Nikolaev - Welcome to the ‘City of Brides’ +

Nikolaev (Mykolayiv in Ukrainian) is a major industrial and shipbuilding center in south Ukraine with the population of more than 500 thousand people. The city is located at the confluence of the Southern Bug and Ingul rivers. It is within 2 hours drive from Odessa and 40 miles from the Black Sea.

History

Nikolaev was founded in 1788 by the Order Of Count Potyomkin of Tavria. Initially it was just a shipyard used to repair Russian ships during the Russian-Turkish war. Gradually it developed into a town which was called Nikolayev to commemorate the taking of the Ochakov fortress on the day of St. Nicholas (Nikolay in Russian and Mykola in Ukranian) guardian of seafarers. The town soon became a major shipbuilding center and a naval base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Today Nikolaev remains to be one of the most important Black Sea ports of Ukraine.

Climate

Nikolaev is situated in the steppe zone of moderate continental climate with lots of sunny days. Summer is hot and dry with average temperatures of 22-25°С, winter is mild with low snow and the average temperatures around 0°С.

Economy

The economy of the city is largely based on engineering, shipbuilding and metal-working which account for about half of the country’s shipbuilding production. Food industry is another major contributor to the city’s budget.

Places to Visit

Among the places of interest in Nikolaev are the Nikolaev Theater of Ukrainian Drama and Musical Comedy, the Museum of Arts, the Zoo and classicism style monuments of the Church of St. Nicholas and the Museum of Shipbuilding. There are also a lot of night-clubs, bowling clubs, restaurants and casinos. They are mostly situated in the Sovetskaya Street which is the city’s central avenue. One of the most interesting places in Nikolayev is, perhaps, the Astronomical observatory which offers a fascinating opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking view of the night sky.

There are a lot of places worth visiting, but the major attraction of Nikolayev is its beautiful women who have earned the city a reputation of ‘the city of brides’. Many people come to Nikolayev every year looking for a romantic adventure or a life partner. And indeed, Nikolaev is a perfect place for a date. Still navigable rivers for a yacht trip, sunny beaches to enjoy yourself on a sunny afternoon and endless fields for kiting and parachute jumping, Nikolayev has got something for everyone.

Although Nikolayev is relatively big it has no fuss, traffic and haste of a large metropolis. The city is rapidly developing with new shops, restaurants and recreation centers appearing all the time. Being a modern city, Nikolaev has managed to retain the spirit of the past with beautiful old churches and historical buildings that add a romantic touch to its atmosphere filling the air with a mysterious sense of adventure.

Russian Translation..