Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, Bolekhivskyy region, Bubnyshche village
Tourist complex “The Ukrainian Carpathians, Dovbush rocks”
This is a park of national importance, a unique monument of history and architecture of the early Middle Ages; the cave complex “Dovbush rocks” has an area of 100 hectares and is located to southwest to Bolekhiv town nearby the village Bubnyshche.
“The Ukrainian Carpathians, Dovbush rocks” is an interesting in shape and location accumulation of enormous stones 30-50 meters in height, formed thousand years ago on the sea floor. Almost for a kilometer from the east to the west a labyrinth created by nature is stretching and reaching a width of 200 meters. According to the archeologists, there was a pagan temple and later a Christian monastery.
As to folk legends this place is closely associated with the name of people’s avenger Oleksa Dovbush. He hid his treasure here, according legends. They say that Dovbush with comrades dug caves in the rocks. The main cave was in the rock Odynets. After the death of Dovbysh his followers hid in this cave a lot of gold, which was taken away from innkeepers and merchants. The cave Odynets closes the stone that rotates. You can get inside when turns this stone. You need to know a magic word to open the pass. A man who knew that word died many years ago. So hundreds of years those treasures are hid under this rock.
There are three caves in the rocks that have clear geographical shape. One of the places of stone accumulation resembles a lion head. Archeologists have found on some stones traces of treatment, it is clear that people helped a little to the nature.
Dovbush rocks, except the complex of rocks, attract tourists by its picturesque sceneries of surrounding mountains, amazing light beech forest, waterfall which is located near the tourist complex.
Dovbush rocks are a permanent place for climbers training. One of the rocks has a memorial sign and cross in memory of dead friends.
Entertainment
This tourist complex provides variety of entertainment, for example, you can ride a horse.
Also you can take wonderful pictures with rocks background and a falcon on your shoulder. Another “attraction” (as they say in Lviv) is “Devil’s Gorge”. Its width is about 20 cm. It is too narrow! But guides say that the person get through it will get rid of all sins. All people get through! Who has not got by himself would be helped by different ways. People are sinful in their actions... :)
In the forest not far off the rocks there are styled cafes with reasonable prices and a good menu of Ukrainian cuisine.
Nearby tourists places
There are tourist trips to the fortress Tustan, to tourist complex “Dovbush rocks” from
Skhidnytsa, Truskavets, Morshyn, Bukovel, Slavske.
Tour operators
- “The Carpathians pearl” - Skhidnytsa;
- “Europe Tour” - Skhidnytsa.
How to get to the tourist complex “Dovbush rocks”
There are excursion tours from Morshyn, Truskavets, Skhidnytsa or from Lviv directly.
It is also possible to get to this place by car through Stryi, Morshyn, Bolekhiv; there is a turn just Bolekhiv to Bubnyshche. There is a sign in Bolekhiv “Bubnyshche, Dovbush rocks”. The entrance to rocks costs 20 UAH (as of 2011), but you can leave the car near the waterfall and walk several kilometers through the forest.
It is one more option: you may take the regular bus to Bolekhiv, and then change to another bus to the Valley or to the turn to Bubnyshche, after that walk several kilometers up.
Nearest ski centers
- Slavske – – 110 km;
- Tysovets – 109 km.
Nearest spa resorts
Nearest towns
- Bolekhiv– 12 km;
- Morshyn – 23 km.
Address
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
Bolekhiv region
Bubnyshche village
49°03′06″ N. 23°40′44″ E.
2011. Ukrainian Carpathians, Bubnysche. Dovbush rocks. Rest in Carpathians