Poltava has many attractions, and this city is known to tourists not only for the famous battle and places associated with Gogol. Poltava is also famous for its mysterious catacombs.

These underground passages, according to some sources, were laid as early as the 17th century and cover almost the entire city center. There are several versions of their origin. The most popular and plausible version claims that the catacombs were dug by Cossacks to protect the residents from raids by the Crimean Tatars.

According to another hypothesis, the catacombs were built by Swedish soldiers with the aim of undermining the local fortress. Upon learning of this, Peter I allegedly ordered to thwart the enemy's plans. Russian warriors explored the underground and removed all the gunpowder from there, thus preventing an explosion.

Be that as it may, the catacombs were built diligently. They go six meters deep, the maximum width of the passages is three meters, and the vaults are high enough for an average person to move around upright.

Moreover, the caves had good ventilation, and there were listening windows in places. The catacombs were adapted for long stays, as researchers discovered spacious rooms for storage.

Initially, the labyrinths connected several points in Poltava, allowing warriors to move from one area to another. However, due to long neglect, the catacombs gradually deteriorated. Over time, some entrances were blocked, and in several places, the passages completely collapsed.

The underground passages were talked about again in the 19th century when strange sinkholes began to appear in different parts of the city. At that time, rumors emerged that during the Northern War, Hetman Mazepa hid his treasures in the catacombs. Searches have been ongoing for two centuries, but so far without success.

The underground passages influenced the construction of Poltava, and the old part of the city still remains low-rise, as the sinkholes hinder the strengthening of the foundation. During the Soviet era, while constructing one of the Khrushchyovkas on Dzerzhinsky Street, the building began to lean, and its construction had to be halted.