View of the modern Podil neighborhood from the Volodymyrska Hill.

The Podil (Ukrainian: Поділ or Podol) is a historic neighborhood in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Kiev, and the birthplace of the city's trade, commerce and industry. It contains many architectural and historical landmarks, and new archaeological sites are still being revealed. It is part of the larger administrative Podil Raion (district) of the city.

History [edit]

View of the Podil in the late 19th century.

The name “Podil” means something that is situated downwards. Blocks of this neighborhood used to be trading and crafting center of Kiev. Their names reflect this fact: Degtyari (someone who deals with tar), Gonchary (potters), Kozhemyaki (craftsmen who deal with leather). On the territory of Podil ancient constructions were found. Some of them date back to 9th – 11th century. In 17th century intensive building within Podil took place. Since 1797 annual fair was conducted.

The Great Podil fire in 1811 damaged the neighborhood extensively and after this event appearance of Podil changed a lot. Before this fire Podil was the most populous neighborhood of the city with 2,068 houses out of 3,672 dwellings in all of Kiev. After the fire Podil was newly planned and great number of new streets appeared, which remained till modern times. In this period were constructed such buildings as Contract's House, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, shopping arcade and others.

The section just north of Nizhny Val was formerly called Ploskaya chast' or Ploskaya sloboda and until World War II when it was home to many poor Jews living in wretched conditions.^[1][2][3]

Attractions [edit]

Numerous attractions of Podil particularly include:

• Frolivsky and Pokrovsky Convents
• National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
• House of Ivan Mazepa
• House of Peter the Great
• Fountain of Samson
• Zamkova Hora hill.
• Gostiny Dvor

Transport [edit]

The "right" carriage of the Kiev Funicular.

The Podil Raion is connected to the city's metro system by three stations on the Kurenivsko-Chervonoarmiyska Line: Tarasa Shevchenka, Kontraktova Ploshcha (named after the Kontraktova Square), and Poshtova Ploshcha (named after the Poshtova Square).

The Kiev Funicular serves passenger traffic to and from the Podil and the city's historic Uppertown neighborhood. Meanwhile, the Kiev River Port serves passenger traffic on the Dnieper River.

Streets and squares [edit]

• Andriyivskyy Descent
• Borychiv Descent
• Poshtova Square
• Kontraktova Square

References [edit]

• Malikenaite, Ruta (2003). Touring Kyiv. Baltia Druk. pp. 146–147. ISBN 966-96041-3-3. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Podil

• podilr.gov.ua - Administration website of the Podilskyi Raion (Ukrainian)
• Поділ in Wiki-Encyclopedia Kiev (Ukrainian)
• klymenko.data-tec.net - Photo gallery and information about Podil and its attractions (Ukrainian)

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