3 Best Sights in Kherson, Ukraine

The Kherson area's star attraction, Askania-Nova was among Europe's first wildlife reserves, dating back to the late 19th century when a local baron began importing exotic animals from around the world to live on his property in the Tavrian steppes. Today, this 520-acre park is home to zebras, wild horses, African and South Asian varieties of antelope, and a huge array of birds, from flamingos to emus. It’s a 90-minute drive from Kherson and the best time to spot animals is in the height of summer.

Dating back to the 1780s, the sandstone cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Southern Ukraine. It was used as a museum of atheism during the Soviet Era, before being transformed into a storehouse in the 1960s. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the cathedral was reclaimed by the Russian Orthodox Church and once again serves as a house of worship. A Tuscan portico leads into the church, which houses the tomb of famed statesman Prince Grigory Potemkin.

Kherson's best-known historic structure, the Ochakovsky (or Western) Gate is one of the few remaining features of the Kherson Fortress, much of which was destroyed in 1921. Dating back to the late 18th century, this imposing gate once served as the main entryway to the city, and while the surrounding walls are now mostly in ruins, there is a small placard (in English) detailing what the fortress looked like back in its 1792 heyday.