Donetsk: The City of a Million Roses

Donetsk (Rus. Донецк) is a relatively young city that arose as a result of rapid industrial growth in Russia in the late XIX – early XX century. In 1869, a Welsh businessman John Hughes began the construction of a steel plant and few coal mines in this region. The working settlement was named Yuzovka after its founder (Hughes is approximation of “Yuz” in Russian and Ukrainian). The date of settlement building is considered to be the founding date of the city of Donetsk. Nowadays, Donetsk is a city with a population of about one million people. It is located in the eastern part of Ukraine.

Dear tourist , you are more than welcome to the city that combines courage and elegance, the city of roses and slag heaps  (terrikons) (mounds of rock that remain after the extraction of minerals). Let me remind you that Rose and Slag Heaps are printed on the logo of Donetsk, the host city of Euro 2012. However, it wasn’t occasionally! There are about 46 slag heaps in Donetsk, but their number will be reduced in half till Euro 2012.  Donetsk locals are proud of their city, which regained its former glory of the town of Roses. Come join us in Donetsk, and you will see hundreds flowerbeds which are littered with beautiful and lush roses.

Donetsk is the center of the Donbass (Donetsk Basin). Many of our fellow citizens remember Donetsk since the Soviet Union era until “perestroika”/restructuring in 1986  as a “city of roses” because it was famous for the fact that all the flowerbeds along the streets were covered with beautiful roses.

In 1970, according to UNESCO, the city of Donetsk was recognized as the most landscaped among the industrial cities of the world. Every year, in parks, squares, and boulevards, there were planted many flowers, which pleased the eyes of residents and visitors of the city from May to October. However, roses were the most popular; there were grown about 180 varieties of roses. It was said that roses were planted in such a way that there was, at least, one flower for every inhabitant. We don’t know whether it was true or not. History is silent about it. However, the fact is that, in those days, the city of Donetsk was called “the city of a million roses”. I must admit, there was a period when the flowers on the streets were planted less. Nowadays, the city justifies its own legend, it’s still the same charming, well-groomed, and green. City parks are very beautiful and modern. Even spoiled citizens, who frequently visit different European countries, recognize Donetsk as an island of Europe in Ukraine.

In recent years, the capital of the mining region has been changing rapidly. It is transformed from the former “all-union stokehold” in modern European city. New hotels, schools, banks, fitness centers, cafes, and shops are emerging. A lot of luxury houses are being built. Nevertheless, at the same time, the city does not lose its face. It is still immersed in the greenery of parks and gardens, and local residents welcome the visitors with friendly smiles.

The most important and most interesting is located in the center of Donetsk. Therefore, it does not necessary to go all around the city by car in order to see everything. It would be better just to walk. How long will this tour last? Well, it depends on your preferences. City sightseeing tour might take approximately 4-5 hours. However, the same but careful examination with a visit to the museums and parks along the way will take at least a day. Besides, don’t forget that there are interesting and historical places outsides the city such as Sviatogorsk Assumption Monastery (Ukrainian -Sviatohirsk Assumption Monastery, town of Sviatogorsk, 150 km North-West from Donetsk), Artyomovsk Sparkling Winery (89 km North East from Donetsk), Slaviansk (110 km from Donetsk), Mariupol (108 km to the South and you are on the Azov Sea), Soledar (salt mine has unique natural treatment properties;100 km from Donetsk), etc.

Nice people, workers and dreamers with their joys and concerns, work and live in Donetsk. However, there is a special feature in Donetsk character which cannot be overlooked. That’s reliability; it is as a metal which does not bend and does not crack. Only in Donetsk environment, such world-famous personalities as Polina Astakhova (artistic gymnastics, she won team gold medals at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games), Anatoly Solovyanenko (the eminent Ukrainian tenor), Sergey Bubka (Pole Vault World Record holder), Vadim Pisarev (world wide famous ballet star; the best ballet dancer of the world in 1995 by UNESCO), Lilia Podkopayeva (artistic gymnastics, Olympic all-around champion in 1996) were able to temper their character and reveal the full power of the wings of their talent.

You Are Welcome to Donbass

P.S.

Soviet Poster with a title “Donbass is the heart of Russia” (1921).