Witches' Sabbath - KIEV Multi-Cache
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
LYSA HORA
========================
Lysa Hora (literally "Bald Mountain") is a large woody hill in the Ukrainian capital Kiev (Kyiv), near the confluence of the Dnieper and Lybid' rivers. The mount supposedly takes its name from the fact that some slopes of the hill are not covered by trees.
According to the legends, the Lysa Hora hill is the largest and most famous location of the mystical "bald mountain" - a traditional site of the witch gatherings. Particularly, it is asserted in the writings of Nikolay Gogol.
Lysa Hora is a concept of East Slavic, and particularly Ukrainian, folk mythology related to witchcraft. According to legends, witches and other paranormal creatures periodically gather on the "bald mountains" for their "Sabbath". Mentions of Lysi Hory can be found in various historical and literary sources, such as in the writings of Nikolai Gogol and Mikhail Bulgakov (who uses it in The Master and Margarita as the mountain where the Iyeshua (a prototype of the Christ) was crucified). The exact origins and factual evidences of the concept are unclear.
In 1872, a small fortress (part of the Kiev fortress) was built on the hill by Russian army. However, upon completion the fortress was found to be of little military importance and was converted into the military storehouse. Due to its relatively remote location, from 1906 the fortress was used as an execution place for convicted political prisoners of the tsarist government. Over 200 people were executed there by hanging between 1906 and 1917, one of them was Dmitry Bogrov, the assassin of Pyotr Stolypin.
Later, the Red Army constructed a mysterious underground complex beneath the fortress (now sealed and flooded).
In the 1980s, a radio beacon for aircraft navigation was built on the Lysa Hora.
The hill is now a nature reserve included in the Kyiv Fortress museum.
ORIGINAL CACHE CONTENTS
========================
Pen+Logbook
Bewitched knife keychain
Magical toys
International coins
Cache-register's USA Geocoin
DIRECTIONS/PARKING
========================
There is no public parking in the area as per my knowledge, but you can park near store on Stratehichne Shose (N50 23.966 E30 32.211). Stolietova Prov. will take you directly to the park (see picture).
STAGE 1
========================
You should enter park via old military tunnel (#6, see picture) approx at coords (N50 23.740 E30 32.744). Look carefully on the walls. Notice fascist face on the left. After existing tunnel - pay attention to digit '6' on the top of the tunnel exit (see picture). Even if you will not see any hints - proceed to Stage2 anyway.
STAGE 2
========================
There is one more graved tunnel at coords: (N50 23.805 E30 32.835). This tunnel actually leads to ancient cave that was used by monks. By legends during tatar-mongolian invasion lot of people hiding in the caves were flooded and buried alive. It is believed that caves still contain lot of ancient treasures and mystic secrets. Find sign 'TRETSAKOV' (see picture) on the tunnel wall. Make sure to take flashlight with you.
STAGE 3
========================
Go to coords retrieved from Stage2. Rich top of the hill and locate old sacrifice fireplace. Look around in 30 meters radius for an old tree with hollow very close to the soil.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
FGNTR 1: Ab uvagf.
FGNTR 2: Ybbx pybfryl ba gur jnyy va 500 pragvzrgre enqvhf nebhaq 'GERGFNXBI' fvta (frr cvpgher).
FGNTR 3: Vg vf 25 zrgref Abegu-Jrfg.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures