Ukrainian Youth Hostels Association / The secret of chivalrous ages. The Kamianec-Podilskyj museum town.

Weekend tour
"The secret of chivalrous ages"
or
about what castles of Hmelnitsky region keeping silent

Probably, everybody in the childhood imagined himself a king or a queen, a prince or a princess. And, for sure, every crowned head has a magnificent castle or an unassailable fortress. So, if you want to see a fortress from your dream and plunge into spirit of Middle Ages, the "The secret of chivalrous ages" weekend tour is right for you.

The tour includes:

The Kamianec -Podilskyj museum town

Kamianec -Podilskyj is a museum town. The old part of town is conversion area regularly visited by tourists. There is a historical museum, picture gallery, a planetarium and, the most interesting, - the mediaeval castle! Having visited this town you fall in love with it forever!

The location of the town is unique: it is situated on the rocky peninsula surrounded by the deep canyon of the river Smotrich - the left inflow of the river Dnister. Mediaeval Kamianec was connected to the land only with a narrow neck. The Smotrich canyon is about 98,4 feet high, and 500-650 feet wide. The natural might of the town was extended by fortification constructions.

The Kamianec fortress is one of the most unassailable defensive constructions of Ukraine.

It was built in XIV c. on a high rocky coast of Smotrich river to protect the Turkish bridge that was the only entry to the city.
The first written description of Kamianec fortress is dated back to 1494. On the town side the castle had a gate with a tower, on the Northern side it had the Pol’ni gate. The castle was armed with 11 guns and one big "tarasnytsia".
In 1621 the new castle was constructed under the direction of the royal engineer Teofil Shomberg. It was designed to defend against the gunnery. The new castle consisted of two bastions with casemates and a curtain surrounded by the dry ditch. The system of vaults, and the majority of stone walls remained intact till now.

The Hotyn fabulous castle

The image of the stronghold on a bank of a mighty river attracted attention of many movie producers. And no wonder that many films were made here. Just remember ”The Ballad about the Brave Knight Ivanhoe", "The Three Musketeers", "The Robin Hood's Arrows ", "The Old Castle" and many others.
The Hotyn castle was based in the beginning of XI c. by the Kiev prince Volodymyr The Great. It was the part of the frontier fortresses system and was used by ancient Slavs for protection of the settlements.

The Canyon of the Smotrich River

Bungee jumping or feel like a bird

The mankind aspired to fly for ages. But, having conquered the sky by planes, it turned back to the nature. Flights without any mechanical means are possible in bungee jumping (jumping headfirst with the rubber rope on ankles).
Bungee jumping is usually made from high places like bridges, high buildings, hanging rocks, towers etc. The rubber rope springs preventing your legs from coming off and adding additional sensation to a jump.

The Crystal cave

The entrance corridor of a cave is very long – about the 3300 feet. The way coils like a snake. Walls are covered with a variety of crystals.
Here and there a way gets narrow and you need to tighten your belt to pass.
Underground rooms are full of stone images: a head of a buffalo, an owl, an eagle, etc. And what about walking between the dragon’s teeth or on the backbone of the crocodile? Be sure, you will enjoy the Stone of Desires and Merry Slopes as well. Here you can beat the drum of the Cave’s Master or touch a a stone with your forehead to remove a headache.

Day 1
Saturday

9.00	Arrival at Kamianec -Podilskyj
9.20	Breakfast
10.00	Transfer to The Crystal cave
11.00	Guided tour on The Crystal cave
12.40	Transfer to Hotyn
13.15	Guided tour on Hotyn fortress
16.00	Transfer to the Running Deer Bridge - one of the highest bridges of Ukraine
16.30	The Running Deer Bridge. View at a rocky ridge on the bank of the Smotrich River. Bungee jumping (optional).
17.00	Transfer to Kamianec -Podilskyj
17.20	Accommodation in a hotel
18.10	Dinner

Day 2
Sunday

9.30	Breacfast
10.30	Guided city tour: the sight area, Karvasary, Khrestovozdvyzhenska church. The suspension bridge. A sun-dial. Fortification shafts and walls of the Kamianec -Podilskyj fortress.
11.45	Guided tour on Kamianec -Podilskyj fortress.
12.45	Free time. Purchase of souvenirs.
13.15	Guided tour on the old town: the Dominican Monastery (XV-XVIII c.), the town hall (XV-XVIII c.), the chamber of tortures, the building of district court (1856), the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral (XV-XVIII c.), the Franciscan Monastery (XV-XVIII c.), the St. George Catholic Seminary (1670).
15.15	Guided tour in a museum of archeology: an exposition of pagan deities (optional)
16.00	Dinner
17.00	Free time
19.00

Take part in the "The secret of chivalrous ages" weekend tour and it remains in your heart forever!