About Volovets

Volovets district is situated in the northern part of Transcarpathia. Its territory is mountainous. The district borders on Velykyi Bereznyi, Svaliava and Mizhgiria districts, and Lviv region. Volovets district covers an area of 544 square km. with the population of 24.900 inhabitants. There are 26 settlements on its territory. Volovets district is a part of etnographic region of Boycoes land.

SPECIAL BECAUSE…: The land of Volovets with its rich historical heritage, unforgettable landscapes, healthful mountain air and hospitable people has perfect conditions for tourism development. “Pikui” preserve and natural monument Velykyi Kamin (Big Stone), where a lot of rare plants can be found, are situated here. On the slopes of the Verkhovynskyi range the river Latorytsia begins. The fortifications of the protection system, called “Arpad’s line”, from World War II times can be seen in Velyka Hrabivnytsia and Pidpolozzia villages. There are 7 mineral springs on the territory of Volovets district.

VOLOVETS: The first record about the ancient Slavic settlement of Volovets is dated from 1433, when together with surrounding lands it belonged to the feudal lords of Pereni and partly Bilkei. In the beginning of 17th century it was included into Mukachevo domain. In 1872 building of railway was started by Italian manufacturers and since that time Volovets bacame an important transport centre.

IT IS WORTH TO VISIT

VERETSKYI MOUNTAIN PASS – It was the gate to Central Europe for many nomadic people: Scythians, Huns, Avars. Veretskyi mountain pass, which geographically devides Transcarpathia and Lviv region, played an important role in the history of Hungary. It was here where Hungarian tribes at the head of tribal chief Arpad came through to Danubian plain and then settled down in Pannonia between the river Tisza and Danube. The chronicler Nestor mentioned it was in 896. In honour to this event a monument was erected on Veretskyi mountain pass in 1896, but it was soon dismantled by Czechoslovakian authority. In 1996 the Transcarpathian Society of Hungarian Culture elaborated a new project of the monument. According to the project of Petro Matl and Arnold Medvedetskyi the monument would have been in the form of chapel with 7 embankments symbolizing 7 Hungarian tribes. A granite altar would have had to be in the centre, and a bas-relief of the eagle – an ancient symbol of Hungarians – on the upper embankment of the chapel.

WOODEN CHURCHES – There are 6 ancient churches on the territory of Volovets district. The church of the Holy Spirit in Huklyvyi village, built of fir on foundation of river stones in 18th century, is a real masterpiece of Verkhovyna. It is the oldest church of Volovets land. The church is well-proportioned, each part is in fundamental unity with others. The architectural ensemble also includes a beautiful belfry 8 m. high. In accordance with the record of “Huklyvskyi chronicle” icons were painted by the German Franz Peer in 1784.