On 28th of February 2018 in Kiev opened Chestnut Mini Sculpture - the main symbols of green city of Kiev especially in spring time.

When on 20th of June 1966 President of France Charles de Gaulle visited Kiev he left his review of the city in simple words: "I saw many parks in the cities but I did not see the city in the park" - it is all about Kiev, capital of Ukraine.

Now Chestnut is one of main symbols and brand that are associated with Kiev city.

Chestnut Mini Sculpture was opened near Kiev State Administration and it is the second bronze mini-sculpture in form of chestnut within framework of project "Search" created by travel guide Yulia Bevzenko.

The first mini sculpture Chicken Kyiv was opened on Arkhitektora Horodetskoho street near the restaurant with same name.

During this year it is planned to install in historical center of Kiev another 12 mini sculptures - symbols of tourist Kiev.

Tourists and guests of Ukrainian capital could look at these sculptures and also scan QR-code with help of a smartphone to find out their history and symbolism. Such information is available in Ukrainian and in the future - in English and other European languages.

Kyiv Chestnut Symbol History

In 1842 specially for Tsar Nicholas I who plan to visit Kiev Governor-General Dmitry Bibikov brought from Balkans first chestnut trees and planted them on Bibikovsky Boulevard - now Taras Shevchenko Boulevard along which the monarch should enter the city.

However it turned out that Tsar Nicholas I likes pyramidal poplars. So during the night all chestnuts were uprooted and instead of them planted pyramidal poplars. Some of chestnut trees were hidden behind the fence of University Botanical Garden (now A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden) where an entire alley was formed from them and some - Kiev citizens rescued by planting them in their yards. Since then chestnuts have spread in Kiev.

Chestnuts became especially popular in Kiev after Great Patriotic War when they were planted along renovated Khreshchatyk street. From that time citizens of Kiev and tourists from all over USSR came in the spring to Kiev main street every year to look at the beautiful countless candle-flowers.

In 1950s chestnuts bacame even more popular with song "Kiev Waltz" of Platon Maiboroda based on Andrei Malyshko words:

"Again Blooming Chestnuts,
Wave of The Dnieper Surf,
Sweet Youth is
My Happiness"

Soon in Kiev shops and cafes with name "chestnut" began to appear. Leaves, flowers, fruits of chestnut appeared on packages of goods and products - for example on box of one of visiting cards of capital of Ukraine - "Kiev Cake", on posters and postcards. Chosen status of chestnut was confirmed in 1969 when its stylized image appeared on Coat of Arms of Kiev made by architect-artist Florian Yuryev and sculptor Boris Dovgan.

Now Kiev has returned to its more ancient coat of arms - symbol of Archangel Michael but the chestnut remains an unofficial emblem of the city of Kiev.

Organizers of Chestnut Mini Sculpture in Kiev

Team of Project "Search"
Kiev State Administration
Kiev, Ukraine

Pavel Korsun
Tour Guide
Ukraine tours and Kiev tours

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