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According to a legend, the name of the city hails from the name of a warrior-friend of Askold and Dyr – the Princes of Kiev, which was Zhydomyr (Zhytomyr). It was him, who had founded the city in 884 according to the chronicles. Another version of the origin of the title of Zhytomyr is that it was a combination of two Ukrainian words “zhyto” (rye) and “myr” (peace) because these territories were inhabited by a tribe of zhytichs people who led peaceful life and grew rye.
1240 The city of Zhytomyr was destroyed during the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
1320 The city came under the reign of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
1399 Khan Edyhey of the Goldeh Horde seized and ransacked Zhytomyr after defeating the army of the Lithuanian Prince Vitovit.
1444 The city gained the right of Magdeburg.
1482 Zhytomyr was burnt down by the hordes of Mengly-Hyrey.
1569 According to the union of Lublin, the city came under the Polish reign.
1686 Zhytomyr became the centre of the office of voevode of Kiev, and in 1804 it became a principal town of province of the Volynian province.
Since 1973 Zhytomyr is a regional centre.
Catholic Cathedral of St. Sophia, built 1737-1751. Zamkova Sq. 2.
Built on a Castle hill, late Renaissance and Baroque. The front is divided into two levels with towers, the walls of the cathedral are up to 2 meters thick and are made of brick. Height of the belfry is over 26 meters.
The Transfiguration Cathedral, built 1874, Peremohy Avenue, 12/14.
Built at the place of the destroyed Basylian Cathedral. The height of the cathedral is 53 meters and the bell installed in the belfry weights 500 poods (1 pood = 16 kg). Icons in the cathedral were painted by the Russian academician M. Vasylyev.
The Post-station group of buildings, mid. XIX century, Myr Avenue, 72.
To this unique complex belong the building of the Post-station with the fence, a hotel and the stables.
The monument of A.S. Pushkin, May 1899. Stary Buolevard.
The first monument that appeared in Zhytomyr. Its authors were H. Olyshkevych – the sculptor and M. Byetaky – the architect.
Castle hill (Zamkova Hora, Castle square)
At this place in XIII-XVII there was a wooden fort-castle, later – a stone castle surrounded by ditches. Now a city park is situated here.
The City Council (City Hall), approx. XVII-XVIII cent.; Cathedral Str.5
The building if the city hall had been destroyed in 1941, but since it was a monument of architecture of national meaning, its exact copy was built in 1951.
The Myckhayliv Cathedral, 1856, Kyyivska Str.
It belongs to the most ancient stone cult buildings of the Orthodox Church in Zhytomyr. It was built at the expenses of merchantman M. Khabotyn. From 1927 till 1942 this church was used as warehouse and gymnasium.
Cells of the Jesuit Monastery, 1724, Tchernyackivsky Str. 2
Once there was a Jesuit monastery at this place in the centre of Zhytomyr. Today this two-storey cell apartment is waiting for restoration.
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