The magnificent Sofia Kievskaya Reserve includes some of Kiev's best sights. One of the most famous is the Golden Gate:
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a restored monument from the time of Yaroslav the Wise,
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the main gate of ancient Kiev
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evidence of the skill of 11th century architects
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world heritage site
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a museum that no city tour is without.
Today, the Golden Gate, already in the status of a museum, is considered a visiting card of the city. This colossal structure appears immediately upon exiting the metro. The remains of the ancient gates are carefully closed from the effects of sun, rain and winds by a stylish, historically accurate new model. It looks majestic, as if preparing us for a meeting with a unique construction of pre-Mongolian architecture. This is where you should start to get acquainted with Kiev.
Main entrance to ancient Kiev
During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, the territory of Kiev grew rapidly. It was now necessary to create defensive fortifications around the sprawling new city. It was surrounded by powerful earth ramparts, the entrance was immediately through several city gates - Lyadskie, Lvovskie, etc. All of them have not survived to this day. The main entrance was the Golden Gate. For 11th century it was a masterpiece of defence architecture.
The preserved walls are striking in height - 9.5 metres. The fortress tower was built in the ancient Roman technique: a layer of stones alternated with a levelling layer of burnt bricks. The wide, over 7 metres wide passage was framed by dimensional pylons. They were supported by arches of the vault, the upper part of which served as a battle ground. All this was crowned by the gate church. Massive and impregnable for those times the construction solved many problems, the main ones:
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A real defence against enemies
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Terrorising the enemy with the power of the goal
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Triumphal arch to welcome the victors and guests of honour
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Demonstration of the greatness of Kiev
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With the Gate Church of the Annunciation, the city declared its Christian faith.
Although the Golden Gate was mentioned in the "Tale of Bygone Years", medieval chronicles have left no evidence of what they actually were. Preserved fragments helped to recreate the appearance. And the painstaking work of archaeologists and architects.
It is authentically known that they were built in 1037. In the same year Yaroslav the Wise laid the Sofia Cathedral. There are claims that the gate leaves were upholstered with sheets of gilded copper. But it was not this that gave them their name. Golden gates have received a name in honour of the same name gates of Constantinople - the city from which on Russia has come Christianity.
Although, according to scientists, the external similarity of the gate was not observed. And the Kiev gates, unlike the Constantinople gates, were the only ones with an over-the-gate church. And the Annunciation Church was one of the first temples in Kiev, whose dome was covered with real gold leaf. Inside the ancient church was decorated with fresco paintings and mosaics. Their fragments were discovered by archaeologists.
From greatness to decadence
For two centuries the Golden Gate protected Kiev and served as a guarantee of its impregnability. In the annals there are many stories about attempts to conquer the city. Two generations of Cuman princes, numerous pretenders to the throne of Kiev could not overcome the main stronghold.
The gate was impregnable for the Mongol-Tatar army of Khan Batyi. But, after a long siege, the enemies managed to break into Kiev through the Lyadskie gate. The Mongol-Tatars destroyed and burnt most of the city. And, of course, the Golden Gate, a symbol of its indestructibility.
In the next few centuries, even in a half-destroyed form, the gate remained majestic and fulfilled the function of a triumphal arch. Among the important guests entering the city through the Golden Gate already in the 17th century, chronicles call Bogdan Khmelnitsky with his Zaporozhye army in 1648. And 6 years later an embassy solemnly enters through the gate - on the occasion of joining Ukraine to Russia.
Foreign travellers described the gate as high and beautiful, despite the destruction. Drawings by Dutch artist Westerfeld, made in the middle of the 17th century, confirm the same. But time was inexorable, and the once majestic structure gradually turned into ruins. The city authorities made attempts to repair them. But in the middle of the 18th century they were recognised as emergency. And a famous architect of that time D. Debosket instead of developing measures to repair the structure proposed to simply fill the gates with earth and build new ones next to them. So Kiev citizens lost one of the most famous sights of the city for a long time. Together with the gate was buried their glorious history, which is impossible to fully restore.
Photo: Nick Grapsy. Source: Wikipedia
Revival of the Golden Gate
The gate was underground for about 80 years. During this time, even mentions of the exact location of the structure disappeared. Therefore, the search was taken up by archaeologists. And on one enthusiasm. The fact is that Kiev was waiting for a large-scale expansion. And the authorities decided to demolish part of the earth rampart of the ancient city.
To save the gates, it was necessary to find them first. The search was led and financed by a local amateur archaeologist K. Lokhvitsky. They were crowned with success, historical ruins were found, in a deplorable condition of course. Neither the arches nor the remains of the gatehouse church survived. And yet it was an event. And in Kiev the solemn opening of the Golden Gate took place. And further the matter was taken into their own hands by history lovers - they began to collect funds for the reconstruction of the structure. The gates were tied with iron ties, strengthened with turf. And ruins of the Golden Gate became one of favourite monuments of city antiquity. And also a constant subject of study of archeologists.
In the 70s of the last century, a decision was made to construct a building that would become a protective case for the surviving remains of the Golden Gate. And the building had to fully reproduce the appearance of the Golden Gate. It was necessary to calculate their initial height, to specify, how the sashes are located, how to reproduce the arch and many other things. Everything was used - surviving fragments, drawings of the Dutch artist, researches of archeologists, mathematical and architectural calculations.
Today the revived ancient gates have become an exclusive attraction of Kiev. It is not just a modern reproduction of an ancient Russian shrine. It is a museum, inside which fragments of history are carefully preserved. People come here to marvel at the skills of distant ancestors who created the stonework that has survived time. To see jewellery, weapons and clothes of the inhabitants of Kiev of the Middle Ages.
And also go up to the entrance to the reconstructed Church of the Annunciation. From this highest platform of the Golden Gate opens an incredibly beautiful view of Kiev. Or rather, its historical part. That's when you will get the whole palette of impressions from visiting the place called the Golden Gate monument. And you will make souvenir postcard level photos.
The museum works every day, except Monday. Tickets cost 40 hryvnia for adults and 15 for children.
Beauty, which you can not pass by
You can get to the Golden Gate by metro. And it should be done by all means. The eponymous station of the Kiev metro is in the top 15 of the most beautiful metro stations in the world, in this list it is the 11th. It is the place where you should start your excursion to the monument. Because thematically the station is in complete harmony with the Golden Gate.
It is based on a combination of arches and vaults stylised as Old Russian buildings. Snow-white Ural marble is decorated with Ukrainian and Russian mosaics. Not a single ornament is repeated! And inside the arches there are mosaic portraits of Old Russian princes, great figures of that time and images of Kiev temples. And if you go round clockwise all these patterned mosaics, you can get acquainted with the history of ancient Kiev.
And in the arched vaults you can see ornaments of ancient Russian pagan deities. And these 32 ornamental designs are not repeated either! Even the bronze chandeliers of the central hall are covered with ornaments. And in the ends of the station there are huge panels with mosaic images of Archangel Michael and George the Victorious. And even the name of the station is made of yellow metal in Old Russian style.
In general, the station is a whole work of art, created by talented architects and artists. Exquisite, original and refined.
Photo: Rasal Hague. Source: Wikipedia
Golden Gate Square
It was created in the mid-19th century - to ennoble a valuable but rather ruined monument. Trees were planted around it, benches were placed. Later, in 1899, a fountain was installed in the square - a cast-iron fountain in the form of a vase-bowl flower. It was the first of six such fountains in the city. And the second century this now monument of architecture and art adorns the centre of the square.
In the 20th century in the square appeared two sculptures, unequal in terms of historical value. But enjoying the nation's love. This is a monument to Yaroslav the Wise, the official creator of the Golden Gate. And not far from the cafe there is a bronze sculpture of a luxurious Persian cat Panteleimon. This real historical character used to live in the park and entertained the visitors of the cafe. When the local favourite died, the whole world raised funds for his monument.
Today the public garden and the museum create a unique ensemble, make the city corner original and expressive, one of the most interesting in Kiev.
Some legends
The most famous legend is Polish, it is mentioned in the chronicles of the 12th century. The coronation regalia of Polish kings is the sword Scherbets. This artefact was formed when Boleslaw the Brave, upon entering Kiev in 1018, struck the Golden Gate with his sword. The gate, of course, stood, but the sword got a scratch. It is considered that the legend contradicts the date of laying the Golden Gate. But it confirms a hypothesis of some scientists that the gates were built earlier, in times of Vladimir the Great. And the construction was already completed by Yaroslav the Wise.
In the legends that existed in Kiev, the Golden Gate is endowed with magical properties. It was believed that in the morning the sun passes through the gate into the sky. And saves Kiev from all sorts of evil with its rays. This folk folklore testifies to the special attitude of Kiev citizens to the Golden Gate.
