Taras Shevchenko Park in Kyiv: History of a Beloved Park

Strolling along its shady paths, you get a distinct feeling that this place has a special, inspiring atmosphere. Shevchenko Park is one of Kyivans' favorite places to relax. Students, moms with kids, couples in love and office workers on their way home all come here to recharge with positive energy. And if your head suddenly fills with philosophical thoughts that simply have to be shared, you can always voice them to Taras Shevchenko himself. Let's take a look at the history of this important Kyiv landmark.

As you might guess, it all began with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv — back then still called the Imperial University of St. Volodymyr. According to one story, the idea of creating a park came about after the last emperor of Brazil, Pedro II (Dom Pedro), visited the university in September 1876. He noticed that the area opposite the university looked rather unsightly: cows grazed there and pigs wallowed in puddles. Hardly a view to inspire anyone to great discoveries, so the emperor suggested turning the area into a park.

The city authorities quickly took up the idea and hired the best horticultural specialists to plant the area with trees and shrubs, putting the gardener Karl Christiani in charge of designing the future park. Everyone did an excellent job, and in 1890 the University Park officially opened. It kept that name for exactly six years, until 1896, when a monument to Russian Emperor Nicholas I — during whose reign the Imperial University of St. Volodymyr was founded — was erected in the center of the garden. From then on, Kyivans called it the Imperial Park.

Naturally, a park called "Imperial" had to look the part. New shrubs, flower beds and trees were planted, benches were installed, and three fountains were built that still survive, while special police patrols kept order in the park.

After the 1917 revolution the park was neglected: the fountains dried up and filled with trash, and the monument to Nicholas I was taken down and sent to be melted down, along with the metal lampposts made especially for the park. That did not last long, however. In 1939 a monument to Taras Shevchenko, an idea that local officials had long been considering, was unveiled here. It was designed by the well-known architect Yevhen Levinson, and the sculptor Matvei Manizer was commissioned to cast the poet in bronze. After the monument to the great Kobzar was installed, the park finally became known as Taras Shevchenko Park.

In 1972 the park was granted protected status as a landmark of landscape art.

Despite its modest size, Shevchenko Park has plenty to offer both young visitors and adults: playgrounds, small cafes, unusual benches and interesting art pieces, such as the "Classic Granny" monument and the "Love Is the Universe" sculpture.

So if you want to relax and have a good time — welcome to Shevchenko Park!