Chernivitsi ..... Kamyanets-Podilsky ..... Ivano-Frankivsk

[Bunky]

Chernivitsi ..... Kamyanets-Podilsky ..... Ivano-Frankivsk

Which is the most beautiful, 1, 2 and 3?

[bm-21Lemko]

Ivano-Frankivsk, maybe. Ive never been but the pictures of the area look pretty.

[V-G]

It depends on how you define "beautiful", I grew up in Ivano-Frankivsk and it is indeed a beautiful place, yet I thought that Kamyanets-Podilsky had a different and very beautiful look as well. Chernivci was just so-so.

disclosure: I haven't seen any of the above mentioned places since 2001, a lot has changed.

[bm-21Lemko]

How is the castle in Kamyanets-Podilsky?

[Natalia_UA]

I can't solve the problem of "3 cities choice") but if you mention Kamyanets-Podilsky with its castle, I'd like to tell you about Khotyn which is just 20 km far from Kamyanets, because In this very place, not far from the Carpathian mountains, on the picturesque bank of the Dniester river, behind century-old walls of Khotyn fortress which is included into 7 Wonders of Ukraine from April, 30 to May, 3 2010 the first international medieval historical reenactment festival “Battle of the Nations” will take place. Here you can see the same battles as the ones which were held on the battlefields in XIII-XVI centuries. No theatrical performances, just real battles! They include single tournaments revealing the strongest fighters, as well as group competitions and mass battles. The battles in a plain field, the defense of their own encampments and the ravage of the enemy one, the battle for the banner etc. The national teams of 4 countries : Ukraine, Russia, Byelorussia and Poland which are the leaders in the sphere of martial historical reenactment of the Middle Ages will define the strongest in this large order.
Besides you’ll have a great opportunity to study life and culture peculiarities of those times. As all arms and armour, military and family life items and adornment as well as apparel should be historically authentic ones. The festival guests will have an opportunity to rub shoulders with the warriors, to visit their camp and even to share their meal. Local sightseeing places deserve a special attention. First of all, it’s the stone fortress itself which became the strongest fortification of Eastern Europe. It became famous for the fact that the last battle in Khotyn finished with Turkish defeat which was the beginning of Ottoman Empire disintegration. You can see this fortress in such movies as “Taras Bulba”, “Ballade about the gallant knight Ivanhoe”, “The Three Musketeers”, “Black arrow”, “Old Fortress”, “Arrows of Robin Hood” and many others which were shot within its centuries-old walls.
There are also many legends about the fortress, created over the hundreds of years of its existence. Some popular legends involve the origins of the large dark spot on the side of the wall of the fortress. One legend says that the spot was created by the tears of the Khotyn rebels against the Ottoman Turks that were killed inside fortress. Another legend has it that the spot was created from the tears of a girl named Oksana, whom the Turks buried alive in the walls of the fort.