Smodna

This village (former name Smodne) stands on the river Rybnytsia in a low-mountain climate zone. It is located in such close vicinity of the district center, the town Kosiv, that they almost grew together. Smodna has four quarters: Dolyna (the valley), Miseneva hora (mountain Miseneva), Panska dolyna (the noblemen’s valley), and Prysky. The village is surrounded by Hutsulshchyna National Park.

Smodna was founded in 1318. The name of the village derives from the name of the valley where it was founded and the adjective smovdna (the one that is covered with smovd or hog's fennel, Peucedanum L.).

The villagers are widely engaged in traditional handicrafts such as pottery, carving, embroidery, weaving, carpet making, and artistic leather crafting. The famous Kosiv craft market, where people from all over the region buy souvenirs, is situated here.

There is a wooden church of St. Joachim and Anna in the village, which was built in 1819 yet the bell tower was erected in 1773. A cross-shaped three-roofed temple has a peculiar feature — a porch connecting with the nave was added at the west end (traditionally, it was built on the south side). The altar faces northeast. The triforium walls are covered with corrugated iron. The church wakes (saint patron’s day) is on September 22.

The inspection of church premises showed that there could have been a defensive monastery on the church and graveyard site as evidenced by the trench remains and old maps showing the monastery on this spot.

There is an airfield between Smodna and neighboring village Cherhanivka which is capable of accepting small passenger planes.

The main village attraction is a health resort 'Kosiv' established in 1891 by Dr Tarnavskyi. It houses rare tree and shrub species, i.e. 729 specimen of 44 plant species gathered from all over the world. Apolinarii Tarnavskyi was one of the pioneer popularizers of vegetarianism and healthy lifestyle in Galicia. He was also the founder of Polish geriatrics (he wrote a book called 'Hygiene of old age and ageing') and the author of the original treatment and health improvement system.