A day out in Ukraine
Today was a day off, we were originally going to spend some time at the
children's shelter but that was not possible so we went out with Alex and his
family and two of the lads from Transition House.
We went for a long drive (stopping off on the way for a walk on a beach)
to the Akkerman Medieval Fortress which is situated about 50 miles from Odessa
at the town of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. It
is the biggest fortress in the country, and a unique monument to the defensive
architecture of the 13th -15th centuries. Despite its age and the historical
events to which it was a first hand witness, the fortress managed to preserve
its original structure, and today it is considered to be the best preserved
medieval fortification facility in Ukraine.
The Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi fortress
was founded on the ruins of the ancient town Tyr. The reason for the fortress’s
construction was the need to protect the town from the constant invasions of
its enemies. It is awe-inspiring with its power and size: the total length of
its walls is over two kilometers.
For two centuries, the outpost served
as good defence for its owners. In the late 15th century, however, after a
prolonged siege, the fortress surrendered to the Ottomans. The Turks renamed it
‘Akkerman’ (which means 'White Fortress'), and ruled the territory for over 300
years. In the early 19th century, the Russian Empire claimed the fortress as a
spoil of victory after a Russo-Turkish war. Over time, the fortress lost its
defensive importance. For over a century, this impressive historical and
architectural monument has been protected by the state.(see http://discover-ukraine.info/places/southern-ukraine/odesa/177)
On our return journey to Odessa we crossed the border and came back through Moldova.
Tomorrow we will go to Grace Baptist Church and hope to spend the day at the shelter with the children.
