Lysa Hora, Nature reserve and historic fortress site in Holosiiv district, Kyiv, Ukraine
Lysa Hora is a wooded hill in the Holosiiv district of Kyiv, Ukraine, near the point where the Dnipro and Lybid rivers meet. The top remains free of dense vegetation and offers open views, while the slopes are covered with trees and trails.
The Russian army built a fortress on the hilltop in 1872, which later served as an execution site for political prisoners between 1906 and 1917. After the fall of the Russian Empire, the structure lost its military function and gradually decayed.
The spot served for centuries as a gathering place for festivals around the summer solstice, when people lit fires in open fields. Today locals walk through the wooded paths, passing carved wooden sculptures representing pagan figures from old tales.
Visitors can reach the hill on foot from Vydubichi metro station by heading southwest and following marked trails through the wooded area. The trails are generally walkable, but comfortable footwear is advisable as some sections can be uneven.
Local researchers regard the area as a geopathic zone where underground water flows and geological fault lines converge. An old legend tells of a giant snake biting its own tail here, forming a closed circle.
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