Description of the attraction
Khreshchatyk is the main street of Kiev. Since the 19th century, it has also been the most popular place where the townspeople loved to walk. The street got its name thanks to Khreshchaty Yar, from where the street once began. But until the 18th century there was an ordinary wasteland here, but the advantageous location between several districts did its job - Khreshchatyk quickly turned into the central city street. Unfortunately, a significant part of the old buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, therefore modern Khreshchatyk is built up mainly with buildings made in the so-called “Stalinist style”. However, some of the old buildings have survived, the oldest of them is the hotel "Canet" built in 1874 (it now houses the Central Grocery Store).
Today the street stretches from the European Square, where the building of the Ukrainian House stands out. The tower, located above the House of Trade Unions, on which an electronic clock works, cannot fail to attract attention. The street stretches to Bessarabskaya Square, where the famous and oldest in Kiev Bessarabsky Market, erected in 1910-1912, is located. At the same time, Khreshchatyk crosses the equally famous Independence Square (in the common people referred to simply as Maidan).
Throughout Khreshchatyk (which is 1, 2 kilometers), the following pattern is observed - the entire street is made as a single ensemble. Therefore, an unaccustomed eye does not immediately notice where, say, the building of the General Post Office ends and the building in which some ministries are located begins. There are also two metro stations here - "Khreshchatyk" and "Independence Square", as well as Kievsky Passage. During holidays and weekends, the street is often blocked, turning into a pedestrian street.
