A list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Ukraine includes six landmarks (as of 2011), five of which are cultural and one is a natural one. Among them, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and Kyiv Pechersk Lavra are recognized as masterpieces of human creative genius. The objects on the list are arranged in order of their addition to the List of World Heritage Sites.
1.Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv
Saint Sophia Cathedral (also, the Wisdom of God, Sophia of Kyiv or Sophia Cathedral)is a Christian cathedral in the center of Kyiv, the landmark of Ukrainian architecture and monumental painting of the XI-XVIII centuries.The cathedral is one of the fewedifices that have preserved since the times of Kyivan Rus. It is one of the most important Christian sacred places in Eastern Europe and the historical center of Kyiv metropolitan.
2. Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra,also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is one of the largest Orthodox holy shrines of Ukraine, the historical and architectural landmark, as well as a functioning monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate with the status of lavra. Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1051, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has been a permanent center of Orthodoxy in Kyivan Rus. Together with Saint Sophia Cathedral it is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In the territory of the Upper Lavra,there is a National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, which was granted the status of a national one in 1996. Monastic life is concentrated on the territory of the Lower Lavra. Both parts of Lavra are open to visitors. Kyiv-Pechersk Lavrawas added to the list of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine in 2007, based on the voting of experts and Internet users.
3. The Ensemble of the Historical City Centre
The historical center of Lviv isthe place from which the city originates. For a long time, it had been limited only to this area where it developed its political, economic, and cultural life. The ancient part of the Old Cityis inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
4. The points of Struve Geodetic Arc
Struve Geodetic Arc (also known as the Russian–ScandinavianMeridianArc) is a network of 265 triangular measuring points that formed 258 triangulation triangles and 60 additional points. It served to determine Earth orientation parameters as well as its shape and size.
5. Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathiansare atransnational composite nature-made object consisting of ten separate massifs located along the 185 km long axis. It extends from the Rakhiv Mountains and Montenegrin ridge in Ukraine to the westof Polonynyridge, Bukovec Mountains and Vihorlat Mountains in Slovakia
6. The Residence of Bukovynian Metropolitans
The edifice was built on the place of the old bishop’s palace in 1864-1882. Nowadays, the main building of Chernivtsi University is set here. The metropolitan residence appeared due to the efforts of Bishop Eugene Hakman.
