the Hutsuls, which has become an integral part of the material and spiritual culture of Ukrainian mountaineers. The polonines play an important role in the economy of the Carpathian regions. The main feature of the farm is the intensive distilling of livestock, haymaking, and farming in the areas cleared of forests in the forest belt.
Distillation cattle breeding promotes the development of seasonal settlement and construction of special shepherd's houses, stables, stalls, winter quarters, and various transitional forms between permanent and temporary dwellings, and grazing on meadows is traditionally accompanied by folk rituals.
Running traditional Polonines farms allows you to get environmentally friendly products. For instance, the Rakhiv region is famous for its bryndza and even has an official geographical indication. Therefore, to visit the Polonines farm as part of the tour is an opportunity to get acquainted with the traditional crafts of the Carpathians and the unique culture of the local population.
Hutsul bryndza
Sheep graze for 120 days in the summer in the highlands at an altitude of at least 700 meters above sea level. And the higher the mountain grazing, the greater the specification of this Carpathian cheese. And to the fresh sheep's milk, which is squeezed through a spruce branch, the shepherd adds an enzyme - so called klyag. And according to this technology, Budz cheese is made. And after ripening, it is ground and mixed with salt - at this stage, bryndza is formed. All processes of its production are exclusively manual.
Sheep graze for 120 days in the summer in the highlands at an altitude of at least 700 meters above sea level. And the higher the mountain grazing, the greater the specification of this Carpathian cheese. And to the fresh sheep's milk, which is squeezed through a spruce branch, the shepherd adds an enzyme - so called klyag. And according to this technology, Budz cheese is made. And after ripening, it is ground and mixed with salt - at this stage, bryndza is formed. All processes of its production are exclusively manual.
We advise you to visit the Rakhiv Museum of Hutsul Bryndza and taste the incredibly tasty local cheese.
The geographical center of Europe in Rakhiv (in the village of Dilove)
The geographical center of Europe is located in the Rakhiv region, namely in the village of Dilove. Residents of the region are proud of this and are happy to tell tourists that in the Rakhiv district they can see the center of Europe. This is the highlight and pride of the Rakhiv region and Ukraine in general.
The geographical center of Europe is located in the village of Dilove, it's 12 km from Rakhiv. Here, in 1887, a memorial sign was erected with the inscription in Latin "Permanent, accurate, eternal place. Very accurately, with a special device made in Austria and Hungary, with a scale of meridians and parallels, the Center of Europe is installed. 1887”. There are 2 more attractions nearby.
Nearby is the Kolyba Museum, which houses antiques from the reign of the Habsburgs, the Czechoslovak Republic, and the Soviet era. In the hut, you have an opportunity to taste national Hutsul dishes.
Sakura (Cherry) blossoms in Rakhiv
Today, one of the tourist attractions of Transcarpathia is the blossoming sakura in Uzhgorod, Mukachevo, Khust. The city of Rakhiv can now be safely added to the list of "sakura" cities.
Then, when in the plain part of Transcarpathia pink beauties had almost blossomed, in Rakhiv in May the Japanese cherry only blossomed with a delicate pink flower.
Due to the unique beauty of flowers and the unpretentiousness of the tree, it is widely used for urban landscaping. So, in addition to old trees in the central part of Rakhiv a few years ago was planted sakura alley on the waterfront, where the trees are already strong and bloom profusely. The beauties were also planted on the street of peace so that more people could enjoy the unique beauty of flowering.
Burkut Amphitheater
This object is the key to the activities aimed at preserving and increasing the culture of the Hutsuls - a unique ethnic group of Ukrainian mountaineers with their original traditions, methods of management, and folklore.
Burkut is the venue of the annual festival-fair "Hutsul Brindza", which gathers thousands of guests on the first Sunday of September, and dozens of bands perform on the stage.
The amphitheater is an architectural landmark of our region, so in 2018 it was decided to start preparing a project application for the Operational Program of Romania-Ukraine Cross-Border Cooperation European Neighborhood Instrument aimed at preserving the heritage of the Hutsul ethnic group by providing decent conditions for cultural events and performances, namely - the restoration of the amphitheater in the forest park "Burkut" Rakhiv.
Rakhiv region is a very rich region not only for unique natural complexes, but also cultural heritage, unique identity, which has been formed here for decades. Tourists who come to Rakhiv will enjoy incredible colors, cultural monuments, and gastronomic wonders. Even those who have already visited a large number of countries all around the world can confidently confirm that the Rakhiv region is unique, original, and interesting in all its aspects.
You will definitely be surprised by the local dialect, which, in addition to traditional Ukrainian words, also has derivatives from other languages. This can be explained by the fact that the modern territory of the Rakhiv region and the people living here have close ties with Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia.
Throughout its history, the Rakhiv region has been part of Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Soviet and modern Independent Ukraine. And each of the periods left its own feature, both in the life of the region and its development and in the people themselves.
The unique identity of Rakhiv is the local cuisine. It is rich in both traditional Ukrainian, Hutsul, and Hungarian dishes.
If you are eager to get acquainted and learn more about the Rakhiv region, we sincerely advise you to visit and learn more about all the objects and original aspects of our region! You will definitely enjoy this journey that will stay in your heart forever!