Next to the Red Building of the university lies an interesting and almost forgotten corner of old Kyiv — the Latin Quarter. It took shape in the mid-19th century, when the main university building was being constructed. Professors and students settled here, creating a kind of academic town.
The name comes from European tradition. In medieval universities, Latin was the language of scholarship, so the districts surrounding educational institutions were often called Latin Quarters. In Kyiv, this name also took root — but acquired its own special meaning.
The Latin Quarter is located in the historic area of Pankivshchyna, where the Lybid River once flowed. Three streets descending into its valley — Tarasivska, Pankivska, and Mykilsko-Botanichna — became symbolic markers of university life. A beautiful legend arose from these names: that the three streets represent the trio of founders of the Cyrillo-Methodian Brotherhood — Taras Shevchenko, Panteleimon Kulish, and Mykola Kostomarov.
The heart of the quarter is the University Botanical Garden — the oldest in Kyiv. It is located right next to the university, in a picturesque ravine. Here grow unique plants from around the world, there is a historic greenhouse with a palm tree, and the first climatron in Kyiv — a domed conservatory with a controlled microclimate.
The Botanical Garden has always been a favorite place for walks and romantic meetings among Kyiv residents, and today the “University” metro station is located nearby — another integral part of this historic corner.
The Latin Quarter still preserves the spirit of student life — peaceful, creative, and slightly romantic. It is a place where Kyiv feels young, just like the university that gave it life.