Mezhyhiria

2015

After a year of existence of Mezhyhirya as a tourist center, there are some changes, many food outlets and many places with additional fee.

This time we took the bikes ($7 for half a day). It is not possible to visit the territory of 'Honka' with bikes, so at first visit entire territory, starting from the zoo, then return the bikes and go watch Honka.

We visited the Dog Training Center ($1) and recommend this tour, especially if you love big and nice dogs. It is not possible the make pictures there, so here are only the cups.

Also we visited the area around the house of Yanukovych, before it was closed. Here located famous hemp, which he used only once!




2014

Our camera can do 330 photos at a time. Never before during a visit to some place we used all the space on the memory card, but in Mezhyhiria that happened. Mezhyhiria means - land among mountains. Now we can say for sure, that in Ukraine appeared new world-class attraction. And if you are visiting Kiev, then definetely visit this place.

The former residence of the president is now (2014) open to visitors. At the moment, not yet decided what will be on its territory in the future, so hurry to visit the unique place. Despite the rather large number of visitors, everything looks very well-kept. Though some elements of design are started to neglect. The reason is that they were created for one person and not for crowds of visitors. In various articles is written about the lack of taste from the side of the designers, but it is not true. All the designs in Mezhyhiria outdoor and indoor done very well.

During the 2009-2014 Mezhyhiria has become the most secret facility in the country. There was almost no information about it. Only in 2012 the journalist managed to get to the area and took a few photos. How she made this? The height of the main fence is more than 6 meters :)


Construction of major facilities began in 2009, so we can say that the "owner" had not even enough time to live in his fabulous residence.

Mezhyhiria is quite large (over 130 hectares), we were there for almost 6 hours. Be sure to buy a map at the entrance for $0.5. Now already appeared some tourist infrastructure: tea, coffee, toilets. There are even souvenirs, we bought a magnet in the form of golden loaf :) "Golden loaf" is a ukrainian legend, it was found in Mezhyhiria when it was opened on 22 of February, 2014.

Be prepared to walk a lot, even the shortest route with overview of all objects is 7 km long. It is possible to rent a bike ($2.5 per hour or $7 per half day). But in the first visit I would not recommend  to take a bike, better to walk on foot.

Entrance fee now is $1.5. Additionally, you need to pay for visiting the automobile museum ($2.5), dog training center ($1.5) and a tour inside the sports center and Honka ($ 17). Money is used to pay salary to 100 people of staff (previously were 1500).

Internal area is divided into several parts by fences, so you can not always go using the shortest route, use printed map. After the first gate don't turn to the left or right and go to the second gate, that will be the best start of the route.




The main thing that interests most tourists is the famous Honka and park around it. Clubhouse "Honka" is called by the name of the Finnish company, which built it. Photos cannot show the real scale of the structure, is the world's largest timber-framed house.








The house looks great from any side, a true masterpiece. Although it was built by Finns, the works were managed by Germans. On previous photo you can see, that the first 2 floors were build in a german style.




Near the house was built some Roman area. Perhaps the president here played with the former Attorney General :) (photo)






Around was created a luxuriant park with artificial lakes. In total, Mezhyhiria has 12 interconnected lakes, which are fed by artesian water.




As you can see there are many flowers on the photos. Looks better then in the central botanical garden of Kiev.




In the water swim big fish. A worker came to feed them.


Near is a small waterfall, beach and leisure complex.










Going further into the park, which has a lot of sculptures.




All rear trees have special info-plates.
















Next we returned to the entrance and went to the zoo. On the way saw a presidential garden.


It is curious that most things are made of yellow metal, although it's not gold.


In the zoo there are some rear animals and a lot of birds. As it turned out, Yanukovych drank brandy from deer antlers and antelope milk, which acts like Viagra. Animals are beeing feed by the food prepared 4 months ago, under Yanukovych, also there is a help of some philanthropists.














This picture is nice :)


Next we had an excursion to the interior. We walked there together with a volunteer girl who is now taking care of the house. At first fisited sports center










In the greenhouse, which leads to the spa center stands awesome stuffed lion. Is was made with incredibly high quality, there is only a small incision on the back foot.






Here Yanukovych hold official meetings with Klichko :)


Spa center is connected to Honka by an underground tunnel.






Amaizing Knights Hall


There are much free space on the walls. Most of the pictures and valuable exhibits were already taken to the museum. And some other small items were taken by first visitors as souvenirs: slippers, towels, pens and so on. According to the volunteer nothing valuable were stolen.




Curtains in the Knights' Hall cost 229.000 euros, bought in Moscow.




All the huge building can accommodate only two people. Actually, despite assurances by Yanukovych that the house did not belong to him, he lived here. As evidence you can find in the house numerous photographs and images of he and his family. That is presidential bedroom.




And this is bathroom. Unfortunately without golden toilet, but with nice shower.






As I already told, most of things are yellow, although it's not gold.






Why they need to make "golden" tubes which nobody can see?!? :)


Nearby is exactly the same bedroom and bathroom, where lived his wife mistress Olena with a son. This is easily determined by her huge portrait on the wall in the bedroom.


There is only one major flaw in the design - a huge number of TV sets, they are in every room. It's really spoil the impression.


Girlfriend of the president read some books. For example "Secrets of the most rich people of China".


Here is also a small chapel, which looks more like a church




Main staircase. Above it hangs apparently the most expensive chandelier in the house (and maybe in the world :). According to documents found, there is a chandelier for 8 million euros! Seems it's this one. But the most interesting thing is that the chandelier even more decorated with precious stones, so its price may already be several times higher.




Next we entered the large room of 200 square meters. This large hall, like the whole house is made of Lebanese cedar. Works were conducted by German company, which did this according to the real "european values​​" :).

Standing in this room you understand that "money over all" is the real "values" :)






Family photos. When you see this, feel a little uncomfortable. Seems like you are in the museum of some outstanding person.


Hall has several adjoining rooms. In the first president worked. By the way, despite the fact that most of the things that we see in the house are handmade, many of them just look like real wood, but is actually made of chipboard. And carpets are not hand made. Looks like someone from the environment of Yanukovych cheated and stole his money :)


On the shelves there are still many rare books, for example 86 volumes of Brockhaus and Efron. President could not use the internet :)


The second room was used for the rest after the hard presidential work. There is a pool and poker table here.








The third room is a big dining room.


It adjoins the kitchen. Food brought by elevator.


Moving forward to to the river. We pass by the "official" house of Yanukovych. For a few days there was access also to this house, but now it's under protection, as things inside need to be checked.


Long promenade is an ideal place for biking. On the way to Galleon we met 14 species of pheasants and many rabbits.




Galleon still cannot be visited. But marvelous mosaic floor, elegant funishing and three famous $100 thousand chandelier can be slightly seen through the glass.








As well as in the upper park, here were held enormous work on the creation of artificial reservoirs.








Next we visited presidential museum of cars. Cool museum, most of the cars have some story behind.




That is for example an experimental prototype of one of the most famous soviet cars "ZAZ".


And this is spec car, which was not available to ordinary citizens. An exception was made only for Yuri Nikulin.


These cars were taken in Dovzhenko film studio, thanks to dishonest director. Each of these cars cost about 200 thousand euros.






Among other plates there was one saying "Horch 855 Special Roadster", although the car was not in the museum. This is a very rare car, only 7 were made, each costs more then 3 million euros. Now journalists and enthusiasts are searching for it.

Next object is a guest house, which stands pretty far from Honka.


Then we climbed the mountain to the helipad and along the golf courses passed to the exit.


In total we walked almost 6 hours.

http://open-ua.com/kiev_region/mezhigorie/ - cool panoramas.

Getting there: Address of Mezhyhirya: Petrivtsi village,  street of Ivan Franko 19. Unfortunately not all maps in GPS has this address and even this village. Therefore, if you going by car, then print the map, or use coordinates or ask locals as we did. Also you can use a bus from the metro station Heroes of Dnepr in Kiev.

Mezhyhiria opening hours: from 9 to 18 (August 2015). Entrance fee $2 (August 2015).