The Palace of Culture Energetik is located in the town of Chernobyl, within the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The town itself was founded long before the infamous Chernobyl Power Station and the city of Pripyat that it served. Visiting this area is a somber experience, as the decay and abandonment of the past 35 years are evident. However, amidst the sadness, there are glimpses of hope, represented by a child's slide and the resilience of the people who continue to live their lives within the zone.
The tour takes visitors through various checkpoints, providing a unique opportunity to witness the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster up close. The journey includes a stop at a Soviet Union missile defense radar, known as Duga, which is a fascinating relic of the Cold War era. The highlight of the tour is the reactor itself, or rather the arch that now entombs it. This sight is a stark reminder of the immense tragedy that occurred in 1986.
The final stop of the tour is the city of Pripyat, a ghost town that was once home to 50,000 people. This city, often seen on television, is decaying rapidly, with nature reclaiming its spaces. The most iconic image of the Chernobyl disaster is the Ferris wheel in the abandoned amusement park, which never had the chance to open. The visit to Pripyat is a poignant reminder of the potential loss and the importance of transparency in preventing such disasters.
Overall, visiting the Palace of Culture Energetik and the surrounding Chernobyl exclusion zone is a must for anyone in Ukraine. It offers a unique perspective on the consequences of nuclear disasters and serves as a reminder to live life to the fullest each day. While the experience may be haunting, it is also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Address:
Kurchatova Street, 10, Pryp'yat'
28.11.21
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In 1986 reactor #4 at the Chernobyl Power Station blew up. To this days it remains the world's worst nuclear disaster. With Chernobyl's proximity to Kyiv we definitely had to go. An 8am bus from Kyiv's main train station followed by a .. Read more »two hour drive took us to the 30 kilometre (outer) exclusion zone. Our English speaking guides were knowledgeable, informative and most importantly interesting. No one wants to spend an entire day with a guide who has suffered a 'charisma bypass'. The guides must have done this tour a thousand times yet it did not seem to curb their enthusiasm. Across the border into the independently managed Chernobyl exclusion zone; passports checked, all in order.
First stop. A small town just inside the zone - an introduction to the catastrophe visited on this area. It was so sad to see the decay, the result of 35 years of abandonment. The smiley kid's slide nodded to hope, hope of past generations and I suppose the future.
Then to the actual town of Chernobyl, an old settlement founded way before the city of Pripyat and the power station that the city served. In the town of Chernobyl It was remarkable to see people getting on with their lives - one guy leisurely walked his dog whilst visiting the shop. You could forget for a moment that you were actually inside the zone, but only for a moment. The second checkpoint followed - the 10 kilometre zone.
A long winding road took us to the playground for children that turned out to be a Soviet Union missile defence radar, a relic of the Cold War. The enormity of the radar known as Duga was mind-blowing.
Visiting the radar takes a lot of time out of the day but I wouldn't change it.
The reactor came into view or should I say the arch that entombs it. [pinch yourself, am I really this close?... Yes]. Several hundred pictures later it was time to visit the last stop the city of Pripyat. Like New York the city felt familiar because we have seen it so many times on television. It was awesome but decaying so fast that nature will overtake it in a few years. It has turned into the most unlikely science experiment. The highlight and unmistakable image of the Chernobyl disaster - The Ferris Wheel of the amusement park that never was.
The tour was brilliant.
13.09.21
reiu666
Very interesting place. Great view from the terrace.
13.09.21
Para
my weiner grew 8 inches and i have 4 balls now best in the world 88==================D
11.09.21
Steve
Adopted a 6 legged dog here, smells of uranium but hes a sweet lad
28.08.21
yulia
A must visit if you are in Ukraine.
Rather poignant to visit a ghost town that was once populated by the brightest minds in Ukraine and USSR. The loss must be unimaginable. The amusement park was about to be opened before the tragedy fell. Many loss.. Read more » perhaps could have been minimized if there were more transparency.
A good reminder to live life to the fullest at any given day.
05.07.21
Hannah
amazing trip, I can now count 8 amazing things about it On 1 Hand!!! my 3 eyes were filled with beuty...and toxins,
27.05.21
Zielumanax
They were preparing to celebrate a national holiday
10.12.20
Fardani
Look at this place. 50,000 used to live in this city, now it's a ghost town. I never see anything like it.
24.08.20
Roman
Famous place
14.07.20
Brody
very nice i got to drink some of their special "Elephant's Foot Tap."
I now date a woman with a gas mask sealed upon her face.
23.12.19
Sharp
Cool place! They serve nice drinks here. The service is outstanding so polite. Michael and I loved this place we will be planning a trip back so expect us!
25.11.19
Midnight
Best experience! I even had the opportunity to dance with a woman with 4 hands!
21.11.19
Monica
What an experience, Chernobyl! If you are going to the Ukraine you need to do this tour! Fantastic!!!
21.11.19
arts
Back in its day, it used to have one of the best dance halls in all of Soviet Ukraine. Nowadays, all we see is an echo, but still you can be able to feel the beauty, which, in my opinion gets amplified by nature taking over it.
13.08.19
Ivan
Pripjat city is the best place you can visit during the Chernobyl disaster area. You should buy a tour (in Kiev city) what could be seemed expensive but there is not any other legal chance to visit the place. Pripyat is pretty big town located just a.. Read more » few kilometers from the crashed powerplant. Almost no radiation surrounding at all so do not worry about that with a licensed guide. You would receive more radiation when you have a transatlantic flight then here for couple days.
For Chernobyl “funs” I really advise visiting the area for 2-3 days. It is a pretty big and it is no chance to see everything interesting within one day. It is forbidden to visit the place without the licensed guide. Please “LIKE” my review if I helped you a bit :-)
07.07.19
Nathan
One of a kind experience. Amazing place and a must visit if you're in Ukraine
27.01.19
Christine
Poignant reminder how technology can ruin lives. We walked through a ghost town to where 36 years ago families should have been able to enjoy themselves with all the fun of the fair. Heartbreaking. Mo no no
21.09.18
Andrew
Great place, incredible views, radiactive river and land, you can't even imagine the beauty of this place, but also you must understand the horrible things which happened hear 32 years ago, when chernobyl atomic station explode.
13.04.18
Igor
This is one of only four such buildings. Two of them where in Moscow. Energetik was cutlural hub of Pripyat. There was theatre room there, gym and other. In the lobby is an old communist painting on the wall. Every time I am there the painting is mor.. Read more »e faded. It is prohibited to enter but when you do, please be very careful on the main staircase. It is full of debris and it is easy to fall down. This is a beautiful place for all S.t.a.l.k.e.r.s and urbex lovers. From the gym in the back of the building is a nice view in the Ferris wheel.
5 / 5
