On Saturday, April 2, Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, together with the journalists and regional partner of the campaign, deputy of Cherkasy regional council Volodymyr Hres, visited Cherkasy region within the campaign "Seven Wonders of Ukraine: Castles, Fortresses, Palaces." Participants of the press tour visited the residence of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi in the town of Chyhyryn and Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi museum palace.
Visiting the nominees of Cherkasy region, M.Tomenko stated that these are only a few of the regional monuments. He expects the campaign "Seven Wonders of Ukraine: Castles, Fortresses, Palaces" to make the authorities promote tourist infrastructure in this eventful and famous for talented people region.
At first, the participants of the press tour visited a small town of Chyhyryn. Chyhyryn has a unique long-lasting history. It is the first capital of the Cossack state. The town has an eponymous national historical and cultural reserve including the museum of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, historical-architectural complex "Hetman´s Residence", and the Castle Mountain. Two out of twelve buildings have not been constructed due to the scarce governmental support, while those completed lack proper interior finish. According to M.Tomenko, nomination of this object is important in the historical-education respect.
Later the journalists visited the exquisite palace of the princes Lopukhiny-Demydovy, which was the richest palace ensemble in the 50s of XIX century. The palace is located on the island, and has the features of Russian romanticism combined with the elements of neo-Gothic and classicism. However, the formerly splendid palace of the princes Lopukhiny-Demydovy has been turned into the museum of the World War II. Old military equipment has replaced beautiful architectural hardware in the grand halls. M.Tomenko stated that a governmental project shall support restoration of this place.
Summing up, M.Tomenko stated that the primary goal of the campaign is to set the priorities for restoring and rescuing such objects. "We will hope that regardless of the place of the object in the final rating, experts and authorities in charge of history and architecture will develop a strategic project to restore this palace complex," stressed M.Tomenko.