Park istorychnoi rekonstruktsii “Ostvytsia” (“Ostvytsia” Historical Re-enactment Park)

“Ostvytsia” Historical Re-enactment Park is an open-air museum in which the activists started a historical re-enactment depicting the settlement from the times of Kyivan (Kievan) Rus. The idea of re-enacting an authentic settlement from the times of Kyivan Rus received significant support among Rivne residents, as the project “Ostvytsia Hillfort” Historical Re-enactment Park Creation” won the call for project application within the Rivne Public Budget in 2019.

The name “Ostvytsia” comes from the ancient name of the Ustia River: the word root “Ost” with adding “-v”, “-ytsia”, which means “a narrow river”, hence all together the word means a “tributary of a larger river”.

The total area of the park is 2 hectares.

Status:

“Ostvytsia” Historical Re-enactment Park is an open-air museum in which the activists started a historical re-enactment depicting the settlement from the times of Kyivan (Kievan) Rus.

Location:

The city of Rivne, vul. Murusi Churai, the western bank of the Basiv Kut Reservoir (left bank of the Ustia River), at the foot of the Basiv Kut Hillfort.

Coordinates:

50.59383, 26.23862

Travel Distance to the city centre of the city of Rivne:

4,1 km

Description:

The activists started a historical re-enactment in Ostvytsia depicting the 11th-12th century settlement from the times of Kyivan Rus. In particular, the team plans to arrange the architectural and cultural reproduction of dwellings, handicraft workshops, outbuildings, wooden earthen defensive walls, towers, fortified entrances, wells, boats, etc. The territory of the park is conditionally divided into three sectors: economic, entertaining and authentic areas. The place creates an atmosphere where one can touch the daily routine, lifestyle and amusement activities of the period of Kyivan Rus.

A distinctive feature of Ostvytsia is that all re-enactment works are carried out basing on the results of archaeological excavations of the Basiv Kut settlement. Therefore, the team reproduces the life of the people who lived in this particular area.

In spring, summer and autumn the tours on refurnished antique boats, namely “Drakar Hunhir” (the reconstruction of the antique boat of the 9th century) and “Lada” Lodia (an approximate prototype of the boats of the 9th – 13th centuries) tend to be the most visited tourist attraction. Apart form that, the activists accumulate a collection of old dugouts (boats made from hollowed trees) here.

One can buy souvenirs (magnets, amulets, children’s axes, children’s swords and shields, wooden cups…), as well as gift certificates for boat trips on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ostvytsya.

In general, “Ostvytsia” Historical Re-enactment Park is not only an opportunity to feel the spirit of history. It is also a place that gives various tourist opportunities, namely:
beautiful nature;
locations for photo shoots;
sightseeing tours on antique boats, tours in the formats “Sunrise on a ”, “Sunset on a Boat”, “Romantic Boat Trip”;
outdoor recreation in the formats “Night in a Tent” and “Astronomical Evening”;
annual “Festival of Ancient Boats”;
archery tournaments “Archers of All Times”;
children’s birthdays on “Ostvytsia” site;
as well as various cultural events…

“Ostvytsia” is gaining more and more popularity both among Rivne residents and guests of the city, and boats and the park have already become one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in Rivne.