Donetsk, City of Million Roses
Donestsk is considered to be the greenest of all industrial cities in the world, known for its hospitality and blooming botanical gardens. The history of Donetsk goes back to 1869 with the construction of Hughesovka, (a steel plant).
The plant was named after John Hughes, technical metallurgist, that’s why the settlement springing up around the plant was called Hughesovka (Yuzovka). From the Hughes’ plant (today Donetsk Metallurgical Plant named after Lenin) started metallurgical industry of the Southern industrial region.
In 1924 Yuzovka, with population of more then fifty thousand inhabitants was named Stalino and renamed in 1961 Donetsk. In 1978 the population of Donetsk totaled one million people.
The cultural centre of Donetsk and Donetsk region is one of the greatest arts museums of Ukraine, holder of the “Zolotoy Skif-1999” award, Donetsk Regional Arts Museum. Its collection numbers 11,500 pieces of art including paintings, graphic, sculpture and other arts & crafts. Presentations of regional prizes named after painter A.Cuingy, composer S.Prokofjev, poet V.Sosjura, writer V.Shutov take place in museum halls.
The symbol of Donetsk region represented on the Donetsk Region Coat of Arms is the Palm of Mertsalov, which embodies prosperity and pride of its inhabitants. A copy of the famous work made by Ukrainian smith-master Aleksej Mertsalov, a worker of Hughes’ plant, is located near the local history museum. The original Palm weighted 315 kg is kept in Saint Petersburg Mining Institute’s Museum.
Europe Park of Forged Figures is recommended to visit in Donetsk. The first of the former Soviet Union’s cities officially admitted to “The Ring of Cities-Smithes” involving the best blacksmith cities of the world. Fairy-tale characters, signs of the zodiac and many other works of blacksmith’s art involve into the world of fantasy and elegance. Blacksmith’s work festival takes place yearly in the Park of Forged Figures.
A tour of the city gives an opportunity to see many great monuments: Memorial Tablet to Vasyl Stus, Monument to The Liberators of Donbass, Memorial to the soldiers fallen in Afghanistan and Joseph Kobzon statue.
When in Donestk be sure to see the city center you will be amazed by its culture, beauty and industrial achievements.
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