Kiev has lots of places that are hidden from eyes of tourists somewhere in quiet courtyards or away from the beaten tourist routes. These Secret Kiev places attract more locals, who love the city, than travelers who come to Kiev for a few days.
In general, it is written here about a number of interesting and to some extent secret places of Kiev, which you can visit if you are tired of walking along Khreshchatyk and Sophia Square.
The smallest elevator for one person
This elevator is located in a house on Proreznaya street, 11b. The elevator was built by an order of an important minister, who was very worried about his safety. Because of that he preferred to use the elevator alone. The elevator suits for a fairly thin person and was built in 50-s of the 20th century.
House with cats on Hoholevskaya
The residential house belonged to Colonel Fedor Yagimovsky. It got its name from the abundance of cats’ figures in the decoration of the facade. For some time the house was called the Castle of Koshchey. Commemorative plaques on the walls of the building illustrate the well-known inhabitants of this house. At different times this building had a large number of famous people. Despite the fact that the house was inhabited by celebrities, the city rumours that the house was the cause of many dramatic destinies, and it is dangerous to be here, and animal figures on the facade are nothing but a mystical message. But he building became famous rather for its bizarre forms, first of all, two unusual facades.
The abundance of strange creatures on it reminds by its execution the known House with Chimeras. But not only cats and birds are honored to be depicted here. Heck (or Chimera) under the roof symbolizes a kind of composition ending.
Ravens on Reitarskaya
Ravens live in the most interesting place in Kiev – next to the Golden Gate, Reitarskaya street, Yaroslavov Val and Big Zhitomirskaya street.
Not far from here there is a Peizazhnaya Alley. The place, in general, is really historic. There are many legends for curious tourists invented by the residents of neighboring houses, how and where appeared these birds. There are even versions of the love triangle between the three ravens, which became the reason to put one of them into a separate birdcage. But in fact they have a lord who has been taking care of them for a long time and still remains incognito.
You can see these beautiful birds if you pass by the cortyard on Reitarskaya street, 9.
Monitor “Zheleznyakov”
The Monitor Zheleznyakov became famous during the Second World War. This low-board artillery ship got the name “elusive” for its maneuverability. In 1936 the Kiev shipyard “Lenin’s smithy” released Monitor Zheleznyakov. In any hot fight where the ship participated, it always came back with a victory; for this it was called “elusive” by people. In 1965, at the request of public organizations, the hull and weapons of Monitor Zheleznyakov were handed over to a plant. The Monitor was fully restored in the form in which it performed its feats. Now it is a monument-ship. It is situated on the island of Rybalsky (travel there by bus from the underground station Kontraktovaya). The ship stands in a park near the Dnieper River, you may climb the ship; there is quite a pretty view on it from the coasts.
Castle Hill
The Castle Hill is located on the right coast of the Dnieper River near the St. Andrew’s descent. This territory belongs to the Florovsky monastery. Previously, all the area was fenced with a solid stone wall.
