11 October 2026
(Ovidopol. PHOTO: travels.in.ua)
On the left bank of the Dniester Estuary, amid the steppe expanses of the Black Sea region, lies Ovidopol—a village with an unusual name and a centuries-old history. Over the centuries, this area has been home to ancient settlements, an Ottoman trading town, and a border fortress. We explore the history of Ovidopol, its landmarks, and its present-day life inour “Amazing South” series.
Ovidopol is located in the southwestern part of the Odesa region, approximately 40 km from Odesa and 18 km from where the Dniester River flows into the Black Sea. The town lies at the border of the Black Sea Lowland and the Dniester Estuary. The flat terrain with fertile soils fostered the development of agriculture, while the proximity to waterways supported fishing and trade. This location also held military significance, particularly during periods of conflict over control of the Northern Black Sea region.
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The coast of the Dniester Estuary near Ovidiopol. PHOTO: esu.com.ua
The history of settlement in the territory of modern Ovidopol dates back to ancient times. Archaeologists have discovered here artifacts from antiquity, burial mounds, and traces of settlements from various historical periods.
The name Chornogorod, or “Black City,” is associated with the medieval history of this area. According to one theory, it arose as a counterpoint to Bilhorod, located on the opposite bank of the Dniester Estuary. However, the exact location of medieval Chornogorod and its connection to modern-day Ovidopol remain a matter of debate.
In the 17th century, written sources already mention the Ottoman settlement of Haji-Dere, which belonged to the Akkerman Sanjak. Its name has several spelling variations and interpretations. Haji-Dere (Hajidere) is translated as “Valley of the Pilgrim”: the Turkish word hacı refers to a person who has performed the hajj to Mecca, while dere means valley, ravine, or stream. Another form—Adzhidere (Adzhidder)—is associated with the words acı (“bitter”) and dere, giving rise to the interpretation “Bitter Valley.”
In the 18th century, Hacıdere was an important center for the grain trade. An Ottoman port log from 1756 attests to its scale: over the course of several months, 23 ships carrying wheat and barley with a total weight of about 1,770 metric tons departed from the local pier. Historical documents also mention numerous grain warehouses and cellars.
In 1769, during the Russo-Turkish War, Haji-Dere was captured and burned by the Zaporozhian Cossacks led by Petro Kalnyshevsky. The settlement was later rebuilt and, at the end of the 18th century, came under the rule of the Russian Empire.
After the signing of the Treaty of Jassy in 1792, the Dniester River became the border between the Russian and Ottoman Empires. Two strategically important locations were situated on opposite banks of the estuary: Adzhidar and the Ottoman town of Akkerman (modern-day Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi).
In late 1792, work began in Adzhidar on the construction of a new fortification complex, and on June 15, 1793, the official groundbreaking for the fortress took place. It was built according to a design by military engineer Franz de Volan. The fortifications were intended to guard the border territories, control shipping, and protect the local harbor.
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Earthen ramparts at the site of the Ajider Fortress. PHOTO: thumb.wikimedia.org
The year 1793 is traditionally considered the founding date of Ovidopol, although a settlement had existed at this site much earlier.
The town received its current name in 1795 in honor of the ancient Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, author of *Metamorphoses*. At the time, it was believed that the poet had been exiled to this area or was buried here. In reality, the final years of his life were spent in the ancient city of Tomis, located in what is now Constanța, Romania.
After the Treaty of Bucharest in 1812, the border of the Russian Empire shifted further west, and the Ovidopol Fortress gradually lost its strategic importance. Only the ruins of the former fortifications have survived to this day.
Local legends about underground passages are also associated with the fortress. According to one legend, Ovidiopol and Akkerman were supposedly connected by a tunnel dug beneath the Dniester Estuary. Although underground structures are known to exist in the vicinity of both settlements, there is no reliable historical or archaeological evidence of such a passage.
In the 19th century, Ovidopol developed as a trading and artisan settlement. Schools, workshops, and shops operated here, and the local residents were engaged in agriculture.
By the end of the century, Ovidopol had 17 windmills and one steam mill, two brick factories, a pottery workshop, and numerous artisan workshops. Trading took place daily in the market square. In 1897, the population of Ovidopol numbered over four thousand people.
In the 20th century, Ovidopol experienced revolutionary upheavals, repeated changes in government, and the establishment of the Soviet regime. One of the most tragic chapters in its history was the Holodomor of 1932–1933. Today, plaques commemorate the names of over 200 local residents who died of starvation. The population also suffered under Stalinist repressions.
During World War II, Ovidopol was under Romanian and German occupation from 1941 until April 1944. The war claimed the lives of many local residents.
In the postwar decades, the town was gradually rebuilt, and industry, agriculture, and social infrastructure developed.
You can learn about the region’s history at the Ovidopol Museum of History and Local Lore, founded in 1980. Its exhibits cover various periods—from ancient times to the present day.
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Ovidopol Museum of History and Local Lore. PHOTO: esu.com.ua
Of particular interest are the archaeological finds, including an ancient Greek Chian amphora, a painted ceramic krater, stone catapult projectiles, and a coin of Philip II—the father of Alexander the Great.
The ethnographic exhibition “Ukrainian Living Room” features the traditional interior of a southern Ukrainian home, antique clothing, household items, tools, and embroidery. The museum also features an exhibition of replicas of ancient weapons and armor.
Another local landmark is the monument to Publius Ovidius Naso on the shore of the Dniester Estuary. It serves as a reminder of the unusual history behind the village’s name, linked to an ancient theory that the Roman poet once stayed in this area.
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Monument to Ovid. PHOTO: ovidiopol-odessa.com
The remains of fortifications associated with the Adzhidersko-Ovidopol Fortress also serve as a reminder of Ovidopol’s military past.
In the Odesa region, the possibility of building a bridge across the Dniester Estuary has been under discussion for quite some time. The need for a new crossing has become particularly urgent due to Russian attacks on the region’s transportation infrastructure. The bridge could provide a direct connection between the southern part of the region and Odesa, offering an alternative to the damaged bridge in Zatoka and the route through Palanka, which passes through Moldovan territory.
In 2026, architects from Odesa proposed an alternative concept for a road-and-rail bridge. According to preliminary estimates by the designers, its construction could cost $200–250 million, whereas previously proposed options were estimated at approximately $500 million.
They propose locating the crossing north of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi seaport, with an exit to the opposite bank near Ovidiopol. According to the developers’ plan, this would avoid the need to build complex lifting structures to allow large ships to pass through and would reduce construction costs.
At present, the concept remains a proposal, and the timeline for its possible implementation has not been determined.
Юлія Сичова