Ukraine: Zhytomyr
Go west – here comes another oblast of Ukraine with Zhytomyr being the capital main city. The city was established in 884 by Slavic Prince Zhytomyr (and a large ice age stone in the city center attests to this). It was a major city in the Great Duchy of Lithuania and then Poland as it lies on the major transport route from west to east. The city is full of late 19th century architecture and several large churches and cathedral, many of them catholic as the polish community in Zhytomyr is one of the largest in Ukraine. Sobornyi Maidan is the main square of Zhytomyr and the Court and City Hall buildings are here. Catholic St Sophia Cathedral is spectacular (next to the blue local history museum, there are also orthodox St Michael cathedral and Transfiguration Cathedral and the Catholic Seminary Church of St John, and many other historic buildings. Plus a mandatory tank and a centrally-located but seriously decrepit Soviet-era hotel.
