Tovste (urban-type settlement)

Tovste (Ukrainian: Товсте, romanized: Tovste; Russian: Tолстое, romanized: Tolstoye; Polish: Tłuste; Yiddish: טויסט/טלוסטאַ‎, romanized: Tlusta/Toyst; Hebrew: טלוסטה‎, romanized: Tluste) is an urban-type settlement in the Zalischyky Raion (district) of Ternopil Oblast (province) in western Ukraine.[2] The town is located on the Ternopil—Chernivtsi automobile road in the historic region of Podolia, on the banks of the Tupa River, a tributary of the Seret.[3] Population: 3,218 (2020 est.)[4]

Tovste Товсте
Urban-type settlement
Coat of arms
Tovste Location of Tovste in Ukraine
Coordinates: 48°50′47″N 25°43′31″E
Country	Ukraine
Province	Ternopil Oblast
District	Zalischyky Raion
Founded	1414
Town status	1944
Government
• Town Head	Liubomyr Drants
Area
• Total	17 km2 (7 sq mi)
Elevation [1]	282 m (925 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,218
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	48630
Area code	+380 3554
Website	http://rada.gov.ua/

Historians date the remains of human settlement in the area back to the 9th century,[5] revealing evidence of the Chernyakhov culture and ancient Kievan Rus' civilizations, as well as the Roman Empire.[6] Historic documents first mentioned the settlement in 1414 as the village of Tolste (Ukrainian: Толсте).[5][7]

In the 15th century, the settlement came under control of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and was renamed to the Polish variant Tłuste (Ukrainian: Тлусте). In 1548, Tłuste was granted Magdeburg rights, which it kept until 1944 when its status was downgraded to that of an urban-type settlement.[3] The settlement was renamed two years later from its Polish name to its current Ukrainian equivalent Tovste.[3] On December 4, 1996, Tovste was admitted into the League of Historic Cities of Ukraine.[3]

In the town there are numerous architectural monuments: the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Anne, built in late 19th-early 20th century, whose reconstruction is being funded by former Polish residents of Tovste; the Greek Catholic Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, built from 1913-1939; as well as a modern Ukrainian Orthodox Church, built from 1991-1995.[7] The town also housed a Jewish synagogue, which was destroyed during World War II, the remains of which are no longer to be found.[7]