After the release of the music video for the song "12 obezian" by Serhiy Mikhatok and the Brutto band, filmed in a fisherman's cottage on an island in Staryi Solotvyn, this place unexpectedly got a new lease of life. The location, which had remained quiet and almost unknown for decades, turned into a popular spot for photo shoots, walks, and romantic meetings. The small wooden house stands right in the middle of the water — on an artificial island in the pond of the Kodenka River, and that is why the place got the folk name "Island of Love".
How the island's popularity came about
Local residents are convinced: people knew about the island before, but it was the music video that drew widespread attention to it. After the video's release, the tourist flow increased sharply — especially on weekends and during the warm season.
Today, not only fans of the band come here, but also couples in love, travelers, and connoisseurs of unusual places. The islet looks intimate, cozy, and at the same time very photogenic: the trees growing right on the island give the cottage a recognizable "fairy-tale" appearance. All around is water, birches, and silence. Celebrations and even weddings used to be held here, and this tradition has been partially preserved.
An island with a long history
According to the tales of local residents, the island on the pond existed as early as the 19th century. At the same time, it acquired its modern outlines much later — in the 1970s, when it was artificially expanded. It was then that the place began to take on the look we know today.
In 1984–1985, a fisherman's cottage appeared on the island, officially known as the "hunter and fisherman's hut". Initially, it had a purely practical purpose: one could hide from the rain here, rest after fishing, leave belongings, and hunting trophies were also displayed here. Later, this very cottage turned into the main visual symbol of the location. Afterwards, a wooden footbridge appeared, connecting the island to the shore — today it is one of the most popular photo spots.
The old footbridge (last photo) and the new one.
Ethnographic exhibition in the cottage
The house stood closed and abandoned for a long time — with broken windows and garbage inside. It was restored by local residents together with activists, and now a small ethnographic exhibition operates inside: embroidered shirts, rushnyky, household items. All of this was gathered literally "piece by piece" by local residents. The cottage welcomes visitors during specified hours, and you can view the island from the outside at any time.
Staryi Solotvyn: a village with a deep past
The village of Staryi Solotvyn itself has been known since 1593. The most common version connects its name with the word "sil" (salt), since similar names were often given to settlements associated with salt routes or trade. There are no salt deposits in this area, so the name is rather associated with Chumak routes or legends about lost carts of salt.
The Exaltation of the Cross Church — A Forgotten Pearl
Paradoxically, with so many tourists, only a small fraction of visitors pay attention to the wooden Exaltation of the Cross Church, built in 1885. This is a true architectural monument of the late 19th century that has preserved the traditional features of wooden church building. It is well worth stepping inside after a stroll around the island.
What You Should Know
- the best time for photos is morning or sunset;
- it can get crowded here on weekends, especially in warm weather;
- the place is small — it is more of an atmospheric stop than a long trail; it combines well with a trip to Berdychiv.
How to Get There
Staryi Solotvyn lies south of Zhytomyr, towards Berdychiv. By car — from Zhytomyr along the highway to Berdychiv. Buses run to the village from the Zhytomyr bus station. You can also take a suburban train to the Reia stop, and from there it is about an hour's walk.
Love Island is an example of how the combination of nature, history, and modern culture can give a new impetus to the development of a small village. Staryi Solotvyn is worth attention not only because of the music video, but also thanks to its centuries-old history and atmosphere.
Photos by Roman Malenkov, Serhii Shcherbii.
