Verkhovyna: 17 Kilometers of Hutsul Stories with the Virtual Guide “Chukutyha”

A free tourist route called “A Journey Along the Trails of the Hutsul Capital” has been launched in Verkhovyna. It stretches for approximately 17 km and passes through 12 historical and natural attractions. Each location features a sign with a QR code: simply scan it to access archival photos, videos, and traditional Hutsul folk songs on your phone. No guide is needed.

The route was officially presented on October 19, and the State Agency for Tourism Development announced it on October 31. So, if you're planning a trip to the Carpathians in November, here's a ready-made itinerary for a full day.

Who Is Chukutyha?

The most fascinating feature of this route is its guide. The virtual guide is Maria Krechuniak, a Hutsul woman whom everyone knew as Chukutyha. She lived for more than a hundred years in Yaseniv Horishnii. Her 1931 photograph, showing her with a traditional smoking pipe, won the Grand Prix at a photography exhibition in Paris.

Chukutyha's appearance and voice were recreated using artificial intelligence. Interestingly, specialists had to correct the AI because it initially mixed traditional Hutsul clothing with elements from other cultures. As a result, the grandmother's image looks authentic rather than like a generic stock photo.

What to See Along the Route

The route starts near the Khrest-Fihura roadside cross in Zhabie-Slupiyka, in the central part of Verkhovyna. The attractions highlighted by the organizers include:

• the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a Roman Catholic church;
• the former orphanage building, established by the Count Skarbek Foundation;
• “Franko's Water” and “Franko's Stone” — landmarks associated with Ivan Franko's time in the Hutsul region;
• “Jewish Stone” and the Mahurka ski resort;
• the Hutsulshchyna Museum in Iltsi.

The route also tells stories about places and landmarks that no longer exist: a chapel on Bukovets, former churches, and a place where Hutsuls used to float timber down the river. That's precisely why the QR codes are important: they show historical photographs of places where an ordinary road runs today.

According to the organizers, visitors can explore the route on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, or by car. It is also accessible to people with disabilities.

Who Created the Route?

The project was implemented by the NGO Alliance for Development as part of the “Cultural Trails of Communities” competition, with support from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation. Local historian Yaroslav Zelenchuk developed the route and its historical descriptions. The Verkhovyna Settlement Council, the Hutsulyky NGO, the Hutsulshchyna Ethno-Ecological Center, and Prosvita also contributed to the project.

How to Get There

The nearest railway stations are Vorokhta (served by local trains from Ivano-Frankivsk) and Kolomyia. From there, you can continue to Verkhovyna by bus or car.

Practical Information

• Price: Free.
• Length: Approximately 17 km, covering 12 locations.
• What to bring: A fully charged smartphone with internet access for scanning QR codes, a power bank, and comfortable walking shoes.
• Online platform: verkhovyna.life.

What Else to See Nearby

• Museum of Hutsul Magic in Verkhovyna — visits by prior appointment.
• The House Museum of “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”, where filmmaker Sergei Parajanov lived during the movie's production.
• Kryvorivnia, a nearby village featuring the Ivan Franko Museum and the traditional Hutsul Hata-Grazhda house.

FAQ

How much does the Verkhovyna route cost?
Nothing. The route is free, and you don't need a guide.

How long is the “A Journey Along the Trails of the Hutsul Capital” route?
Approximately 17 km, with 12 locations along the way.

Where does the route start?
Near the Khrest-Fihura roadside cross in Zhabie-Slupiyka, Verkhovyna.

Who is Chukutyha?
She was Maria Krechuniak, a Hutsul woman from Yaseniv Horishnii who lived for more than a hundred years. Along the route, she “tells” stories using a voice recreated with artificial intelligence.