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Turkish Square or The Square of Turkish Well (Turetska ploshcha)


The main attraction of the square is the Turkish well (Turetska krynytsia, as people in Bukovyna call it), the steeple of which is decorated with the crescent. This well gave name to the whole square and even to the bridge across the Turkish Street. The stone masonry on the well indicates that it was dug during the supremacy of Ottoman Turks.

Beginning from the 16th century and during more than two and a half centuries Bukovyna was over the supremacy of the Ottoman Empire. Although our land was still a part of the Moldavian State, in fact Turks ruled it. Bukovyna was considered to be the northern province of the Ottoman Empire. The neighbourhood with Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian State led to constant wars at the border territories, and Bukovyna as a part of them. Particularly great military value had the Khotyn Fortress, situated not far from Chernivtsi. At that historical period Chernivtsi was a small town the architecture of which was not very impressive.

From the beginning of the 18th century the Turkish garrison was located on the territory of the city. Turks built a stone water tank nearby. The descendants of the nomads, janissaries, treated drinking water with special piety. People of our land used to build wooden wells. Turks were the first to build stone wells. In the beginning of the XIX century the Turkish bridge and bathhouse were built in this part of town. 

By the 600th anniversary of Chernivtsi the Turkish Square was reconstructed. The Turkish well was repaired and the water tank next to it was renovated. At the north side of the square the fountain resembling ancient Roman ruins was built. Moreover, a floral clock appeared on a steep slope. A large iron bicycle, “forgotten by Gulliver”, got its place in the middle of the square. Therefore, the Square has become one of the favourite places of local citizens.

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