Chernivtsi

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About Chernivtsi

City of Chernivtsi, Ukraine - The center of the Chernivtsi County (Oblast) and the region known as Bukovina. It is seated on the South-Western border of the Republic of Ukraine, on the foothills of the Carpatian Mountains and only 40 km from the Romanian border.

Until the end of WW1 (1918), this whole region was within the borders of The Austro-Hungarian Empire (aka Hapsburg Empire) and had a Germanic name of Czernowitz. The Austrian nature of the downtown architecture is rather apparent and in fact, a lot of the important landmarks were the works of famous Austrian architects and resemble certain Viennese landmarks on a smaller scale. At the same time, a lot of these buildings also have a very unique local Easter-European style infused in the designs. The best example of this particular marriage of architectural styles is probably the main Chernivtsi State University compound, which was formally the residency of the local bishop.

After The Hapsburgs and their German allies lost World War 1, the city became part of Romania until it was annexed by the Soviet Union at the beginning of World War 2 only to be retaken by the Axis forces shortly thereafter. Following the War, the city was once again under Soviet control and integrated into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and remained part of Ukraine after the Soviet breakup.

Being an important cultural center in the region, the city was always highly multi-ethnic. At one point, it was a major epicenter of Jewish culture, with a 30% of population being Jews. The other significant ethnic groups throughout the city’s modern history were Romanians, Germans,Ukrainians, Poles and later Russians. During the Soviet times, the city underwent much growth due to a major infusion of population from other parts of the Soviet Union. At its height, the population reached to over 300,000. Currently, the newer half of the city is a perfect example of the spartan, utilitarian Soviet city planning and architecture. With its wide boulevards, rows of 5-store barrack-like apartment buildings, concrete high-rises and urban-engineered parks and ponds, it is a stark contrast to the “old town”. The bleak, run-down industrial district represents yet another contrast.

For additional info go to: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernivtsi

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