The Ukrainian Carpathians, famous for writers, poets and ordinary people, are full of treasures: beautiful sights, breathtaking natural landscapes and interesting places for tourists. One of such places is the geographical center of Europe in the Carpathians, which is located near the highest Ukrainian village — Rakhiv.
To visit the geographical center of Europe is certainly interesting. Especially considering the fact that this very center (Rakhiv center disputes for the title of the center of Europe with several other geographical points defined at different times) is the most impressive and beautiful.
The Ukrainian geographical center of Europe is located 20 km from Rakhiv in the village of Delovoye on the right bank of the Tisa River. The Ukrainian-Romanian border runs along this river. Standing on its bank on the Ukrainian side you can hear the Romanian speech of fishermen coming from the other bank.
The place at the entrance to the village of Delovoye, which is calm, quiet and embodies the power and beauty of nature in Transcarpathia, was named the center of Europe in 1885. At that time these territories were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The geographers who came for geodetic research for the plan to build a railroad from Rakhiv to Sighet discovered that this was the central point of continental Europe. In 1887, to mark the important geographical coordinate, a 2-meter high stone monument was erected at the foot of the mountain with an inscription that reads roughly as follows: «A permanent exact, eternal place. A special apparatus made in Austria and Hungary very precisely, with a scale of parallels and meridians, established the Center of Europe here in 1887».
In 1977 Soviet geographers confirmed the opinion of Austro-Hungarian scientists, which had been questioned more than once, and on May 27, 1977 a high 7-meter high stele made of metal, designed by architect and artist S.S. Kozuraku, was erected next to the ancient sign. The stele has an interesting composition, representing four parallel lines symbolizing the four sides of the world.
Both memorial signs are enclosed by a curved stone fence — in general, the monument is an original architectural complex surrounded by 40-meter fir trees.
If you are here, look around, you will see a picturesque picture: sharp mountain peaks piercing the blue sky — this is where the largest mountains of the Ukrainian Carpathians are located, going up more than two thousand meters, the valley of a fast river with crystal clear waters, ancient forests, fluffy blanket covering the mountainsides. If you breathe in the healing mountain air filled with the aromas of pine needles, you will feel a real burst of energy, and the joy of contemplating the natural pictures of incredible beauty will definitely enhance it.
Not far from the memorial complex there are small wooden houses in Hutsul style, where there is a museum and a restaurant with national cuisine. The museum presents household items, national clothing, tools of Hutsuls — the indigenous inhabitants of the Carpathians. In fact, this attraction of Transcarpathia can be spoken about as an open-air museum — all the buildings are built in accordance with the canons of Hutsul architecture, some exhibits are displayed outside. Mini-fairs are held here, where you can buy ethnic souvenirs created by local craftsmen.
The Geographical Center of Europe in Rakhiv is a place worth visiting. It opens up the sights of Ukraine — the peaks of the legendary mountains Hoverla, Petros, Bliznitsa, takes you to the authentic Hutsul world, gives unforgettable impressions.
The house is not what many would consider to be traditional it has been made by my father with additional rooms shaped for the functionality of our living. The large room that was my parents’ room remains sacrosanct to me, and I have added some of my brother’s things in there. I’m unsure when I will be ready to put their things away in the attic and actually use the room. My brother’s room is now my library, and each trip I make I bring back books that I have seen and purchased.
It’s a warm place in the winter since the snow remains into the mid Spring, even into early summer some years.
