Yuzhne: Squares, Art and Promenade

Pivdenne, known as Yuzhne until 2024, showcases a range of cultural influences in its squares. Georgian, Chinese and Turkish design ideas stand alongside Ukrainian metalwork; the museum, art gallery and promenade near the beach complete the picture. If you are travelling with children, the different motifs can prompt you to explore their cultural connections together.

Squares with diverse cultural influences

Opened in 2017, the “Malenka Hruziia” square is dedicated to the sister city of Kobuleti. Wine amphorae, grapevines and a mountain landscape draw on Georgian national symbols. The square thus combines a specific dedication with recognisable design elements.

Opened in 2018, “Kytaiskyi sad” commemorates cooperation with the sister city of Panchzhou. Its features include a wooden bridge and a ginkgo tree sculpture donated by Panchzhou in 2021. The two dates mark different chapters in the square’s history: its opening and the later gift. The Turkish Square, in turn, features stone design elements, structures shaped like Turkish amphorae, and sculptures representing the rocks of Cappadocia. It was opened in 2018 in the presence of a delegation from the Turkish sister city of Kemer. Together, the squares show how varied cultural influences can be translated into design.

Metalwork, museum and gallery

A square with wrought-iron sculptures was created in 2010 during the Ukrainian folk art festival “Ukraina, Yoi!”. The artworks include the arch “Veselka vid moria do stepu”, the art umbrella “Mystetstvo”, a tryzub and the sundial “Mapa Ukrainy”. The works range from large symbolic forms to an instrument that also tells the time. The festival “Koval-fest” is a separate part of this history: it was held annually from 2010 to 2017.

The city museum has three exhibition rooms. Two are named “Ukrainska svitlytsia” and “Istoriia Yuzhnoho z pershoho kilochka ta suchasnist”. The titles offer different starting points for exploring Ukrainian culture and the history of the place. Another cultural stop is the municipal art gallery, one of the city’s first art spaces, which attracts many people interested in the visual arts. If you are planning a specific visit to the museum or gallery, check the current opening hours beforehand.

Promenade near the beach

Primorsky Park and the promenade opened in 2015 and are close to the beach. The park has a fountain, flowers, pavilions and benches. This setting differs from the squares, each of which foregrounds a particular cultural theme. The park and promenade are near the beach; this in itself says nothing about access to the beach.

When choosing a holiday apartment, consider which side of Yuzhne you would like to shape your stay: its themed squares, art and local history, or the park with its promenade near the beach. This lets you tailor your search to the experiences that matter to you, rather than reducing the different places to a single holiday theme.

Discover more destinations: Tarutyne, Bereziwka, Baraboi, Novopetrivka, Vylkove, Pidhirne, Rozdilna, Nova Dofinivka.

View the broader travel guide: Odesa Oblast.