Kyevskyi natsyonalnyi unyversytet ym. Shevchenko - Kyiv, vul. Volodymyrska, 60

Description of the sight

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv - one of the oldest universities in Ukraine - was founded in 1833 by decree of Nicholas I and became the sixth university of the Russian Empire. The main building of the university is located in the center of Kyiv on Vladimirskaya street. This impressive four-story building was built by the St. Petersburg architect Vikenty Ivanovich Beretti in the style of Russian classicism. The building is distinguished by the simple, austere lines of the monumental façade, contrasting with the majestic portico, decorated with Ionic columns. But, undoubtedly, the most noticeable distinctive feature of the building was the thick red color of its walls, which gave the name to this architectural monument. There are many explanations for the choice of color for the walls of the Red Building. According to the official version, the red facades and black decorative elements correspond to the color of the ribbons of the order of St. Vladimir, the patron saint of the university. Another version speaks of a mistake made when mixing the ingredients of expensive Italian paint. The students joke darkly about the blood spilled during the session. But whatever the correct explanation, one thing is true: the Red Building of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is one of the most interesting sights of the Ukrainian capital.