Stari Kodaky brings together the history of Kodak Fortress and its location above the first rapid on the Dnipro. The rocky cliff, the four bastions, and the view over the river and its banks give the place a distinct historical and scenic character. The history of the Dnipro rapid pilots, who lived in Stari Kodaky, adds another dimension. Thus, alongside the former fortress, the people of the river and the landscape are also at the heart of the story.

Kodak Fortress and its Location

The fortress was first built in July 1635 and was destroyed more than 300 years ago. It had four bastions and consisted of earth ramparts and wooden fortifications. The four bastions defined the layout of the complex; earth and wood shaped its construction. The fortress stood on a rocky cliff above the Kodak Rapid, the first rapid on the Dnipro. Its design and location reveal different aspects of the same fortress history: the complex itself and its position in the river landscape. An old cemetery lies on the way to the remains. Stone crosses have been preserved there, some bearing visible dates. This means the route links the fortress remains with another historical detail.

The Pilots and the Local History Museum

Dnipro rapid pilots, who practiced a distinctive profession, lived in Stari Kodaky, near Lotsmanska Kamianka. This profession no longer exists today. Their story adds the lives and working history of the people of the Dnipro to the fortress’s military past. The museum by the cultural centre preserves exhibits about the lives and daily routines of these pilots. The museum thus focuses on the people and their everyday world, while the fortress tells the story of the place from an architectural perspective. A visit to the local history museum must be arranged in advance; check beforehand whether an appointment is currently possible.

River Landscape and Recreation at the Fortress Site

From the former ramparts, the view stretches across the Dnipro, the steep slopes on the left bank, and a small lake formed in a disused quarry. Three different landscape features are therefore in view: the river, the steep slopes on the left bank, and a body of water that originated in a disused quarry. The small lake is not part of the Dnipro, then, but has a separate origin. For travellers who want to take in the surroundings of the fortress site as well as its history, this view is a highlight in its own right.

Some people spend their leisure time at the site of the former fortress; swimming is also described as a recreational activity there. If you plan to swim, check the local conditions beforehand.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

The options also differ when it comes to planning: the local history museum is the main attraction for learning about the pilots’ daily lives, the remains and their position above the rapid are the focus for fortress history, and the view from the former ramparts is the draw for the landscape. If the pilots’ story is important to you, arrange your museum visit first. Those who want to focus on the river landscape can make the view a highlight in its own right.

Discover more destinations: Ordzonikidze, Pavlohrad, Surs'ke, Kryvyi Rih, Zarychanka, Ternivka, Dnipropetrovsk, Semenivka.

See the regional travel overview: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.