Discover Svitlovodsk: Park, Sailing and History

Svitlovodsk combines a large wooded park in the city centre with sailing and water-related activities, as well as a complex history. Taras Shevchenko Park is known for its trees, recreation and culture; at the Kristal Yacht Club, sailing and summer events shape the scene. The city’s attractions also include a Scythian flat burial ground and museum exhibits about the lost city of Novoheorhiivsk. When planning your holiday, it may help to decide whether you would prefer to focus on the central park and urban culture or on activities on the water.

A green heart and activities in the park

At 109 hectares, the wooded Taras Shevchenko Park is a prominent green space in the centre of Svitlovodsk. The planting is characterised mainly by Crimean and Siberian pines, along with maples and acacias. Its size and tree cover give the park a distinctive character, while its recreational facilities offer a different focus. A bust of Taras Shevchenko was erected in the centre of the park in 1961. It was created by sculptor Arkadii Matsievskyi.

The park lists nine rides for children and adults, as well as trampolines and children’s swings; check whether these facilities are operating before your visit. From May onwards, concerts, festivals, competitions and exhibitions by local artisans are also held on public holidays. If you are planning to come for a particular event, check the current dates in advance.

Sailing, summer events and water

The Kristal Yacht Club offers sailing and sailing tourism. Every summer, events of national significance are held at the club, with more than 30 yachts taking part from different parts of Ukraine. This gives the club a different focus from the tree-filled park. If an event is a deciding factor in your trip, check the current date.

Fishing and kitesurfing are listed at the Kremenchuk Reservoir near Svitlovodsk, in connection with the Svitlovodsk Kite Station. Before making plans, confirm the specific activity location and whether the activity is available during your travel dates. The Kremenchuk Reservoir, also known as the “Kremenchuk Sea,” is in the wider region. It is considered the largest reservoir in Europe and covers 2,252 km².

Traces of the city’s history

A Scythian flat burial ground dating from the 4th to 7th centuries BC lies between the present-day Zavodskyi and Sadovyi districts. It represents a pre-Christian layer of history alongside the memory of the more recent city, which also includes the Shevchenko bust erected in 1961.

An older description of the Svitlovodsk Local History Museum mentions an exhibition about the lost city of Novoheorhiivsk, featuring photographs of the lost city and copies of archival documents. It also mentions a permanent exhibition about the Second World War, with finds from the site of the battles to liberate the region in 1943, now the Zmytnytsia Island area in the Kremenchuk Reservoir. Check current opening arrangements before visiting the museum.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your plans

These different points of interest give you a practical starting point for your search for a holiday apartment. If you are mainly planning to visit Taras Shevchenko Park and enjoy its central location, you can use your preferred part of the city as a search criterion. If your trip focuses on sailing or kitesurfing, first confirm the location and date of the activity. Those especially interested in history can explore different themes in the park, at the archaeological site and in the museum descriptions.

Discover more destinations: Kazarnya, Ul'yanovka, Novomyrhorod, Velyka Vyska, Kalachivka, Subottsi, Kutsevolivka, Holovanivs'k

For the regional travel overview: Kirovohrad Oblast.