UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ukraine

Ukraine is a land with a long and rich history, golden domes of superb churches, fascinating architecture, picturesque views, and a charming atmosphere spiced by legends about brave Ukrainians.

Ukraine is a country with a history of more than 1000 years, a meeting place for various cultures, and is home to eight incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Check the ancient sites and dive into the world heritage in Ukraine.

St. Sophia Cathedral & Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Dating back as far as the XI century, St. Sophia Cathedral preserves one of the world’s largest ensembles of unique mosaics and frescoes of the first quarter of that century.

An outstanding monument of Ukrainian and world culture, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is an Orthodox monastery founded in 1051 by monks Anthony and Theodosius near Kyiv. In the XI century, the monastery became the centre of Christianity in Kyivan Rus. 

Lviv Historic Centre Ensemble

The whole ancient part of Lviv city has been enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded in 1254 and has never changed its name. Lviv has the largest number of architectural monuments in Ukraine. To name a few – the Town Hall, the ensemble of Rynok Square, the Black House, the Kornyakt Palace, the former Dominican Church, the Royal Arsenal, the Powder Tower, the City Arsenal, the Bernardine Monastery, the Latin Cathedral, St. George’s Cathedral, and others.

Here you can experience the magic of winter evening while skating at the open-air rink at Lviv Rynok Square. Also, warm yourself up with delicious flavoured coffee or spicy mulled wine.

Struve Geodetic Arc

The cross-border object of scientific and cultural heritage, ‘Struve Arc,’ consists of 258 triangles that form a chain of 256 main points. The total length of the chain is 2820 meters.

Thanks to the Arc, we established the correct size and shape of the planet Earth and proved Newton’s theory that our planet is a three-dimensional oval.

Virgin Beech Forests of the Carpathians 

78 separate forests are located in 15 countries. 12 (25%) are in Ukraine. Just imagine – the age-old emerald-black spruces sprinkled with snow whisper about something at the top. Shrouded in legends and mysteries, the mountains seem like fabulous giants against the backdrop of the blue sky. And you look at these snow-covered landscapes with fascination and feel like a child waiting for a Christmas miracle. This is such a land – unique and full of real, embodied fairy tales from childhood.

Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans

It is actually a university campus but resembling a medieval castle in Chernivtsi. In winter, it looks like a snowy kingdom that beckons you with its grandeur and mystery.

Wooden Churches of the Carpathian Region

Sixteen wooden churches of the Carpathian region of Ukraine and Poland were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. Eight of them are located in Ukraine. Churches are built in four architectural styles – Galician, Lemko, Boyko, and Hutsul. This is an example of the already lost tradition of wood construction.

Chersonese

The ancient and Byzantine city-state of Chersonese Tavria is located in the southwestern part of Crimea.

It was founded by Greek in 422-421 BC. Chersonese was an important political, trade, and craft centre of the peninsula in ancient times. The history of this city is part of the history of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Byzantium, and Kyivan Rus.

The Historic Centre of Odesa

The central part of Odesa, the largest seaside city in Ukraine, was added to the World Heritage List in 2023. Dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, the city centre includes theatres, bridges, monuments, religious buildings, schools, private palaces, hotels, banks, and other public and administrative buildings.

Eclecticism is the dominant feature of the local architecture. It reflects the intercultural exchange and highly diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds characteristic of the growth and development of the city at that time.

Learn more about which heritage sites UNESCO protects in Ukraine in the video by Ukraïner.