History

The village of Vydrychka is located on both banks of the Tysa River, 9 kilometers from Rakhiv. According to local legends, the name "Vydrychka" comes from the "river otter" (vidra), which was said to be fond of the area. Until 1993, Vydrychka was part of the village of Bohdan. In 1993, it became a separate administrative-territorial unit. Thus, Vydrychka can be considered part of the new generation of villages in the Rakhiv district, which recently gained village status due to population growth. The village features a school (grades I-III), two churches (Orthodox and Greek Catholic), a village council, the Bohdan forestry, and several shops.

Historical Highlights

The first chapel in the village measured approximately 5 by 6 meters.
A wooden Church of the Transfiguration with a basilica layout and a tower above the entrance was built in 1935 by converting a chapel on land donated by Vasyl Morochyl.
From 1950 to 1952, Vasyl Martysh reconstructed the church.
In the Soviet period, on March 1, 1962, the church was deregistered and soon dismantled under the initiative of the village council head and school principal. A kindergarten was later built on the site.
​​​​​​​A new brick church was constructed between 1990 and 1992 near the school on a plot of land allocated from collective farm property. The project was designed by architect Ivan Kopach, with a quarter of the necessary funding provided by the state. Construction was led by the aforementioned Vasyl Martysh, the head of the church committee, and his assistants Mykhailo Kostan, Hryhoriy Shorban, Mykola Mayor from Vydrychka, and Yuriy Kokish from Roztochy. Artist V. D. Zeykan painted two rows of icons for the iconostasis.

Bell Tower

The six-sided wooden bell tower, dating back to the 19th century, was the oldest religious landmark in the village. Above a low log structure protected by a six-sided overhang, a framed upper tier rose, crowned by a six-sided spire.

Nature and Preservation

Nearby, several botanical reserves preserve the area’s natural heritage:

Mlyaky: Covering 58 hectares, this reserve was established by the regional executive committee's decision on March 7, 1990 (No. 55). Managed by the Vydrychka Village Council, it protects habitats of Arnica montana, a valuable medicinal plant, and other rare species like Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Cephalanthera damasonium.
Tserlyanka: Spanning 5 hectares, it shares the same protection status and purpose as Mlyaky.
​​​​​​​Lilya: A 1-hectare reserve established on May 31, 1993, by the 12th session of the 21st regional council. Managed by the Bohdan Village Council, it preserves the habitat of the rare Lilium bulbiferum (bulbiferous lily).

Notable Archaeological Find

At the beginning of autumn, Yuriy Petrovych Retyaznyk, a Vydrychka resident, discovered a medieval sword in the forest near the Nimychne tract (4 km above Bohdan). The sword was relatively well-preserved, having lain underground for centuries. Its origin remains a mystery—belonging perhaps to a wandering warrior, bandit, or one of the area's first settlers. Regardless of the answer, the find could alter the timeline of settlement in the region. The discovery is significant not only for the artifact itself but for its location in the Chornohora mountain range, making it a noteworthy contribution to local history.

Cultural Heritage

The village hosts the folklore festival "Vydrychan Embroidery", celebrating local traditions.

Administrative Notes

 Pavlyk: A former village in Zakarpattia Oblast, it was merged with Vydrychka by decision of the Zakarpattia Regional Executive Committee No. 155 on April 15, 1967.