On Castle Mountain in Bila Tserkva, above the Ros, stands a monument to the Grand Prince of Kyiv, Yaroslav the Wise. It was he who in 1032 founded the fortress of Yuriv here — the predecessor of the modern city. The monument was unveiled in 1983 for the 950th anniversary of Bila Tserkva, and since then it has become one of the city's landmarks.
Founder of the city
Yaroslav the Wise built the fortress of Yuriv on the Ros, naming it after his Christian name — Heorhii, or Yurii. The city became part of the Ros defence line that protected Kyiv from steppe nomads, and a bishopric was located here. Later, Bila Tserkva grew up in this place, and Castle Mountain remained its historical heart. Read more about the ancient city in the article "Yuriv on Castle Mountain".
The white church that gave the city its name
Between the monument and the local history museum building, the remains of the foundation of the later St George's Church have been preserved. According to legend, it was the white stone church on the mountain that gave the city its name — Bila Tserkva. Since 2011, at the initiative of a charitable foundation, a new St George's Church, styled in Old Rus architecture, has been under construction on Castle Mountain.
What is nearby
Castle Mountain offers a view of the Ros, the islands, and the old town. Nearby stand the Church of St John the Baptist and the Church of St George the Victorious, and below is the Ros embankment. In the evening, the mountain is illuminated, and a walk here is especially pleasant.
How to get there
Castle Mountain is in the centre of Bila Tserkva, near Sobornyi Square. From the bus station and railway station, you can walk here or take a marshrutka. Bila Tserkva is 80 km south of Kyiv along the highway to Odesa.
Tip
Combine your walk on the mountain with the monument to Shevchenko near the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Old Post Office, and the Oleksandriya Park.
