Chernihiv is one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, where history can be felt in every street and every church. Once an important center of Kyivan Rus, the city has preserved unique monuments of architecture, art, and spiritual culture. Yet the true treasures of Chernihiv are revealed not only in the open air, but also in its museums — spaces where the pages of a thousand-year history come to life.
This selection features the TOP 10 museums of Chernihiv and the Chernihiv region that will help you explore the city and its surroundings more deeply: from archaeological discoveries and Cossack heritage to art collections and prominent literary figures. These are places where the past becomes closer, and cultural heritage becomes more accessible and alive.
National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv”
The National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv” is one of the most prominent museum complexes in Ukraine, bringing together architectural monuments from the era of Kyivan Rus to the 19th century. Founded in 1967, it was granted national status in 1998 and remains one of the main tourist attractions of the Chernihiv region.
The reserve includes 29 landmarks, among them the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Boris and Gleb Cathedral, St. Paraskeva (Pyatnytska) Church, the Anthony Caves, and the Chernihiv Collegium. Its collections comprise over 70,000 items — from archaeological artifacts and early printed books to a unique collection of icon painting that reflects the region’s centuries-old history.
Vasyl Tarnovskyi Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum
The Vasyl V. Tarnovskyi Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum is one of the oldest museums in Ukraine, founded in 1896 on the basis of a collection of Ukrainian antiquities assembled by philanthropist Vasyl Tarnovskyi. Housed in the 19th-century building of a former boys’ gymnasium, it serves as a leading historical and regional studies center of the Chernihiv region.
The museum’s holdings include over 160,000 exhibits — from archaeological finds and Cossack regalia to early printed books, hetman universals, and unique memorial objects. Its exhibition traces the history of the region from ancient times to the present day.
Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi Literary and Memorial Museum-Reserve
The Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi Literary and Memorial Museum-Reserve in Chernihiv, founded in 1934, is located on the former estate of the writer. It was here that Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi created his most renowned works, including Intermezzo, Fata Morgana, and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors.
The museum combines a memorial house, a literary exhibition, and a preserved garden. Recreated interiors, personal belongings, and the writer’s library convey the atmosphere of his life, while the institution itself remains an important literary and cultural center of Chernihiv.
Hryhorii Halahan Chernihiv Regional Art Museum
The Hryhorii Halahan Chernihiv Regional Art Museum, established in 1983, is located in a 19th-century architectural landmark in the historic center of Chernihiv. The museum is an important cultural hub of the region and houses more than 9,000 works of fine and decorative-applied arts dating from the 16th century to the present day.
The collection includes Ukrainian Baroque icon painting, folk paintings of “Cossack Mamay,” works by leading 20th-century artists, as well as examples of Western European art — Dutch, Flemish, Italian, and French painting. A significant part of the holdings consists of folk and decorative art objects that reflect the richness of the Ukrainian artistic tradition.
Chernihiv Military History Museum
The Chernihiv Military History Museum is a space of remembrance dedicated to Ukraine’s struggle for freedom. Founded in 1985 at the initiative of veterans, it highlights the military history of the Chernihiv region — from the Ukrainian Revolution and the Battle of Kruty to the present-day war. Its collections include thousands of documents, photographs, awards, weapons, and personal belongings of servicemen and women.
The museum is worth visiting to feel the living connection between generations and to gain a deeper understanding of the price of independence. Military equipment is displayed outdoors, while thematic exhibitions reveal the stories of courage and resistance shown by the people of Chernihiv across different eras.
Anthony Caves
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The Anthony Caves are a unique underground monastic complex dating from the 11th to the 19th centuries, located in the Boldyni Hills of Chernihiv and founded by Saint Anthony of the Caves. The complex consists of a system of galleries and subterranean churches stretching approximately 350 meters in total length. Within the caves, visitors can see monks’ cells, ancient inscriptions, and sacred sites connected with the monastery’s history.
Today, the caves impress with the scale of their underground churches and their distinctive atmosphere of silence. Visiting this site offers a rare opportunity to touch the thousand-year-old spiritual and historical heritage of Chernihiv.
“Plast-Art”
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The Chernihiv Museum of Contemporary Art “Plast-Art” is a modern cultural space in the center of Chernihiv, featuring seven exhibition halls with a total area of 700 m². Over the years, it has hosted around 150 artistic projects introducing audiences to current trends in Ukrainian art. The museum operates as a non-governmental, non-profit center founded by artist Borys Diedov.
“Plast-Art” brings together artists and cultural researchers, supporting the development of contemporary art while promoting the creative traditions of the Chernihiv region. The space combines regional aesthetics with new artistic explorations, fostering a vibrant cultural dialogue.
National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Kachanivka”
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The National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Kachanivka” is a unique palace-and-park estate of the 18th–19th centuries in the Chernihiv region, preserved as an integral architectural ensemble. The majestic neoclassical palace with its dome, along with the side wings and St. George’s Church, recreate the atmosphere of the aristocratic era.
Surrounding the estate is a picturesque landscape park with ponds, gazebos, and small bridges. This place harmoniously combines history, art, and nature, offering every visitor a sense of tranquility and inspiration.
National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Hetman’s Capital”
The National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Hetman’s Capital” is a museum complex in Baturyn dedicated to the history of the Ukrainian Cossacks and the era of the Hetmanate. It brings together the key landmarks of the former hetman capital: the Fortress Citadel, the Resurrection Church — the burial site of Kyrylo Rozumovskyi, the General Court Building, and the Rozumovskyi Palace with its park.
The reserve also includes monuments located beyond Baturyn and has held national status since 2007, underscoring its importance in preserving heritage and promoting the history of Ukrainian statehood.
Novhorod-Siverskyi Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign”
The Novhorod-Siverskyi Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign” is a complex of heritage sites in the Sivershchyna region, uniting the Transfiguration Monastery, Castle Hill, and architectural landmarks of the 18th century. According to the chronicle, it was from Novhorod-Siverskyi that Prince Ihor — the hero of The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign — set out on his legendary expedition.
The museum presents editions and translations of the literary monument, archaeological finds from the era of Kyivan Rus, and reconstructions of ancient Rus armor. The reserve combines history, literature, and architecture, offering visitors an immersive glimpse into the atmosphere of the princely age.
The Chernihiv region is a land where the past is not confined to textbooks but lives on in church walls, museum halls, and ancient landscapes. From princely caves and Cossack capitals to art galleries and literary estates, each museum reveals a distinct chapter of Ukraine’s great history.
By visiting these places, we do more than explore exhibits — we experience the continuity of tradition, the strength of memory, and the depth of cultural heritage. Chernihiv and its region invite you to a thoughtful and unhurried discovery — to see more, understand more deeply, and truly fall in love with this ancient Ukrainian land.
