Sofiyivsky Park, Uman: what to see and when to go

Sofiyivsky Park is a large landscape garden and arboretum in Uman, Ukraine, known for its scenic design, water features, and collection of over 2,000 tree and shrub species. Created in the late 18th century as a gift, it is now a public park, scientific institute, and a major visitor attraction.

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Features over 2,000 species of trees and shrubs from around the world
Created in 1796 as a gift from Count Potocki to his wife Sofia
Includes artificial lakes, waterfalls, and a 224-meter underground river
Blends classical sculptures and mythological themes throughout the grounds
Visited by about 300,000 people each year

What is Sofiyivsky Park?

Sofiyivsky Park covers nearly 180 hectares and blends natural landscapes with designed features. Visitors find winding paths, artificial lakes, waterfalls, and a series of pavilions, gazebos, and antique-style sculptures. The park is home to thousands of trees and shrubs, both native and introduced, including marsh cypress, Weymouth pine, tulip tree, platanus, and ginkgo. Waterways, grottos, and rock formations add to its romantic and classical atmosphere.

The history of Sofiyivsky Park

The park was established in 1796 by Count Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki, who dedicated it to his wife Sofia. Built on rugged land along the Kamianka River, the park was shaped by Polish engineer Ludwik Metzel, who brought in rare plants from across Europe. Local serfs provided most of the labor. Over time, the park changed hands, passing from private ownership to the Russian imperial family and later to state administration. Its design draws on themes from Greek mythology and the works of Homer.

What there is to see

Sofiyivsky Park was laid out with a network of artificial ponds, waterfalls, and streams, including the 224-meter-long underground Acheron River. The grounds feature a main entrance, central alleys, and themed areas such as 'Small Switzerland' and the 'Valley of Giants.' Antique-style statues, gazebos, and grottos are placed throughout, with plantings of cypress, pine, and other trees. The park’s layout was intended to evoke scenes from classical literature.

When to go

Today, Sofiyivsky Park serves as a public garden, research institute, and tourist destination, drawing about 300,000 visitors each year. It is open for walks, sightseeing, and guided tours. The park’s paths, water features, and classical sculptures make it a popular spot for recreation and learning about landscape design. Some buildings house a museum, hotel, and restaurant for visitors.

Parts and collections

Within the park, different sections have their own character, such as the 'Small Switzerland' area with cypress and pine, and the 'Mushroom' gazebo on a hill. The central zone is organized around Greek and Roman mythological themes, with statues of Hermes, Venus, and Cupid, and grottos named after figures from legend. Water features and plantings vary between areas, creating distinct landscapes.

Why Sofiyivsky Park matters

Sofiyivsky Park is recognized as a major example of European landscape gardening from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Its design and history are tied to the cultural heritage of Ukraine and Poland. The park is listed on Ukraine’s Tentative List for World Heritage status, and a minor planet was named after it in 1985. It is celebrated for its artistic layout and historical significance.

The flowers of Sofiyivsky Park

Tulip treeA towering North American tree with tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers

Tulip treeA tall deciduous tree with tulip-shaped flowers and four-lobed leaves

Questions people ask about Sofiyivsky Park

Where is Sofiyivsky Park located?

Sofiyivsky Park is in the city of Uman, in Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine, near the Kamianka River.

What can you see at Sofiyivsky Park?

Visitors can explore landscaped paths, artificial lakes, waterfalls, grottos, antique-style sculptures, and a wide variety of trees and shrubs from different parts of the world.

Who created Sofiyivsky Park and why?

The park was established by Count Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki in 1796 as a birthday gift for his wife Sofia, with design work led by Ludwik Metzel.

What is special about the park’s design?

Sofiyivsky Park is known for its romantic landscape, classical sculptures, and areas inspired by Greek mythology and Homer’s poems.

Is Sofiyivsky Park recognized internationally?

The park is on Ukraine’s Tentative List for World Heritage Sites and is considered a significant example of landscape garden art.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Sofiyivka Park", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

International Garden Festival: Frombowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Rose garden: The original uploader was SUJIRENas at Lithuanian Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Villa Rufolo: Istvánka, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Tulip tree: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Common sunflower: Jon Sullivan, Public domain, source

Hryshko National Botanical Garden: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Prunus: Benjamin Gimmel, BenHur, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Alhambra: Jebulon, CC0, source

A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden: Alltre, Public domain, source

Sofiyivsky Park: Uk-Kamelot, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Tulip tree: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Sofiyivsky Park