🕒 Date of last update of the article: 16.02.2024 at 7:00 p.m | 🖋 Author: Viktor Shatrov
Надсилайте актуальну інформацію та отримуйте більше цільових клієнтів. Ми розмістимо ваш об’єкт у нашому каталозі та покажемо поруч із локаціями, а також у загальному каталозі, це безкоштовно!
🕒 Date of last update of the article: 16.02.2024 at 7:00 p.m | 🖋 Author: Viktor Shatrov
This group of mini-sculptures was installed in the city of Uzhhorod in May 2013. This event was timed to coincide with the Days of Czech Culture. The fact is that hedgehogs are a symbol of the Czech city of Jihlava, which is a twin city of Uzhhorod. In addition, hedgehogs are a symbol of the Hedgehog beer brewed in Jihlava. The opening of these sculptures was attended by the mayors of Uzhhorod and Jihlava. Initially, there were four hedgehog sculptures, but one, the smallest, was presented to the mayor of Jihlava. The authors of the sculptural group, sculptor Mykhailo Kolodko and blacksmith Vasyl Kryvanych, placed their Jihlava hedgehogs on the metal railing of Kyivska embankment opposite the fifth school (GPS: 48.622293, 22.294021).
Content
| 🗺 Location | N48°37′21″ E22°17′39″ |
| 🗽 Opening date | May 2013 |
| 🧑 Sculptor | Mykhailo Kolodko |
| 🧑 Blacksmith | Vasyl Kryvanych |
| 🧭 Distance from the center of Uzhhorod | Near |
| 🚙 Road for | Car, on foot |
| 🏕 Stop with a tent | No |
| 🏡 Housing nearby | Uzhhorod |
| ☕ Cafes and shops | Uzhhorod |
The Czech city of Jihlava is located in the southeast of the country on the Jihlava River of the same name. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1233. In 2010, it became a sister city of Uzhhorod.
This picturesque Czech town was once a centre of silver mining. During the real silver rush, Jihlava was one of the largest, most beautiful and richest Czech cities, where art, crafts, science and trade flourished.
The original legend about this mini-sculpture was written by Nadiya Popadiuk in her book Uzhhorod – the World Capital of Mini-Sculptures. According to the legend, from the very beginning of the construction of the oldest church in Transcarpathia, the Horyany Rotunda, it was guarded by whole flocks of hedgehogs, animals endowed with wisdom, magic and healing properties in folk beliefs. The fame of this amazing and unique church reached King Přemysl Otakar II, the founder of Jihlava, himself. He was amazed by the story of the little hedgehogs, the guardians of the rotunda. Possessing silver ores and knowing that the deposits of the noble metal could be exhausted in the future, he ordered his soldiers to go to the magic church to take some of the hedgehogs and bring them to Jihlava to protect his city as well. In exchange for 300 hedgehogs, the king gave the church 300 silver coins. The animals quickly adapted to the new conditions, their population increased and they moved from the mines to the banks of the Jihlava River, and then to gardens and parks. Over time, they became a real symbol of the city. At the request of the clergy, a local sculptor melted down the Jihlava coins donated by the king and made three hedgehogs, which were installed on the railing of the Uzh river embankment to commemorate the world fame of the Horyany Rotunda and its little guardians, to the delight of the residents and visitors of Uzhhorod.
| 🔰 Start | From the Buffalo Bill mini-sculpture |
| 🚶 Distance on foot (via Kyiv Embankment) | 400 m |
| 🕒 Approximate time | 5 minutes |
| ⬆ Rise | Mostly without ups and downs |
Author of the article: Viktor Shatrov
Number of articles: 1100+
Knowledge of languages:: Ukrainian, English
Favourite quote: “Travelling – the only thing that makes you richer“
He was born and lived all his life in Uzhhorod. He graduated with a gold medal from Uzhhorod School No. 1 named after Taras Shevchenko (now Uzhhorod Lyceum named after Taras Shevchenko). He studied at the History Department of UzhNU, graduating with honours in 2009. He worked as a senior researcher at the Transcarpathian Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, a lecturer at the East European Slavic University.
