Khmelnik

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A small town Khmelnik is situated on Southern Buh’s bank, in the picturesque hilly area, surrounded by woodlands (70 km from Vinnytsia). It has the status of one of Ukraine’s most renowned balneotherapeutic resorts. Radon water springs, found in its surroundings, made this town very popular in Ukraine and abroad. Healing quality of this water has no analogues among all know mineral waters. The combination of this treasure with mild climate, air, saturated with ether oils and resins, and a great number of sunny days made Khmelnik a popular health improvement and recreation area. Yearly tens of thousands of people come there from all over Ukraine and the near abroad in order to get rid of illnesses or just to have a vacation amongst splendid nature.

According to a legend, the healing mineral water sources near Khmelnik were known several centuries ago. The legend says that once a Polish magnate who owned the town used water from the well, situated in the forest near Khmelnik, to cure his hopelessly sick daughter who suffered from rheumatism. Afterwards, he ordered to block it up with stones, so that nobody would find out about water’s wonder-working qualities.

There was a speculation that town’s outskirts house a unique spring up to the early 20th century. Then, geologists, who were looking for drinkable water, drilled a well. Its water wasn’t tasty, but, according to research, it contained radon and a huge number of healthy microelements: nitrogen, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, iodine and bromine. Somewhat later, curative peat mud was found not far from Khmelnik. Thanks to this unique natural ‘kit’ the town soon became a well-known balneotherapeutic resort.

More than forty Khmelnik’s radon springs successfully treat hypertension, rheumatism, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular and central nervous system conditions, help to normalize metabolism and to decrease blood sugar, increase body defenses. Today, the famous resort houses dozens of modern health resorts and holiday hotels that have everything you need for a comfortable treatment and recreation.

Khmelnik allows for convenient combination of health-improving tourism and informative recreation. It has preserved several interesting historical and architectural monuments, including Count Ksido Palace, built in the early 20th century on the medieval defensive castle’s base. Octahedral fortress tower with gloomy loopholes remained of the castle. During Turkish reign it was rebuilt into minaret of the neighboring mosque. Now, it houses Khmelnik Museum of History. Another interesting attraction is the baroque building of the Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, built in the early 17th century.

Getting here. You can take a bus from Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Khmelnitskyi, Berdychiv, Zhytomyr and Odesa or a train from Kyiv, Khmelnitskyi and Moscow.