Discover Mariupol

Mariupol’s history is reflected in a variety of cultural and urban themes: the local history museum brought together knowledge about the city and its southern region, while cultural venues and parks tell other chapters of the city’s history. Those interested in Mariupol can explore different areas of focus, from the history of its museums and cultural life to its landscaped green spaces.

City history and culture

The Mariupol Local History Museum was founded on February 6, 1920. It was considered the oldest museum in Donetsk Oblast and a research center that brought together knowledge about the city and the neighboring districts in the south of the oblast. Its permanent exhibition covered the region’s history and natural environment. The building and collections were severely damaged in 2022; the museum now works remotely.

From 1989, the “Museum of Folk Life” branch was housed in a separate late-19th-century building on Heorhiivska Street. It exhibited ethnographic objects from the region’s main national groups. Another exhibition at the local history museum, “Mariupol at the Turning Point of the Era,” depicted the city during the Ukrainian Revolution in 2016–2017. Together, these themes offer an impression of how the history of the city and region can be told from different perspectives.

The history of the A. I. Kuindzhi Municipal Center for Contemporary Art and Culture dates back to the opening of the A. I. Kuindzhi Exhibition Hall in 1972, then a branch of the local history museum. The “Ukrainskyi Dim” Palace of Culture also shaped Mariupol’s cultural life in the 20th and 21st centuries. From 1982, it had the city’s largest stage and was considered the largest palace of culture in Nadasovye. Under its former name, it was known as the Palace of Culture of the Illich Metallurgical Plant.

The Museum of History and Archaeology at Mariupol State University offers another glimpse into the city’s history of science. It was established in 2016 to mark the university’s 25th anniversary. Its exhibition comprised around 500 items in two thematic sections: the development of the university and the findings of the MSU archaeological expedition, founded in 1997. The museum hosted general and thematic guided tours.

Parks and urban spaces

The history of green spaces is another of Mariupol’s many facets. Park Veselka was redesigned in 2019, with more than 210,000 flowering and evergreen plants planted there. The park’s design at the time included a green thuja maze, the “Mist zakokhanykh” and a decorative grotto with a waterfall. The facilities at the time also included recreational areas, a sports area with exercise equipment and a children’s playground.

Park Veselka used to be one of the city’s main venues for annual celebrations and was considered the best-known park on the left bank. Its former festival tradition and landscaped features offered different points of interest: the park served both as a venue for city events and as an example of garden and open-space design. Visitors to Jubilejnyj Park imeni Hurova used to be able to see a river and the “Oberehy Ukrainy” outdoor sculptures.

Freedom Square was Mariupol’s largest square and a popular place for recreation and memorial events. One of its distinctive features was an arched fountain: it was 32 meters long and was considered the longest of its kind in Ukraine. In the city’s history, the square thus brings together two themes that are also helpful when exploring other places: public open spaces and shared remembrance.

The former program at the Vezha cultural center included lectures, training sessions and workshops, as well as guided tours with virtual reality headsets. Film screenings, music evenings and discussion groups on important city issues also formed part of the program at the time. The former program therefore ranged from practical learning formats to cultural events and discussions about Mariupol.

Find the right focus for your trip

When looking for a vacation rental in Mariupol, your preferred theme can be a useful starting point: are you especially interested in the history of the city and its museums, cultural institutions, or the design of parks and public spaces? These themes offer different ways to explore the city and can help you organize your travel interests.

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Go to the main travel overview: Donetsk Oblast.