Maidan Nezalezhnosti

    Maidan Nezalezhnosti is the central square of Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine. One of the main city squares, it is located on the Khreschatyk Street. The square was known under many different names but it became prominent as simply the Maidan due to the political events of great significance that took place there in the recent years after the Ukrainian accession to independence.

Current name's etymology

"Maidan" literally translates from Ukrainian as square; this word originally came from Persian. It received its current name in 1991 in the aftermath of the Ukrainian accession to independence. Nezalezhnist (independence) commemorates the Ukrainian independence achieved in 1991 in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Early history and Russian Empire times

Throughout its history the square was called by several different names. The area was known since the time of Kievan Rus", but it was not populated or developed until the 18th century, when stone-made fortified walls were constructed. The walls known as Pecherski Gates stood until 1833. Until the late 18th century – early 19th century, the area was a vacant ground known as Goat Swamp (Kozyne Boloto).

In the 1830s, the first wooden dwellings were built, and in the 1850s, stone-made buildings appeared. The most famous Ukrainian writer, Taras Shevchenko was living in that area in 1859, in a building between Small Zhytomyrska and Mykhailivska streets.

The development rapidly intensified after the mid-19th century when the territory gradually found itself in the commercial centre of Kiev that boomed immensely during the Russian Industrial Revolution becoming the third most important city of the Russian Empire.

Until 1871 it was called the Khreschatyk Square; it was a location of the market and folk entertainment. In 1876 the Kiev City Duma building constructed in the square gave the square a new name, Duma Square.

In 1894 the line of the Kiev tram, the first electric tram in the Russian Empire started in 1892, reached the square.

In 1913 in the front of the City Duma, a monument of Pyotr Stolypin (who was assassinated in Kiev in 1911) was constructed, which stood there until 1917.

Soviet prewar years

In 1919 the square was renamed to the Radyanska (Soviet) Square. From 1935 it was called the Kalinin Square to Mikhail Kalinin, the first chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Much of the square was ruined in the World War II.

In World War II the square was heavily demolished along with almost every building in the centre of Kiev as they were all mined with explosives by the retreating Red Army. In September 1941, after German troops occupied the city, explosions were set off by radio-controlled fuses from over 400 km away. Such unprecedented demolition of the centre of Kiev made this the first operation in history where long-distance radio-controlled explosions were used for military purposes. It caused panic and brought heavy casualties among both the occupying forces and the city"s remaining civilian population.

Soviet postwar years

During the first years after the war, the square was completely rebuilt from scratch. It was architecturally integrated with the newly constructed Khreschatyk in the typical for the time neo-classical Stalinist architecture. The newly constructed Kiev Central Post Office and Trade-Union House with its high-rise clock located on the square to this day became some very well known and frequently pictured views of the center of the city.

In 1976-77, as a part of metro construction, much of the square was again rebuilt and it was renamed to the October Revolution Square (Polshcha Zhovtnevoyi revolyutsii). During the reconstruction, the massive cubist monument to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution was put up as well as the complex ensemble of fountains.

Independent Ukraine

After Ukraine"s accession to independence in 1991, the square was given its current name. The competing proposal of Liberty Square (Ploshcha Svobody) was raised at the time as well as in the years to follow, but the current name commemorating the Ukrainian independence is now firmly associated with the square (see the section below).

In 2001, as the square was the major center of the "Ukraine without Kuchma" mass protest campaign, the new extensive construction of the area was abruptly ordered by that time"s Kiev mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko. The square fenced off for construction became inaccessible for the protesters and many observers claimed that the main goal of the project ordered by the city mayor was to disrupt the protests, especially since similar tactics was used by local authorities throughout Ukraine.

Following the construction, the old familiar look of the square, with its many fountains, was significantly altered and the public reaction to the new look of the square was initially mixed. However, by now the square"s monument to Kyi, Schek and Khoryv - the legendary founders of Kiev, the folklore hero Cossack Mamay, the city"s historic protector Archangel Michael as well as a more modern invention, the protecting goddess Berehynia, and the many glass domes are easily recognisable parts of the modern city centre.

A mostly underground shopping mall, the Globe, was built under Maidan Nezalezhnosti to replace the old and shabby giant underpass formerly dubbed by Kievans as Truba (the Tube).

Future developments of the square include the demolition of the old "Ukraina" hotel (formerly hotel "Moskva"), and building a new 68-floor building instead.

Bessarabska Square

   Bessarabs’ka square marks the end of Khreschatyk. However, it was only by the end of the 40s of XIX century that it was included into the city zone, even though regarded much earlier. For instance, it is known that by the end of the XIX century here used to be a horse post station. It was also used as a stop-point for the guests coming from the South. 

      At that time around the station used to be active sales because of winemakers coming to Kyiv from Besarabiya. Probably, this explains the name of the square. 

   The 80s and 90s of the XIX century were to bring rapid building of Khreschatyk and Rue Grand Vasyl’kivs’ka. Bessarabs’ka square turns into one of the most central squares in Kyiv. On the place of a shy house of Beretti is a fashionable hotel “National” erected, on the opposite side of the square – appears not less stylish “Palais Royal”. The last one has miraculously survived. Until recently here was a hospital; after permanent restoration, it was turned into a shopping center – “Mandarin Plaza”.

   The central building of the square later appeared to be Bessarabs’ky covered bazaar, erected in 1910-12 years by a Polish architect Gaj. The style was chosen – Ukrainian Modernism with little of Constructivism. The architect was willing to depict the options of the used construction structures that is why all the farms and the stuff are seeable.

 

     The bazaar is masterfully embellished with sculptures and ornaments. These have been made by the pupils of the Kyiv Artist School of Balavens’ky.

Askold‘s Tomb (Askoldova Mohyla)

     As legend says, in the year 882 prince Oleg from Novgorod (a city in Russia) berthed to the Kyiv Dnipro bank. After that, he managed to kill Kyiv kings Askold and Dir in the nearby wood on the Dnipro banks. Therefore, Oleg took the Kyiv throne. When he had done so, following the legend, he announced: “Kyiv will become the mother for all Russian (meaning the ones of the Rus) cities”. Oleg has recovered himself in the eyes of the descendants by having united all the local tribes with the center in Kyiv. He also has strengthened the reputation of the royal power. However, probably the most valuable thing he has reached was the victory against Constantinople (today – Istanbul).

   The same legend also mentioned the place where Askold was buried – in the Hungarian forest on the Dnipro banks. In the year 1810 on the place, where before used to be a wooden church, was erected a new stone church-rotunda which was later turned into a park pavilion. As times passed, there appeared a cemetery.

   Picturesque, legendary place kept on attracting the attention of both Kyiv resident and its guests. Shevchenko reproduced Askold tomb in one of his numerous works of paint art. Writer Zagors’ky wrote a novel “Askold Tomb” which later became the basis of Verestovs’ky’s opera. Bestuzhev-Ryumin used to visit this place regularly.

    Plenty of well-known people were buried on this cemetery. For instance, Solovtsov (also known for his theatre), the maker of the first in the world “dead loop” Nesterov, professor of Medicine Mering etc.

    The graveyard existed until 1935. The buries were generally destroyed or removed to other graveyards.

Saint Andrew's church

The place of the erection of St. Andrew’s church is fairly legendary. Here is thought to have been the first settlement of those today known as Kyivits. At the hill’s peak – Perun’s Hump – used to be a Slavic wooden pagan idol – god Perun – surrounded by other pagan gods. To the left were royal palaces, later there appeared Desyatyn church – first ever stone building of the Kyivan Rus.

 As legend says, in the first century AD this place was blessed by St. Andrew. In the 11th century there appeared St. Andrew’s monastery (it was also known under name of Yanka – the daughter of Vsevolod Yaroslavovych king), where there later was opened first ever once again in the Rus female embroidery school.

It was here that in September 1744 owing to the arrival of Queen Elizabeth (Russian Queen) St. Andrew’s church’s foundations were laid. Project was made by a famous architect Rastrelli, the building was directly managed by Michurin, who showed great talent in solving complicated engineering problems. The foundations are hidden in two-storey building – stylobate. All the forces rely on this building. That is why the church looks so light-weight. The style of the church is baroque, the height – 46 metres. The facade of the single-domed church is overdecorated with various columns, rich carvings etc. the doors and the windows are all decorated with typical ornaments. The balcony (terrace) has lovely view looking over Podil and Dnipro River.

The inner decorations may well be recognized as those of rococo period. Such world-class masters as Antropov, Nos-Levyts’ky, Boryspolets’ etc. have done their best to make the inside of the church memorable to the descendants.

By architectural means, St. Andrew’s church especially after the recent restoration has united petty well with the surroundings and has now become an ultimate feature of Kyiv.

Andrew Descent

    Andrew Descent (Andriyivsky Spusk) from time immemorial used to be the shortest way between the Upper City (Royal Residence) and the labour-trading Podil. Contemporary name was given in 1740s; however, the current buildings were erected only in 1890-1900s. Even today Andrew Descent is incredible in its beauty. With many buildings in this street history is connected tight.
    

 

    In house no 13 in 1906-1913 and 1918-1919 used to stay one of the most famous Russian writers, a man with a world-wide famous name – Michael Bulgakov. On this house a table with his name is hung. Bulgakov loved Kiev, he would settle his heroes here, he would depict it in his books. Slightly higher on the hill a strange building in an extraordinary style was built in 1902 and was named “Richard the Lion Heart Castle”. In Andrew Descent used to live such famous artists as Diadchenko, Krasytsky and Makushenko, and a sculptor Balavensky.

    

  Nowadays the street is decorated in the style of 19th century. Due to that it magically draws to itself the local community, the guests of Kiev and simply those who value antique things. The pavements have been tiled with special bricks made by ancient recipes. The road pavement has been also retiled. The lights carved from cast iron fill the street atmosphere with special aroma of the past.

    

   Andrew Descent has become a real museum under no roof. Every spring, art exhibitions and cultural fests take place here. Moreover, since 1991 it has become the most adorable place for Kiev residence where they stroll on the Day of Kiev and on the Independence Day.