Baturin Citadel

The territory of Chernihiv region used to be a field of many battles. Since Kyivan Rus' Chernihiv warriors were considered the best and in fact, the city of Chernihiv was the capital of this ancient state. However, these lands acquired most of the glory at the days of Cossacks. It was a place where Baturyn, the capital of the Getmanate of Left-bank Ukraine, was founded.

The city history begins in the early 17th century with a construction of Baturyn Fortress. The Baturyn Citadel was located in the valley of the Seim Rive and was considered to be the most fortified part of the fortress and its last stronghold. Since 1669 the Citadel of Batutyn Fortress used to be a representative office of great Ukrainian leaders – Demian Mnohohrishnyi, Ivan Samoilovych, Ivan Mazepa and Kyrylo Rozumovs’kyi. Now the Citadel of Baturyn Fortress is a cultural composition, which is a part of the National History and Culture Museum-Preserve "Het’mans’ka stolytsya".

The Citadel of Baturyn Fortress was completely reconstructed in 2009. Archaeologists think it was built in the 17th century, however they have discovered earthworks of more than 900 years old there. In the late 17th - early 18th centuries the Citadel of Baturyn Fortress had an earthen bastion system surrounded by a wooden palisade and a moat. Its walls and towers were built of oak timber and smeared with clay, thereby making it stronger and less assailable, especially while gun battles.

You can find 39 sites of historical significance on the territory of the fortress, including Ascension of the Lord Church, the Hetman House and the Treasury. The church was the main Hetman wooden temple and today remains of the Baturyn Battle’ heroes are situated there. In November 2008 the church was consecrated on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the Baturyn tragedy. Now you can light a candle and pray for the souls of Baturyn warriors. The reconstituted Hetman House situated in the heart of the Citadel resembles buildings of that time. It used to be an official residence and an office of hetmans. The Treasury is a hetman treasury, which is under reconstruction now. Later it is planned to open an exhibition, where different coins, including the first prince hryvnia, will be presented. You are well advised to visit the observation deck of the tower gate, where you can expect a beautiful view of the Seim River Valley.

Outside of the Citadel you can see Baturyn Park, where one of its main attractions is located – Memorial Cross to the victims of the Baturyn tragedy. When hetman Ivan Mazepa had sided with the Swedes, the king of the Russian Empire, Peter I, ordered to destroy Baturyn. In 1708 the army under command of General Alexander Menshykov stormed the castle and killed all around the city. Memorial Cross was excavated and installed in 2004 – that was the beginning of the Citadel of Baturyn Fortress’ restoration. In Baturyn Park you can see Hetman Kyrylo Rozumovs’kyi Palace, Resurrection Church, the house of General Judge Vasyl’ Kochubey, many monuments and parks dedicated to great events and personalities of Baturyn and Ukraine.

The National History and Culture Preserve "Het’mans’ka stolytsya" regularly arranges weekend tours. Baturyn is located on 74 Get’mans’ka Street, Bahmachs’kyi district of Chernihiv region. The easiest way to get there is from Kyiv or Chernihiv.