Poltava
Ukraine · Poltava Oblast · 155 m
Description
Poltava (Poltawa) is a quiet provincial capital in the wooded steppe that Ukrainians associate with two things, the battle of 1709 that ended Swedish power in eastern Europe, and the writer Mykola Hohol who grew up nearby and set his early stories in these villages. The centre is a circular neoclassical square with a column at its middle and streets radiating off it, one of the cleanest examples of imperial town planning in the country. Around it the region keeps a strong craft tradition of embroidery, pottery at Opishnia and the local dumpling cooking.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Round Square and the Column of Glory
- Poltava Battle field and its museum
- Holy Cross Exaltation Monastery
- Poltava galushky dumplings and the monument to them
- Ivanova Hora viewpoint and the White Arbour
- Poltava Museum of Local Lore in its art nouveau building
- Opishnia pottery centre(Day trip)
- Sorochyntsi fair (approx. August)(Day trip)
- Hohol family estate at Velyki Sorochyntsi(Day trip)
- Poltava embroidery and the local craft shops
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Poltava-Kyivska