Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Caves Monastery is the most popular tourist sight in Kyiv.

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra was founded in 1051 by Saint Anthony, later a wooden monastery was built under Saint Theodosius. Soon, the cave monastery attained the status of Lavra (head monastery in Greek) increasing its importance as a religious centre, actually it is the spiritual heart of the Ukrainian people.

Some highlights of Pechersk Lavra include the 12th century Trinity Gate Church, Dormition Cathedral, the Great Lavra Belltower, the Debosquette Wall, the Church of the Saviour at Berestove, the Museum of Folk Decorative Art, and the Caves or catacombs, with dozens of niches containing glass-topped coffins containing 123 monks' bodies mummified thanks to the air composition and humidity. There are also unique pictures drawn on the walls of the caves some of which are 900 years old.

The Near Caves are a complex system of underground tunnels with a total length of 383 metres; the Near Caves contains three underground churches. The Great Lavra Bell tower was designated by architect Johann Gottfried Schädel, it stands at 96.52 metres and has 4 floors; their walls are up to 8 meters thick.

Since 1990, Pechersk Lavra together with the Saint-Sophia Cathedral is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1996 the monastery was decreed a national Ukrainian monument.

Kiev Pechersk Lavra
Address: 21 Sichnevogo Povstannya.
Telephone: +38 (0442) 551 237

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