Dream place for any couple: “Tunnel of  Love”

Tunnel of Love is one of the most photographed place in Klevan (Ukraine).Visitors travel from around the world to see the famous tree tunnel running through the small western town of Klevan.

Though, Tunnel of love is the name given by local people to this fairytale track.

It is located between Klevan and the village of Orzhiv on the Kovel-Rivne line, a distance of seven kilometres. Near Orzhiv, the line splits into two. One goes to Klevan and the other leads to a secret military base, from the Cold War era, hidden in the forest.

The trees were intentionally planted alongside the track to hide the transport of military hardware. The military base is possibly still in use because Google maps show large numbers of military vehicles on the base.

Industrial freight trains operated by Odek plywood factory keeps the “Tunnel of Love” well maintained.As Birch trees from across Ukraine are trucked into the factory where they are turned into plywood panels. Finished plywood panels are loaded onto large containers and hauled by trains to the Klevan railway junction. From Klevan they are taken along the main trunk line to markets across West Europe.The Odek factory trains run to Klevan through the “Tunnel of Love” several times a day, depending on how much plywood there is to transport. The “tunnel” starts after a few hundred meters from the factory.Chapple doesn’t mention for how long the tunnel extends, but according to the English Wikipedia, it is three kilometres long.

Apparently, the “tunnel” is hugely popular in Ukraine. Couples and newlyweds often have photo-shoots here. Sometimes the tourists are a problem for the train operators and they have to keep a sharp eye on the track.

The tunnel has no official protection nor any guardian, but a few years ago the factory cut down several trees to aid passage of the train and there was a huge outcry. The factory hasn’t touched a tree since then.

If you are planning a trip to Ukraine, don’t forget to visit Tunnel of Love.