Seven undiscovered places in Ukraine that will blow your mind

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Monastyryshche (Kirovohrad region) – “Ukraine’s Stonehenge”

Location: Near the village of Inhulsk, Ustynivka district, in the valley of the Inhul River. This site sits in the middle of the open steppe, where nature (or perhaps higher forces) has amassed gigantic granite slabs.

History: This is considered one of the oldest sacred sites in Ukraine. Archaeologists and geologists still debate its origin: some see a natural granite outcrop, while others believe it was an ancient man-made observatory. According to legend, Cossack mystics (kharakternyky) drew strength here before battles, and locals still come to charge from the energy of the stones.

Why it’s worth seeing:

• Witness unique megaliths that seem deliberately stacked

• Feel the powerful energy of this place of power without crowds of esoteric tourists

• Observe an incredibly clear starry sky at night, far from city lights

• Capture photos that could easily pass for Scottish or Scandinavian landscapes

Ukraine’s Stonehenge in Monastyryshche (photo: Wikipedia)

Dakhovskyi Palace-Estate (Cherkasy region) – “Little England”

Location: Village of Leskove, Monastyryshche district. The estate is located on the grounds of a military base, which effectively protects it from looting but also makes it difficult to access.

History: This castle, built in the English Neo-Gothic style, was constructed by the Polish noble Dakhovskyi family in the 19th century. Unlike most Ukrainian palaces, it was made from red bricks produced by the Dakhovskyi family’s own brick factory and looks like a true British lord’s residence. The estate once included a horse farm, a large park, and an artificial lake. During Soviet times, it was used as a military hospital and storage facility.

Why it’s worth visiting:

• Admire flawless Neo-Gothic architecture with towers and crenellated walls

• Walk through the abandoned landscape park, which retains an air of mystery

• See the only palace in Ukraine that has remained intact, thanks to its status as a restricted site

• Experience the thrill of visiting a “closed” location that guides rarely mention

Unique “English” palace in the Cherkasy region (photo: Wikipedia)

Abandoned viaduct in Kropyvnyk (Ivano-Frankivsk region)

Location: Kalush district, near the village of Kropyvnyk, deep in a forested area. Unlike the popular viaduct in Vorokhta, this one is almost impossible to find without navigation.

History: This stone railway viaduct was built during the Austro-Hungarian period at the end of the 19th century. It was part of a railway line connecting major industrial centers of Galicia. After World War II, the line was dismantled, but the bridge remained standing in the middle of the dense forest. Today, moss and trees are gradually covering it, turning it into a scene straight out of a “lost world” fairy tale.

Why it’s worth seeing:

• Enjoy the aesthetics of historic architecture being reclaimed by nature

• Capture unique photos on the tall stone arches without anyone else in the frame

• Explore a forest route known only to local mushroom pickers

• Experience absolute silence, broken only by the sounds of the river and birds

Ancient viaduct that gives goosebumps (photo: karpaty.love)

Okonsk springs (Volyn region) – “Volyn miracle”

Location: Village of Okonsk, Manevychi district. The springs are located in the middle of a small pond, forming two powerful domes of water.

History: This is a unique hydrological phenomenon: two karst springs gush from a depth of 15 meters under high pressure. The water temperature remains constant year-round at exactly +9°C (48°F). Because of this, the pond never freezes, even in -30°C (-22°F) conditions. The water is so pure that royal trout are raised in the pond, a species that cannot survive in polluted waters.

Why it’s worth seeing:

• Witness the rare spectacle of “boiling” water emerging in dome shapes

• Taste the water, which is considered healing and exceptionally fresh

• Capture surreal photos of the pond steaming amidst a snow-covered forest in winter

• Enjoy fresh trout raised in crystal-clear spring water

Okonsk springs in Volyn (photo: Wikipedia)

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White Cliffs of Voznesenske (Mykolaiv region)

Location: Surroundings of the village of Voznesenske, near the famous Aktove Canyon, but off the main tourist trail.

History: This is an abandoned chalk quarry where limestone and chalk were once extracted. After the work stopped, nature took over: rain and wind carved bizarre canyons, terraces, and caves in the soft rock. The dazzling white cliffs against the bright blue sky create the illusion of another planet—or the famous Turkish Pamukkale.

Why it’s worth seeing:

• Walk through a lunar landscape where everything from the ground to the cliffs is dazzlingly white

• Discover cozy nooks inside chalk fissures with unique acoustics

• Stage a photoshoot that rivals foreign resorts

• Witness how nature transforms an industrial site into a masterpiece of landscape art

White cliffs in Mykolaiv region (photo: Wikipedia)

Optimistic Cave (Ternopil region) – “Underground Everest”

Location: Village of Korolivka, Borshchiv district. The longest gypsum cave in the world, and the second longest after the Mammoth Cave in the USA.

History: The cave was discovered by Lviv speleologists in 1966. Its name comes from the skeptical forecasts of colleagues who doubted its length, but the discoverers were optimistic. Over 260 kilometers of underground passages have been explored to date. It is a true underground labyrinth with its own lakes, crystal galleries, and chambers where each expedition discovers something new.

Why it’s worth seeing:

• Witness unique secondary mineral formations, underground crystals, and cave snow

• Experience real spelunking adrenaline in hard-to-reach areas not open to mass tourism

• Visit the world’s only underground sculpture museum, created by speleologists

• Challenge yourself in total darkness and silence at the base of the underground camp

Entrance to Optimistic Cave (photo: Wikipedia)

Village of Subich (Khmelnytskyi region) – Ghost Cliff Monastery

Location: On the steep banks of the Dniester River, near the village of Subich. An alternative to Bakota, without any infrastructure, but preserving pristine silence.

History: The cliff monastery in Subich was founded around the 10th–11th centuries. Hermit monks carved small cells and a church directly into the vertical cliff, tens of meters above the Dniester. Unlike the Bakota monastery, there was no active restoration here, so the caves remain as authentic as possible, silent witnesses of ancient times.

Why it’s worth seeing:

• Enjoy panoramic views of the Dniester Reservoir, rivaling Bakota but without crowds

• Explore wild caves and monastic cells, still imbued with the spirit of asceticism

• Walk an extreme cliffside path leading to a holy spring

• Have a meditative picnic atop the cliff with a view of the endless water

Read also: Ukraine has true wonder – largest underground lake: Where it is and how it looks