Volovets

The Carpathians captivate travelers with their unique beauty at any time of the year. A particularly beautiful place is the urban-type village of Volovets, which is spread out at an altitude of 500 meters among the picturesque landscapes created by the Plai and Tomnatyk mountains and the valley of the small Vycha river, which is a tributary of the Latorica. Here, people enjoy the fresh air, view the majestic mountains from a close distance and admire the rare beauty of nature. Volovets and its surroundings can delight vacationers with numerous entertainments: horseback riding, hiking, excursions, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snowmobiling, swimming in tanks, etc. There is something for every tourist to see in Volovka. It is one of the most beautiful Carpathian regions.

Воловець

History of the village of Volovets

According to archaeological finds, the territory where modern Volovets is located began to be inhabited since the Bronze Age. In particular, in 1930, archaeologists found 23 bronze and 5 gold objects in two places in Volovka, which proved the existence of a settlement here from the end of the 2nd millennium BC. is.

Modern Volovets derives its roots from the ancient Slavic settlement of the Carpathians. The first mention of Volovets in written sources dates back to 1433. Then Volovets belonged to the Pereni barons and partially to the Bilkeys.

There is a legend about the foundation of Volovets. According to it, in ancient times, peasants from the surrounding settlements brought whole herds of oxen to this place in the valley of the Vycha River. During the first stage of its history, from the 15th to the 19th century, most of the residents of Volovets engaged in animal husbandry.

Over the centuries, the village passed from one owner to another, and at the beginning of the 17th century. it was included in the Mukachevo Dominion. Since 1645, thanks to the efforts of Prince György II Rakocza, Volovets became part of the Principality of Transylvania. In those distant times, only a few dozen families lived in the village, who were mainly engaged in animal husbandry. Throughout its history, Volovets repeatedly became the epicenter of battles during wars and uprisings. Thus, in 1657, Volovets was destroyed by Polish troops led by Prince Lubomyrsky. In 1703-1711, he was at the epicenter of the national liberation uprising of the Kuruts. After his suppression, in 1728, Volovets came under the ownership of Count Karl Schönborn as part of the Mukachevo-Chinadiyov Dominion. Local peasants worked hard on the manor and very often rebelled against the oppression of the landlords. In 1761-1762, as many as 33 residents of Volovets were imprisoned for participating in the rebel movement. In the summer of 1831, residents of Volovets took an active part in the peasant uprising, which covered a large part of Transcarpathia. Only after the revolution of 1848-1849 was the peasants’ feudal dependence on the landlords eliminated.

From the middle of the 19th century, the village began its tourist history. It was at this time that a ski jump was built here, which at that time was considered one of the best in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The first tourists in Volovka were representatives of the highest elite of the empire. In 1862, Volovets hosted even Emperor Franz Joseph himself.

Since the 19th century, Volovets has been gradually transformed from an agrarian into an industrial center. In the 1830s, a semi-artisan enterprise producing tiles and bricks began operating in Volovka. Since 1872, the socio-economic development of Volovets has significantly accelerated due to the construction of a railway through the village. One by one, industrial enterprises began to appear: a sawmill (beginning of the 20th century), a three-story steam sawmill for the production of building materials by entrepreneur Grimberg (1906).

The rapid development of the village continued during the tumultuous 20th century with its two world wars and the repressions of the Soviet regime. The population of Volovets grew rapidly from 600 people in 1870 to about 1,200 in 1900 and to 7,104 in 2015.

In addition, Volovets gradually became the educational center of the region. So, in 1882, a state primary school was opened here. In 1945, a secondary school appeared, and in the 1980s, 3 schools and a college were already operating.

In 1957, Volovets was granted the status of an urban-type settlement and district center. During the Soviet period, administrative buildings, a communications center, the House of Culture, the Plai camp, a shopping complex were built in Volovka, and a gas pumping station of the Urengoy-Pomari-Uzhhorod gas pipeline was built on the outskirts. In the 1980s, as many as five medical institutions provided their services to the population here.

Since 1991, Volovets became part of independent Ukraine. Nowadays, Volovets is one of the popular tourist centers of mountainous Transcarpathia with a population of over six thousand people. Due to its good geographical location, most of the routes along the Borzhavsky Poloniny begin from Volovets.

These days, Volovets has attracted considerable attention of the Internet community as the first settlement in Transcarpathia to be hit by a missile attack from the Russian Federation during the Russian-Ukrainian war, on the evening of May 3, 2022.

Temperature in Volovets now:

4.1o C   |   39.3o F

Volovets on the map

Sights of Volovets

You won’t find a large number of architectural monuments in Volovka. The local wooden shrine, the Pokrovsky Church of the XVIII century, was already transported to Pyrogovo today, where it became part of the exposition of the Museum of Folk Architecture.

Храм Вознесіння Господнього 1893 року

The Church of the Ascension of the Lord in 1893

The current brick church in the village of Volovtsi was built in 1894 on the site of the wooden Boykiv church, moved here from the old cemetery. The walls of the new one were built around the old cathedral, and the wooden structures were later removed through the doors. The Church of the Ascension of the Lord was consecrated on November 28, 1893. The temple was thoroughly renovated in 1934, and an iconostasis was installed at the same time. According to legends, it was built alternately by the Greek-Catholic and Orthodox communities of the village. The church bells were moved from a wooden Orthodox church damaged in 1943, which local residents from Madyarovica, whose houses were damaged as a result of the railway disaster, dismantled for housing.

Until 1946, the church belonged to the Greek-Catholic community, and after the liquidation of the Greek-Catholic Church, it was handed over to the Orthodox. An old stone cross from 1904 stands near the church. The Soviet communists threw the cross into the Vycha River, but the parishioners pulled it out at night, transported it on a cart and installed it near the church. The temple building, after major renovation in 2014, became a real decoration of the village.

Народний історико-краєзнавчий музей у Воловці

People’s History and Local History Museum

Acquaintance with any settlement should begin with the museum. In Volovets, the only active museum was opened on November 28, 1998 at the central district library. It was granted the status of “people’s” in November 2002. In the museum, tourists can familiarize themselves with 195 household items, 13 ancient icons, 18 rare books from 1904-1944, 35 handwritten chronicles (histories of settlements, institutions, organizations, biographies of prominent personalities of Volovechchyna), a large number of photos and documents, as well as an improvised Verkhovyna hut, where you can see everything: from a miniature wooden spoon to a real loom (crossen); from quilted tar to a whole set of folk costumes.

There is also an opportunity to get acquainted with the thematic expositions dedicated to the Second World War and the Afghan wars and the Chernobyl disaster under the name “Wall of Sorrow”. There are collections of photo documents on the history of the cultural monuments of Volovetschyna and the development of the region in the 18th-19th centuries. in the exposition “Memory of the native land”.

The museum is open on weekdays from 09:00 to 5:00 pm. Ticket prices are low and tours are free. The museum is located at the address: Volovets, st. Fabrychna, 2. Contact phone +38 (03136) 2-28-70

Volovets ski resort

Nowadays, many tourists are attracted to Volovets by the ski complex installed in the village. It is located at an altitude of 500 meters near Mount Plai. The ski season here starts from December and lasts until April.

The season here begins in December, the snow does not fall until April. The complex is equipped with 2 simple tracks, intended mostly for beginner skiers. Short, gentle and flat 300-meter tracks with a height difference of 100 m are perfect for learning the basics of alpine skiing. The tracks are equipped with rope and chair lifts. Their use costs UAH 20. for 1 flight, and a ski pass – UAH 200. The price for an individual lesson with an instructor is UAH 150. per hour, and group – from UAH 600/hour. Rental of skis and other equipment costs from UAH 70. for a day.

Experienced skiers come here mostly only for warm-up, and then change their location to Izky, Podobovets or Pylipets, where they have at their disposal a sufficient number of various difficult descents.

In addition to skiing, tourists can rent snowmobiles in Volovets in winter. Riding them is good for general well-being, because it allows you to feel a real rush of vigor and strength, the release of adrenaline will give you truly unforgettable moments. The beauty of the surrounding nature will only emphasize the general joy of an extraordinary adventure.

What else to have fun in the village Volovets?

From Volovets, you can go on an exciting hike in the mountains, experience various extreme adventures or visit the most interesting excursions in Transcarpathia. And to quench your hunger and thirst, you should definitely try local dishes and drinks in bars, cafes, huts or restaurants.

Катання на конях у Воловці

Катання на конях

Walking through the Carpathians on horseback is an exciting adventure at any age. Horseback riding allows you to restore strength, relax, lift your spirits, and relieve tension and stress.

Such entertainment perfectly distracts from worries, bustle and anxiety, connecting with nature.

Horse riding is recommended to any person for a positive emotional charge and improvement of physical fitness.

Чани, лазні, сауни у Воловці

Vats, baths, saunas

Water-bath procedures for tourists are a real pleasure after a day full of sports activities. Vats are especially popular. In large containers, sea salt or decoctions of medicinal herbs are added to the water, which helps to normalize heat exchange processes. In winter, this is important for strengthening the immune system. And steam hardening in a bath or sauna is a sharp catalyst for metabolism, increasing overall tone and blood circulation.

Піші екскурсії та походи в гори Воловець

Hiking tours and hikes in the mountains

Hiking tourism is the most affordable type of active recreation in Transcarpathia. And although hiking tours in the mountains do not require significant expenses, you should still have minimal tourist equipment. But if you are a beginner, you should start with easy routes and simple, inexpensive things in your backpack. Remember that the most important thing is the hike, not the amount of hiking gear that is stored on the shelves. Good physical shape will never hurt you. And when going to the mountains, be sure to prepare your body for stress: go to the gym, go for regular runs, swim, or play football.

From special skills, you will first of all need the ability to use a map and compass, everything else will come with experience. The mountains do not forgive frivolity – you cannot exaggerate your own strength and underestimate the difficulties that may come your way.

The development of tourist infrastructure in Transcarpathia is at an initial stage and is proceeding slowly and spontaneously. There are still very few marked and equipped routes. But the untouched, pristine beauty of the mountains attracts true nature lovers to our region. Untrodden routes and hard-to-reach trails will give you the feeling of a real adventure.

The Ukrainian Carpathians are medium-altitude mountains. Most of the peaks are below 2,000 meters above sea level, and only 6 of them exceed this mark on the Black Mountain Range. Their height does not reach the conventional snow line and, accordingly, they do not have glaciers. Usually hiking in the Carpathians is carried out from the end of April to the middle of October. But you need to remember that in April-May there is still snow on the tops of the ridges, and in October – the frosts are already beginning.

Thanks to its good geographical location, it is convenient to go on foot trips to Borzhava valley and its peaks: Tomnatyk (1,343 meters), Velikiy Verkh (1,598 meters), Stii (1,681 meters) and Gemba (1,491 meters). All routes are marked, so it is difficult to get lost while observing all safety measures.

Excursions to interesting locations of Transcarpathia

The surroundings of Volovets are extremely rich in unique nature and its riches, which are under the protection of the state. This is not surprising, because forests – the main wealth of the region – are now often subject to illegal logging. Near Volovets is the “Pikuy” floristic reserve – on the mountain ridges near the village of Pidpolozzia.

It is on the territory of Volovechchyna that the highest place of growth of rock oak and black pine in the Carpathians is located. It is located on the Vysoky Kamin mountain, which is a natural monument. Trout reserve “Osa” operates near Volovets. A trout hatchery is located on its territory, thanks to which the reservoirs of Volovechchyna have been stocked for decades.

Seven sources of mineral water have been discovered on the territory of the former Volovetsky district. The most famous of them is located in the Zanka tract.

The village is rightfully considered a rare area of beauty, which Transcarpathia is so rich in. It is not surprising that you can find a huge number of attractions here.

These include:

  • Shipit waterfall;
  • Volovetsky Pass;
  • forester’s house;
  • local history museum;
  • Kelechyn mineral spring;
  • Lake Synevyr;
  • ancient wooden temple of Nicholas the Wonderworker;
  • Church of the Ascension of Christ;
  • Schonborn Castle and others

The most interesting locations

Синевир
From the village. Mizhgirya to go to the lake for 32 kilometers. The road to it runs in a very
Собор Святого Духа
The Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit was built in the 18th century with elements of the Baroque
Водоспад Шипот
A visit to the uniquely beautiful Shypot waterfall will be no less impressive. It originates from a deep underground spring,

Tours and excursions

nature synevir
14 hours
From 750 ₴

Where to stay in Volovets

Those arriving in Volovets will find rest in winter very comfortable. There is a lot of accommodation for tourists. It is mainly represented by private houses and cottages. There are also hotels and mini-hotels.

Volovets offers a huge variety of places to stay. Therefore, the prices here are somewhat lower than in neighboring resorts.

For example, the 4-story building of the tourist complex “Greenwich” is located right on the territory of the ski resort in the very center of the village. The hotel offers orderly junior suite rooms and 2 meals a day.

The 3-story Eden Hotel accommodates travelers with all possible amenities. There are gazebos, a barbecue and a sauna on its territory.

In addition, it is easy to find a private housing option in the village.

The cost of accommodation is quite acceptable. For example, “Greenwich” offers its services from UAH 800. for one place in a double room, and “Edem” – from UAH 556. for a standard room for two guests.

In the private house “Zatyshok u Yolany” you will be able to find a budget option from UAH 200.

The most interesting housing options

Садиба «Затишок у Йолани»
St. Gagarina, 2, Volovets
+380 ....

from 120₴/night
Мотель «Едем» у Воловці
St. Karpatska, 192A, Volovets
+380 ....

from 400₴/night
Туристичний комплекс «Грінвіч»
St. Shevchenko, 1A, Volovets
+380 ....

from 600₴/night

Where you can eat deliciously

Volovets will fully provide vacationers with food. All establishments correspond to a high level of service, it is always easy to find a free seat in them, and the service is fast and caring. The menu is based on dishes of Transcarpathian and Ukrainian cuisine, distinguished by great variety.

Here tourists will be served:

  1. Borsch.
  2. Broth.
  3. Gulash.
  4. Solyanka.
  5. Stew stew.
  6. Shashlik.
  7. Beer, etc.

Travelers can enjoy a cozy atmosphere and a beautiful view from the window.

Cafe “Fortuna” will offer guests dumplings, delicious soups, delicious dumplings and local drinks.

Lunch here will cost approximately UAH 270. The reviews about the food in the establishment are the most pleasant.

Кафе «Fortuna»
Volovets, Transcarpathian region.
+380 ....

Where it is and how to get there

Volovets, a Transcarpathian tourist center located in the Boykiv region, in the Carpathian highlands near the confluence of the Vycha and Volivchyk rivers.

  • Ivano-Frankivsk is about 150 km from here;
  • Lviv – about 200 km;
  • Mukachevo – 60 km;
  • Uzhgorod – 120 km.

You should immediately tell those who are going to Volovets how to get here.

A railway runs through the village. It is enough to choose an electric train in Lviv and get to the desired stop. Long-distance trains from Mukachevo, Odesa, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv or Chop also stop here.

Buses are easy to reach from Lviv in the direction of Mizhhirya and Svalyava. There is also a flight from Uzhhorod to Volovets. The nearest airport is located in the city of Uzhhorod.

If you drive your own car, you must choose the road Kyiv – Chop to Zakarpattia Oblast. Near the village of Nizhny Vorota, you need to turn left onto the T-07-18 road and follow it for 13 km.

From Volovets to Podobovets and Pylipets is also easy to reach by public transportation or minibuses

Detailed weather