Kaniv and Taras Hill: where the Dnipro opens up widest to the eye

Kaniv is a small town on the Kaniv Hills, known to everyone who learned Shevchenko’s “Testament” at school. Here, on the high bank of the Dnipro, Taras Shevchenko is buried. But a trip here is not only about honouring the poet: it also means wonderful views, old architecture and sites older than any chronicle.

Taras Hill (Chernecha Hill)

This hill on the south-eastern edge of Kaniv was once called Monks’ Hill. Taras Shevchenko was reburied here on 22 May 1861, fulfilling his wish to be buried in his beloved Ukraine. Since then the hill has been known as Taras Hill, and it is protected by the Shevchenko National Reserve.

At the top stands a bronze monument to the poet by sculptor Matvii Manizer, installed in 1939. Next to it are the literary memorial museum, built in the 1930s to a design by architects Vasyl Krychevsky and Petro Kostyrko, and Taras’s Svitlytsia, the first folk museum of Shevchenko, built in 1884 with public donations (recreated in 1991).

A long staircase leads to the grave. The climb is not easy, but it pays off: the viewpoints offer one of the grandest panoramas of the Dnipro. Drivers can reach the top from the other side of the hill. It is best to book guided tours of the reserve in advance.

The Dormition Cathedral

In the town centre stands Kaniv’s oldest stone building, the Dormition (Uspensky) Cathedral, built in 1144 under Prince Vsevolod. It is a rare example of Kyivan Rus architecture outside Kyiv. In May 2025 the cathedral was transferred to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. A museum of folk decorative art is nearby.

Mezhyrich: dwellings made of mammoth bones

In the village of Mezhyrich near Kaniv lies a world-famous Late Palaeolithic site. Four dwellings built from mammoth bones were found here, the first in 1965. Scientists date the settlement to 15,000–17,000 years ago. One of the dwellings is preserved under a pavilion and can be seen with your own eyes. Check the visiting arrangements in advance.

The nature of the Kaniv Hills

Next to the town lies the Kaniv Nature Reserve, one of the oldest in Ukraine, founded in 1923. It protects part of the right bank of the Dnipro and its islands. It is a scientific reserve, so tours need to be arranged with its administration.

How to get there

Kaniv is about 150 kilometres south of Kyiv and about 80 kilometres from Cherkasy, roughly an hour by car. Taras Hill has a passenger pier, but boats from Kyiv run irregularly.

Tip: plan your visit for May, when Taras Hill marks the anniversary of the poet’s reburial and the Kaniv Hills are covered in fresh green.