Nova Kakhovka: Stone Embroideries and City History

In the historic center of Nova Kakhovka, more than 50 ornamental panels adorn 80 two-story buildings. Hryhor Dovzhenko created them using his own technique, carving patterns into wet plaster. The old town’s façade ornaments are considered a valuable legacy of the students of the “School of Boychukists.” In 2017, the “stone embroideries” and the entire historic center were designated an urban monument of local significance. Those interested in architecture can view individual examples of façade art as well as the broader historic cityscape as a connected subject.

Façade Art and Routes Through the City

Tourism Route No. 7707, “Stone Embroideries,” is 2 km long; the excursion takes one hour. This gives you a concrete idea of how much time to allow for an outing focused on ornamentation. Another perspective is offered by the excursion route and eco-trail “City of a Thousand Springs,” which provides a way to explore Nova Kakhovka. The first route is defined by its length and duration, while the second focuses on exploring the city. When planning your activities, you can decide whether to concentrate on the façade art or make the city as a whole your focus.

City History and Art

The City History Museum tells the story of Nova Kakhovka’s origins and construction phases. On January 22, 1985, the city council’s executive committee decided to establish a museum on a voluntary basis; it opened to visitors on June 6, 1990. Part of the exhibition is devoted to the former village of Klyuchove, on the site of which Nova Kakhovka was built. Another room preserves materials from the construction period of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, the North Crimean Canal, and the city. This brings together the history of the place before the city was founded and the period when major projects were built.

The A. S. Havdzynsky Municipal Art Gallery offers a perspective of its own. Its collection comprises 1,039 exhibits, including paintings, graphics, sculptures, decorative and applied arts, and photographs. A particular focus is 297 paintings and graphic works by A. S. Havdzynsky; he donated 237 of them to the city in 1961. The collection also includes illustrations by Ukrainian People’s Artist V. H. Lytvynenko. Alongside the diversity of art forms, the artists’ works offer two clearly defined focal points: Havdzynsky’s paintings and graphics, and Lytvynenko’s illustrations.

The city’s cultural identity also includes the Palace of Culture, a public building that opened in 1953 and is associated with performances and concerts. Together with the City History Museum and Art Gallery, it broadens the view beyond architecture and collections to include the performing arts. You can combine different interests on your trip: the ornamentation of the historic center, the history of the place, and the art collections.

If you’re looking for a vacation rental, first consider which of these perspectives you want to shape your stay. An architectural focus leads to the “stone embroideries” and their one-hour excursion; those more interested in the city’s development will find connections in the museum ranging from the former village of Klyuchove to major construction projects. The art gallery and Palace of Culture add visual and performing arts to these themes.

Discover more destinations: Kizomys, Heniches'ka Hirka, Bilozerka, Khorly, Lazurne, Strilkove, Ukrainka, Oleksiivka.

For the broader travel overview: Kherson Oblast.