Sights of Henichesk – what to see and where to go

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• Kalimbet Arch
• Coastal lighthouse
• Local lore museum
• Temple of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
• Railway bridge
• Pink Lake in Pryozerne village
• Syvash
• Where to go in Henichesk with children

Kalimbet Arch

Start your trip around the attractions of Henichesk from this point. The Kalimbet Arch is a landmark and a symbol of the city. The history of the monument creation is as follows: a rich merchant Roman Kalimbet resided in Henichesk. He was famous not only for his wealth but also for his bizarre tricks. They say, he dressed like a shepherd and grazed sheep on the Chonhar Peninsula (the Syvash Lake).

Kalimbet was completely indifferent to his appearance. He respected technical progress and even owned a car. It was by order of the merchant that a wooden bridge was built from Chonhar Island to Kuiuk-Tuk.

In 1909, Kalimbet built a house with an arch decorated with his initials. He did not live long in his two-story house – in 1912, Kalimbet died. They buried him in the family tomb. In 1919, Wrangel's soldiers tried to export the gravestone of Kalimbet. The stone remained in Henichesk and served as a memorial for a mass grave. The name of the first owner was erased.

The merchant's house was turned into a hotel. There, a tavern was located on the first floor and rooms – on the second.

The Kalimbet Arch was recently renovated. Locals say that it has changed a lot and has lost its authenticity. You can see the landmark at any time of the year. It is located at 28 Myru Avenue.

Coastal lighthouse

If you have not been to the lighthouse, you have not really got to know Henichesk. The coastal lighthouse was designed by French architects at the initiative of the famous meteorologist and historian Ferdinand Wrangel. In 1879, the lighthouse was put into operation and the city became an important marine shipping point. They renewed the lighthouse, changed the roof and windows, but it still shows the way to sailors.

The main feature of the lighthouse is its rectangular shape. Sea lighthouses have a round shape so that they are not destroyed by waves. Henichesk lighthouse is an onshore one, so the storms do not affect it. Look at the forged fences of the spiral staircase and ventilation system – they are here from the days of its foundation.

The lighthouse is located on the bank of the Utliuk Estuary along Prymorska Street. The tourists may enter it by appointment on Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM. Children under 5 years old are not allowed to enter the lighthouse territory. You may sign up for an excursion with the lighthouse keeper by phone +380665220355 (Volodymyr Viktorovych) or from the light keeper +380668091885 (Olena Anatoliivna).

Local lore museum

Perhaps, any city has a local lore museum. Your duty as a tourist is to explore all the sights of Henichesk. The museum is located at the intersection of Myru Avenue and Vidrodzhennia Street. The building was built between 1903 and 1906 as the mansion of the merchant Ostrovsky. The museum was founded here in 1956.

The holdings of a museum consist of more than 10,000 exhibits. The tourists may visit 8 halls: the hall of prominent figures, ancient history, ethnography, friendship, military glory, nature. Two other sections offer exhibitions of photo artists, arts and crafts, children's works, and of course local artists.

The main features of the Museum include the mammoth bones, the head of an aurochs from a medieval ship, an antique amphora, Crimean money, and other rare exhibits. Here, you can see stuffed animals and skeletons of fish that inhabit the Kherson region.

The museum is open Mon-Thu from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM and on Fri from 8:00 AM to 04:00 PM. Tel. +3(8 055 34) 2-21-92.

Temple of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

This is the only sacred building that has survived to this day. Its style resembles Byzantine domed architecture. The walls of the temple are painted in sky-blue and white. The foundation stone was laid in 1904 at the initiative of the starets Sozontius. The church construction was funded by donations of local residents and residents of nearby villages.

The first service took place here in 1907. On the territory of the temple, there were outbuildings, a chapel, a refectory, a swimming pool, and a park.

In the days of the anti-religious persecution, the temple was used to store grain. The grave of the deceased Sozontius was destroyed. Only in 1941, the church services were resumed under the direction of Father Constantine. In 1944, the church was closed again and the priest was arrested.

In Soviet times, the church building was used as a warehouse, and then as a gym for police officers. In 1989, the church resumed its religious activities. The parishioners' money was used to restore the temple to its original appearance. On big holy days, you may hear bells ringing. Pilgrims from all over Ukraine come to the temple. The church is located at Monastyrska Street.

Railway bridge

It bridges the Arabat Spit and Henichesk across the Tonkyi Strait. The bridge design was suggested by Friedrich Roth to Waagner-Biró Construction Company. The feature of this design is that it does not require a lot of resources for construction, but is assembled as a construction set.

There is no reliable data, but it is believed that the Henichesk Bridge was originally assembled in Belarus. It was built by the Germans during the war in Orsha city to cross the Dnipro River. It was transported to Henichesk in 1951 to replace a wooden bridge.

The railway track was part of the Novooleksiivka-Valok branch. The railway existed until the 1970s. Now, the activists are trying to protect the landmark from dismantling. The rumors say that they want to dismantle the bridge for scrap. The bridge is parallel to Vokzalna Street.

Pink Lake in Pryozerne village

The sights of the Henichesk district are located not only in the city. 18 kilometers from Henichesk, you will find the Pink Lake. The salt concentration there is so high that it is impossible to drown. People come there for health improvement. Healing salts of the Pink Lake are rich in β-carotene and are used in cosmetology.

The views here are incredible! Pictures of sunsets and sunrises will surely rock social media. Gorgeous photos are worth leaving Henichesk for a day. The lake acquires a red hue at the end of summer.

If you want to take a dip, grab some fresh water to wash off the salt and an old swimsuit as the salt may damage the fabric. Don't stay in water for more than 15 minutes. You can get to the lake by public transport or on your own.

Syvash

It is located in the Arabat Spit. Tourists are attracted by the beneficial properties of water and mud. The composition of water in the lake is similar to the Dead Sea.

Syvash is within walking distance from Shchaslyvtseve, Strilkove, Henicheska Hirka. Public transport regularly runs from Henichesk to these villages.

In order not to harm your health, do not immerse in this water for more than 15 minutes at a time. Take some fresh water with you to rinse after swimming. The lake water can ruin the fabric of your swimsuit, so use an old one. Many tourists take a container to collect healing mud and salt with them. Salt is often used at home for hot baths.

Where to go in Henichesk with children

Small travelers will definitely not get bored in Henichesk. You can relax on the children's beach. It is well equipped and has deckchairs and beach umbrellas for rent. There are tents and changing cabins on the beach. There, you can take amusement rides, buy a cooling drink or an ice cream in a booth.

It is safe for kids to swim there – the water is shallow and quickly gets warm.

There is an amusement park not far from the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. An observation wheel will show you the entire city. There are also many children's attractions, cafes and playgrounds. Events, concerts, and entertainment programs for children are often held there.

Be sure to go to the Arabat Spit. There is an ostrich farm outside Strilkove village. In Henicheska Hirka, visit Oasis Water Park and Oscar-Henichesk Dolphinarium.