Mamajeva Sloboda

In the middle of XVII century a French engi­neer and cartographer Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan said: «Ukraina est Terra Cosacorum» – «Ukraine is a Land of Cos­sacks». That’s why in seven kilometers from Khreshchatyk an open­air museum – a Cossack village «Mamajeva Sloboda» – has been located. Its thematic exhibits are situated on the 9,2 hectares site and represent a full replica of a historical settlement depicting Ukrainian nature, architecture and the way of life.

In the center of the architectural ensemble which consists of 98 units a Cossack three-domed wooden church is located. The Cossack church is founded in the name of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin and is similar to the one built at Zaporozhian Sich in the days of Bohdan-Zinoviy Khmelnytskyi.

Near the main entrance gate a mound is raised with a Scythian statue of Mamaj on the top. Not far from the church there is a wind-mill – the symbol of peaceful agricultural Ukraine. In “Mamajeva Sloboda” one can see the estates of a Churchwarden, of a Cossack-dzhura (Cossack armour bearer), of a Sotnik (the Cossack’s superior), of a Blacksmith with a smithy, of a Potter with a pottery, of a Fortune-teller; a shynok (Ukrainian restaurant), an apiary and a watermill as well – all of them are situated over two rushy lakes cov-ered with water lilies. The estates consist of different buildings according to their household functions. They are: storehouses, sheds, stables, cellars, barns, cart-houses, etc. This traditional Ukrainian landscape is supplemented with the Mar-ketplace, the Military chancellery and a Cossack garrison.