Located near Ukraine’s borders with Poland and Belarus, Kovel takes its name from the Slavonic word for "blacksmith". In 1858, the rune-inscribed Spearhead of Kovel was uncovered near the modern-day city, with this lancehead dating from the 3rd century when Gothic tribes occupied the region.
Things to do in Kovel
Take a step back in time at the Kovel Historical Museum, which occupies a former pharmacy within Lesya Ukrainka Central Park. Established in 1989, the museum exhibits traditional Ukrainian costumes and everyday household items, as well as antique books and weapons from the world wars. Not to miss are the collections of samovars and objects made by political prisoners associated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.
After your museum visit, stretch your legs along the paved trails that wind through Lesya Ukrainka Central Park or take advantage of the children’s playground. There’s also a small amusement park with rides and a newly built stage where summer performances are held. At the southern end of the park is a monument to Lesya Ukrainka, a poet, playwright and political activist.
If you want to learn more about her life and work, head to the Museum of Lesya Ukrainka, which lies a short drive from the centre of Kovel. As you wander through the house where she once lived, admire the original furnishings and personal objects on display such as dresses and 19th-century homewares. Also on the property is Lesya Ukrainka’s parents’ home and a purpose-built museum dedicated to the poetress.
Getting around Kovel
Kovel is around three hours’ drive from Lviv and Danylo Halytskyi International Airport while Lublin Airport in neighbouring Poland is just over two hours away. Trains connect from destinations across Ukraine and Poland to the Kovel railway station and buses travel throughout the city.