Chernivtsi

Chernivtsi (Ukrainian: Чернівці; see #Name section) is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast (province) in western Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of historic region of Bukovina, which currently is divided between Romania and Ukraine. As of the 2001 Ukrainian Census, the population of the city was 240,600.. The city is also known as Czernowitz in German, as Cernăuţi in Romanian, and as Chernovtsy in Russian.

Many well-known historical figures were born in the city, including poets and writers Paul Celan, Alfred Kittner, the former Speaker of the Parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Vienna Secession artist Oskar Laske, physicist Radu Grigorovici, Maria Forescu. Many other famous people lived and worked in the city, such as Ukrainian national poet Ivan Franko, the first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, Romanian national poet Mihai Eminescu, Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi, Aron Pumnul, Ciprian Porumbescu, Sextil Puşcariu, Ion Nistor, Gala Galaction, Joseph Schumpeter, Nikolai Vavilov, Abraham Goldfaden, Avigdor Arikha, and Aharon Appelfeld.

Together with the city of Lviv, Chernivtsi is viewed at present to be a cultural centre of western Ukraine. The city is also considered one of modern Ukraine's greatest cultural and educational centres. Historically, as a cultural and architectural center, Chernivtsi was even dubbed Little Vienna, Jerusalem upon the Prut, or the European Alexandria. Chernivtsi is currently twinned with seven other cities around the world. The city is also a major point of railway and highway crossings in the region, and houses an international airport.

Aside from Ukrainian, Chernivtsi is also known by many different foreign names, which were used during times of rule by different coutries throughout the city's history, or by the respective population groups at the time: Romanian: Cernăuţi; German: Czernowitz; Yiddish: טשערנאוויץ, translit. Tshernovits; Polish: Czerniowce; Hungarian: Csernovic, Russian: Черновцы́, translit. Chernovtsy (until 1944: Чернови́цы, translit. Chernovitsy).

Chernivtsi is located in the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently shared between Romania (south) and Ukraine (north). The city lies 248 meters above sea level, and is surrounded by forests and fields. The River Prut runs through the city's landscape.

Chernivtsi continues to hold a prominent position among other Ukrainian and Eastern European cities. The city's ancient beginnings and significant history add to its charm and attraction for those interested in the Bukovynian Region.

Archeological evidence discovered in the area surrounding Chernivtsi indicates that a local population existed in that area since the neolithic era. Later settlements included those of the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, the Corded Ware culture; artifacts from the Bronze and Iron ages were also found in the city. Remains of the early Slavic tribes in the area date back to the 2nd–5th centuries, with the artifacts of Chroatian and Tiverian peoples from the 9th–11th centuries also being present.

A fortified settlement located on the left shore of Prut dates back to the time of the Principality of Halych and is thought to have been built by Grand Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl, who ruled from 1153-1187. Legendary accounts refer to this fortress-city as Chern’, or Black city, and it is said to owe its name to the black color of the city walls, built from dark oak layered with local black-colored soil. This stronghold was unfortunately destroyed during the Mongol invasion of Rus by the Burundai in 1259. However, the remaining ramparts of the fortress were still used for the defense purposes; in the 17th century they were augmented with several bastions, one of which is still extant. Following the destruction of the fortress, later settlements in the area centered to the right of the Prut River, at a more strategically advantageous, elevated location.

Beginning in 1359, for more than 400 years, the city and its surroundings became part of the Principality of Moldavia. It was mentioned as "Çernovi" in Ottoman resources.

In 1775, the city became a part of the Duchy of Bukovina, a crownland of the Austrian Empire, and received the Magdeburg rights soon thereafter.

The city began to flourish in 1778 when Knight Karl von Enzenberg was appointed the chief of the Military Administration of Chernivtsi. He invited many merchants, craftsmen and business people to help develop trade and other businesses. Saint Peter's Fairs (July 1-15) had given a new vibrant impulse to the market development from 1786.

During the 19th and early 20th century, Chernivtsi became a center of the Romanian, and also Ukrainian national movement. Chernivtsi was also the site of the first Yiddish language conference in 1908; this was coordinated by Nathan Birnbaum.

When Austria-Hungary dissolved in 1918, the city and its surrounding area became a part of the Kingdom of Romania. In 1940, the Red Army occupied the area, which subsequently became a part of the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union.

Romanian and Nazi troops took the city and occupied much of southern Ukraine in 1941 as part of the Axis attack on the Soviet Union during World War II. In 1944, when Axis forces were driven out by the Red Army, the city rejoined the Ukrainian SSR.

Since 1991, Chernitvtsi has been a part of independent Ukraine. In May 1999, Romania opened a consulate general in the city. Contemporary Chernivtsi is an important regional center, which is situated on the picturesque banks of Prut River and occupies an area of about 150 square kilometres (58 sq mi).

Chernivtsi is the administrative center of the Chernivtsi Oblast (province) as well as of the Chernivtsi City Municipality housed within the city. However, Chernivtsi is a city of oblast subordinance, thus being subject directly to the oblast authorities rather to the city municipality housed in the city itself.

The territory of Chernivtsi is divided into 3 administrative raions (districts):

1. Pershotravnevyi Raion (Ukrainian: Першотравневий район)
2. Sadhirskyi Raion (Ukrainian: Садгірський район)
3. Shevchenkivskyi Raion (Ukrainian: Шевченківський район)

The mayor of Chernivtsi is Mykola Fedoruk, who has held the position since 1994

According to the latest All-Ukrainian population census in 2001, the population of Chernivtsi was approximately 236,700 people of 65 nationalities. Among them, 189,000 (79.8%) are Ukrainians, 26,700 (11.3%) Russians, 10,500 (4.4%) Romanians; 3,800 (1.6%) Moldavians, 1,400 (0.6%) Polish; 1,300 (0.6%) Jews; 2,900 (1.2%) other nationalities.

Based on the last available Soviet data, the population of the city, as of January 1, 1989, was approximately 295,000 residents. Among these, there are some 172,000 Ukrainians, 46,000 Russians, 16,000 Romanians, 13,000 Moldavians, 7,000 Poles and others.

Historically, the city was very multinational. From 1870 to the Second World War, Jews were the biggest population group of Czernowitz. In 1930, according to the Romanian census, the population of the city was 26.8% Jewish, 23.2% Romanians, 20.8% Germans, 18.6% Ukrainians, and 1.5% Russians.

The Romanian population in Chernivtsi started decreasing rapidly after 1950. Many Romanians fled to Romania or were deported to Siberia (where most of them died), and the remaining Romanian population quickly became a minority and assimilated with the majority. Nowadays, the Romanian minority in Chernivtsi is still decreasing as a result of cultural assimilation and emigration to Romania.

Chernivtsi once had a Jewish community of over 50,000, less than a third of whom survived World War II. Romanian lawyer and reserve officer Theodor Criveanu, as well as the then city mayor Traian Popovici, supported by General Vasile Ionescu saved 19,689 Jewish people. Initially, Governor of Bukovina Calotescu allowed only 190 Jewish people to stay, but Traian Popovici, after an incredible effort, obtained from the then dictator of Romania Marshall Ion Antonescu an allowance of 20,000. After World War II, the city was a key node in the Berihah net, which helped Jews to emigrate to the then Palestine from the difficult conditions after the War. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the majority of the remaining Jewish population emigrated to Israel and the United States.

Architecture
There are many places which attract citizens of Chernivtsi and the visitors: Drama Theatre, Regional Philharmonic Society, Organ and Chamber Music Hall, puppet-theatre, Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy, Museum of Fine Arts, Bukovynian Diaspora Museum, Museum of Folk Architecture and Way of Life, memorial museums of writers, 5 cinemas, 41 libraries, the Central Palace of Culture, 17 clubs, 4 music schools, fine arts school, 2 recreational parks.

The city of Chernivtsi has a lot of architecturally important buildings. Many historic buildings have been preserved, especially within the city's center. However, after years of disrepair and neglect, the buildings are in need of major restoration.

As Chernivsti was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was closely related to the empire's culture, including architecture. Main architectural styles present within the city include Vienna Secession and Neoclassicism, Baroque, late Gothic architecture, and fragments of traditional Moldavian and Hungarian architecture, Byzantine architecture as well as Cubism. The city is sometimes dubbed Little Vienna, because its architecture is reminiscent of the Austro-Hungarian capital Vienna.

The main architectural attractions of the city include: the Chernivtsi Drama Theater (1905); the Chernivtsi University — a former residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovyna (1882); the Regional Museum of Fine Arts — the former savings bank (1900); the Regional Council — former Palace of Justice (1906); and the Chernivtsi Palace of Culture — former Jewish National House (1908); among many others. The magnificent Moorish Revival Czernowitz Synagogue‎ was heavily damaged by fire in 1941, the walls were used to create the "Chernivtsi" movie theater.

The Czech architect Josef Hlavka designed, in 1875, the buildings that currently house the Chernivtsi State University. They were originally the former residence of the Bukovynian metropolitans. The Romanesque and Byzantine architecture is embellished with motifs of Ukrainian folk art; for example, the tile roof patterns duplicate the geometric designs of traditional Ukrainian embroidery.

Sports
The most popular kinds of sports in Chernivtsi include arching, judo, field hockey, karate, power-lifting and orienteering. Chernivtsi's baseball, hockey, and football clubs (FC Bukovyna Chernivtsi) are participants of the Ukrainian national championships.

Chernivtsi has a number of well-developed sports establishments and facilities, including 5 stadiums, 186 sports grounds, 2 tennis courts, 11 football fields, 4 skating rinks, 21 shooting galleries, 3 swimming pools, 69 gyms, and 62 gyms with special training equipment and an international motorcycle racing track.

Over 7,950 inhabitants are members of sport clubs within the city, and more than 50,000 people participate in various sport activities. Currently, 8 sportsmen from the city are the members of national teams and 12 are members in the Ukrainian youth national teams. Three athletes from Chernivtsi were prize-winners of various world tournaments, 2 who were winners of European and 42 of national championships in 2002.

Chernivtsi has been host to the Ukrainian Sidecarcross Grand Prix a number of times and will be hosting it again in 2009, on 24 May.