Karl Baedecker: Russland nebst Teheran, Port Arthur, Peking. Handbuch für Reisende [1883] Baedekers Reisehandbücher], 7th ed., Leipzig: Baedeker 1912

Signature: Mg 20-5120 raro II 

Figures: Frontispiece; Map („Russland“); Map („Kiew“); Map („Crimea“)

The 1912 edition of the Baedeker travel guide of Russland nebst Teheran, Port Arthur, Peking represents the pre-World-War I world order. The territory of today’s Ukraine was mainly part of Russia, and in the west (around L’viv, Lemberg), part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Ukraine figures in the book in the 6th chapter, on “Südrußland” (Southern Russia), which mainly characterizes Odesa, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Crimea. Organized by travel routes, route no. 54 in the chapter, for example, offers a tour through the city of Kyiv, along countless monuments, museums, and churches. The more important ones get a detailed description, e.g., Monastery Lavra, Saint Sophia Cathedral, or St Volodymyr’s Cathedral. But every mentioned monument receives a formulaic historical comment with reference to the most noteworthy objects they contain. Much space is dedicated to Crimea (route no. 58). As always, the chapter starts with basic information, for instance: It’s best to travel there in spring and autumn, at the post station you pay 4 kopecks per horse and verst, the bathing season starts in May, and for a grape diet cure you should consider September. Then the tour begins in Odesa over the Black Sea to Sevastopol (with a stop in Evpatorya), and proceeds through the southwest to Simferopol, Jalta, and many more places. [SR]

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