Viche Maidan (Ivano-Frankivsk)
Encyclopedia
Viche Maidan is a city square located in the center of Ivano-Frankivsk
.
"Malva", the business center "Kyiv", and many others. The square has couple of fountains, flowerbeds, and a small park.
Francisco Kratter in 1825. He on behalf of the city bought the adjacent land owned by the Agopsowicz brothers in the vicinity of today's Sichovi Striltsi and Mazepa streets which were called respectively Sobieska and Kazimirowska. The land was implanted with numerous trees, flowerbeds, and park benches. In 1827 in its place a city park was opened, locally proclaimed as Kratterowka. The residents gathered there for rest and recreations. It was the first public city park. However, by the end of the century Kratterivka lost its charm as the new park "Dąbrowa" opened not far from it (today - Shevchenko park).
Later in the second half of 19th century Kratterowka was recognized as the city's square. The northern portion of it was named after Franz Joseph I
, while its southern portion carried the name of Princess Gisela
. After 1920s during the Polish administration the both squares changed their names to Józef Piłsudski and General Haller, respectively. During the Soviet times the two squares were eventually united and called the Radyanska (Soviet) Square.
In 1904 right next to the park was built the Gartenberg's Passage which miraculously was preserved to our days. In 1960 the passage was rebuilt into a general department store
and later became a department store for children. In 1990 the building was renovated into an exhibition hall, after which it turned into the shopping mall "Malva".
The Viche Maidan is favorite spot for political protests, music concerts, big holidays celebrations such as New Year and Christmas. At the New Year traditionally a big, oversize pine (New Year tree
) gets placed in the middle of the square. During Christmas the maidan gets filled with people participating in a vertep
parade. The name of the square derives from the Old-Slavic word viche
, meaning a public gathering. It was given after the fall of the Soviet regime.
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk is a historic city located in the western Ukraine. It is the administrative centre of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , and is designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, municipality....
.
Composition
The square stretches from Halych Street to Vitovsky Street. Through Vitovsky street a city wanderer may travel from the Viche Maidan to another city square the Mickiewicz Square. To the Maidan connect couple of small streets such as Bachynsky Street and Belveder as well as the stometrivka that is the extension of Nezalezhnist street. It is surrounded by numerous buildings such as the main post office, the Ukrtelecom building, the shopping mallShopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
"Malva", the business center "Kyiv", and many others. The square has couple of fountains, flowerbeds, and a small park.
History
The square started out from a city park that was created on an initiative of the local district starostaStarosta
Starost is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most of Slavic history. It can be translated as "elder"...
Francisco Kratter in 1825. He on behalf of the city bought the adjacent land owned by the Agopsowicz brothers in the vicinity of today's Sichovi Striltsi and Mazepa streets which were called respectively Sobieska and Kazimirowska. The land was implanted with numerous trees, flowerbeds, and park benches. In 1827 in its place a city park was opened, locally proclaimed as Kratterowka. The residents gathered there for rest and recreations. It was the first public city park. However, by the end of the century Kratterivka lost its charm as the new park "Dąbrowa" opened not far from it (today - Shevchenko park).
Later in the second half of 19th century Kratterowka was recognized as the city's square. The northern portion of it was named after Franz Joseph I
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
, while its southern portion carried the name of Princess Gisela
Archduchess Gisela of Austria
Gisela Louise Marie, Princess Imperial and Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia, Princess of Bavaria was the second daughter and eldest surviving child of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Empress Elisabeth...
. After 1920s during the Polish administration the both squares changed their names to Józef Piłsudski and General Haller, respectively. During the Soviet times the two squares were eventually united and called the Radyanska (Soviet) Square.
In 1904 right next to the park was built the Gartenberg's Passage which miraculously was preserved to our days. In 1960 the passage was rebuilt into a general department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
and later became a department store for children. In 1990 the building was renovated into an exhibition hall, after which it turned into the shopping mall "Malva".
The Viche Maidan is favorite spot for political protests, music concerts, big holidays celebrations such as New Year and Christmas. At the New Year traditionally a big, oversize pine (New Year tree
New Year tree
New Year trees are decorations similar to Christmas trees that are displayed in various cultures, but should not be confused with a North American practice of not removing a tree until New Years; such a tree is still considered a Christmas tree....
) gets placed in the middle of the square. During Christmas the maidan gets filled with people participating in a vertep
Vertep
Vertep was a kind of portable puppet theatre and the corresponding type of drama in the culture of East Slavs which presented the nativity scene, other mystery plays, and later secular plots as well...
parade. The name of the square derives from the Old-Slavic word viche
Viche
Viche is a political party in Ukraine registered in May 1993. Before September 2005 the party was known as Constitutional Democratic Party .-History:...
, meaning a public gathering. It was given after the fall of the Soviet regime.