Bakota is one of the most beautiful and unique places in Ukraine. It is called a paradise, located on the territory of the National Natural Park "Podilsky Tovtry" in the Khmelnytsky region. Previously, there was a village, but now the Dniester banks are hidden under the name of Bakota, which adorn the ruins of an ancient rocky monastery. They attract the attention of tourists with their beauty and the opportunity to touch antiquity.
From this article, you will learn more about the Ukrainian Bakota, what to see, where to stay and how to get there. Also, the article contains interesting news and facts about this "Atlantis".
Bakota is a place that bears witness to the invincibility of the national spirit. They tried to destroy it several times, but each time it was revived, becoming more beautiful and stronger. Even if you erase the village from the credentials and the map, it will still end up in Ukrainian history, continuing to teach future generations.
It can be argued that the history of this place is rooted in antiquity. Bakota was mentioned in chronicles even before the foundation of the majestic Lviv. Initially, the city was described as the capital of the Dniester Lower reaches. In particular, the Ipatiev Chronicle says that it was captured by a prince named Dobroslav Suddich.
Beginning in 1255, the Lower reaches became the property of the Golden Horde but was autonomously governed by elected atamans. All this is described in detail by V. Bilinsky in his work "Ukraine-Rus".
In the 15th century, independence was proclaimed in Bakota. The city inhabitants expelled the Lithuanian and Polish feudal lords and began to rule on their own.
In the 20th century, history changed dramatically again, and Bakota received a border town on the border with Romania. This led to some restrictions - without the permission of the soldiers of the border service, it was forbidden to leave the city and enter it. And in 1947, the famine came, which caused the death of almost a third of the population.
The greatest tragedy happened in 1981. Local residents were forced to destroy their estates with their own hands. They moved to new places. Almost all objects were moved or demolished from the face of the earth, even cemeteries were moved to another place with the help of bulldozers. People were given a rigid framework - they had only 8 years to leave their homeland. And then, hectares of forests, fertile land, and vineyards were flooded with water.
Since then, a reservoir has been located on the territory of the beautiful former city of Bakota. But travelers have not forgotten this place. They still come here often, but in order to enjoy the picturesque nature, to feel the atmosphere of the construction of the past - the rocky Bakotsky monastery.
Bakota is the Ukrainian "Atlantis". She remains unconquered, despite all the restrictions and hardships. And local guides are ready to generously share information about the past of ancient Bakota.
It may seem that a vacation on the Dniester coast on the reservoir bank will be boring. But this is not the case. The place is pleasantly surprising with a variety of spending time, one of the main ones is, of course, the study of an ancient monastery near the city of Kamenets-Podolsky.
The Bakotsky monastery in Ukraine is an absolute miracle. His cells are located right in White Mountain, in its soft sandstone. This is one of the most ancient cave-monastic complexes of entire middle Transnistria. It is considered a memorial of antiquity and history; we remind you of the century Orthodoxy began to spread in Podillia.
If you believe the legends, then the first Divine services back in the 11th century were conducted here by Anthony of Pechersky. He is also the founder of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery. However, according to official data, it is believed that the monastery was founded only in the 12th century. Written sources reliably mention that the monks lived in cells even before the capture of the fortress by the princes Koriatovich, which happened in the middle of the 14th century.
It is interesting! There is an inscription on one of the walls. He says that the name of the founder and the first abbot is Gregory. And the religious building itself is dedicated to the Archangel Michael.
Serious research of the monastery was carried out by an archaeologist named V. Antonovich at the end of the 19th century. Thanks to the expedition, it was possible to find a burial mound, an underground passage in a spiral staircase, a cave, and two more cells.
Archaeological excavations were also carried out. They made it possible to find a fresco image of a warrior, a pewter bowl, a sword, various antiquities, and an image of the Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, it was not possible to preserve the collection under the USSR.
Important! Currently, only part of the magnificent building has survived. A significant mass was destroyed due to a landslide.
The monastery and the whole region of Ukraine are incredibly picturesque when the sun goes down. In its rays, both nature and the ruins look in a special way, have their own atmosphere.
Bakota offers different types of recreation, especially during the warmer months. In the Ukrainian "Atlantis" tourists can:
This is only part of what can be done on the territory of the ancient village of Bakota. You can go on an independent journey by personally exploring the area. Or you can choose a weekend tour from local guides. They help with the organization and introduce interesting facts. Such a tour will definitely be remembered from the positive side.
Rest intents are pretty in demand on the Dniester coast. The romance of sunrises and sunsets near the ruins of the monastery attracts many. And what beautiful photos you can take. But still, not everyone chooses to rest in tents, therefore, if necessary, on the banks of the Dniester, you can spend the night in a cottage town or a local hotel. There are several options for living near the reservoir.
For those travelers who still want to enjoy nature even at night, the camping option is suitable, where you can rent a tent or a car trailer.
Important! There is also water transport for those wishing to organize a walk along the reservoir.
The Bakota reservoir was created on the site of a flooded village near Kamenets-Podolsk. From a bird's eye view, a beautiful spectacle opens up, which is worth seeing for every person.
The unique place of Bakota in the Khmelnytsky region today attracts tourists not only because of its legends but also because of the mild climate. Most people prefer to camp in tents on the reservoir, but you can also stay in hotels in nearby villages.
It is recommended to come to Bakota between the beginning of April and October. The unique microclimate of the place is provided by forests and high cliffs that protect it from the cold air currents from the north. The weather and the amount of heat on average per year can be compared with that of Yalta.
Thanks to the mild climate and nature, rare plants grow in Bakota that create beautiful landscapes. Also, animals live near the reservoir, some of which are listed in the Red Book.
It should be noted that there are several settlements with names similar to Bakota. When planning a route, so as not to get lost, it is worth remembering that ancient Bakota with a monastery and unique nature is located in the Khmelnytsky region. The path from Khmelnytskyi to the reservoir is 112 km.
Before the trip, you need to know about the condition of the roads that lead to Bakota. Money has recently been allocated to repair them, so some roads may be closed to traffic. There are several ways to get to Bakota:
In the absence of personal transport, it is recommended to use an excursion transfer in Kamenets-Podolsk. You can also rent a small car or bicycle here. Regular buses run from Kamenets-Podolsk to Staraya Ushitsa, and then you need to walk part of the road.
Important! You can also get to Bakota by catamaran or small boat if you go from the yacht club. There, water transport is rented. If you buy a tour around the territory of the former village, then the travel may already be included in the price.
If you want to get comfortable, then the Ukrainian "Atlantis" is, of course, a trip by car. You can drive your car or rent a car from BLS. The application can be submitted online at a convenient time by choosing the desired transport from many options. And then you can go on a trip to explore the ancient village of Bakota, learn more about the ancient monastery, and admire the picturesque nature of Ukraine.
