The last evening sunbeam

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Carpathian Biosphere Reserve


Declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1992, this protected area is made up of six separate locations, four of which can be found around Rakhiv. Some 90% of the reserve is made up of virgin forest, home to rare flora and fauna. About 5km southwest of Rakhiv the main road leads to the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve headquarters, which isn't so much of interest for itself as for what's surrounding it.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Museum of Mountain Ecology

0.04 MILES

This old-school museum stands on the hill behind the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve headquarters building. The exhibition is surprisingly informative, rich…

2. Geographical Centre of Europe

4.21 MILES

Fifteen kilometres southwest of Rakhiv lies what Ukraine contends is Europe's geographical centre, just before the village of Dilove. Ukraine is not the…

3. Village Museum

12.9 MILES

Allow two to three hours to wander through the incredible constructions at the open-air Village Museum, about 2.5km southeast of Sighetu Marmaţiei's…

4. Elie Wiesel Memorial House

14.13 MILES

The late Jewish writer and 1986 Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) was born in and later deported from this house on the corner of Str…

6. Sephardic Synagogue

14.28 MILES

Sighet’s only remaining synagogue is north of Piaţa Libertăţii. It was built in the Moorish-Renaissance style in 1904. You can look around for free, but…

7. Jewish Community Centre

14.29 MILES

Next door to the Sephardic synagogue is this Jewish Community Centre, where you can also arrange to visit the town’s Jewish Cemetery.