The nowadays main street of Kyiv is not as old as you might think. Of course, it starts its history from Lach Gates (one that was assault by the Mongols during the 1240 siege), but back then Khreshchatyk was out of the city wall, so it wasn't even part of Kyiv.
Lach Gates and area of nowadays Khreshchatyk
As a street, Khreshchatyk was born in the late 18 - early 19 centuries when Kyiv started to extend. The first building there was build in 1797 and that's how it looked.
In the first half of the 19th century, the street was slowly but steadily built up.
But really important street Khreshchatyk became only when in 1876 Kyiv City Duma (city government) building was finished. It took place on the nowadays Independence square (back then it was called Duma Square).
How it would look in modern Independence Square
In 1894 the line of the first electric tram in the Russian Empire was extended to Khreshchatyk.
https://preview.redd.it/9uv10bobapz61.jpg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=79be41d2cd3c168f85ebc815013991bc1289047f
https://preview.redd.it/8dczremnapz61.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=96bb79179b8afde86dd60953c5f7f570b75729b6
https://preview.redd.it/f0ltr7woapz61.jpg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1de23897c558aa88a98f4887864593b5446a968
Khreshchatyk wasn't damaged during WW1 and following events. When the Soviets occupied Ukraine they changed symbols to soviet but didn't do anything with the street itself
[Kyiv City Duma in 1935](https://preview.redd.it/6auveno6bpz61.jpg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=954c4617dee3050dd392c
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Hello! We just got to Kiev and noticed that the main road, Khreshchatyk Street, is blocked off for cars and open for pedestrians. Is there a parade or something similar planned?
Cheers!
In Kiev, the vehicular traffic on the Khreshchatyk Street is completely resumed, except the Instytutska Street. There the traffic was resumed only in the direction of the Mykhailivska Street; the road towards the government quarter still has barricades.
Do your worst!
For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.
I said "hey look, an escaPEA"
No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!
Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies π
It really does, I swear!
