"Tajné hlavní město Evropy" : kulturní topos Černovic

Chernivtsi is a city in southwestern Ukraine, situated on the upper course of the River Prut, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine. Chernivtsi is viewed at present to be a cultural center of western Ukraine. Historically, as a cultural and architectural center, Chernivtsi was even dubbed "Little Vienna", "Jerusalem upon the Prut", or the "European Alexandria". In 1775, the northwestern part of the territory of Moldavia was annexed by the Habsburg Empire; in 1849 was raised in status and became known as a crownland of the Austrian Empire. During the 19th and early 20th century, Chernivtsi became a center of both Romanian and Ukrainian national movements. When Austria-Hungary dissolved in 1918, the city and its surrounding area became a part of the Kingdom of Romania. In Chernivtsi lived Ukrainians, Romanians, Poles, Ruthenians, Jews, Roms and Germans. Their Culture and Prosperity, experienced the town during its affiliation to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy as the capital of the crown land Bukovina. By the murder of the Jews and the resettlement and expulsion of the whole ethnic groups, above all of the Germans and the Romanians, this tradition got lost after the Second World War to a great extent. The population group dominating today are the Ukrainians.