A castle is a medieval building that once served as a fortified dwelling of a feudal lord. Usually this is a large complex, including utility, household and defensive buildings.
Castles of Ukraine from the 11th to the 19th century
In Ukraine, castles began to be erected starting from the 11th century. Initially, they were built from wood. Sometimes fortifications in the form of earthen ramparts were also used. And only in the 13th century stone began to be used for the construction of castles. By the beginning of the 18th century, most of these fortified structures had lost their significance. Their owners moved to much more comfortable palaces. In the 19th century, the stone of abandoned, neglected castles was actively used as a building material.
Most popular castles for tourists
The most interesting of all such fortified structures that have survived to this day are the following castles of Ukraine:
- Kamianets-Podolsky (Khmelnitsky region).
- Lutsk (Volyn region).
- Dubensky (Rivne region).
- Olesskiy (Lviv region).
- Skalatsky (Ternopil region).
- Khotinskiy (Chernivtsi region).
- Palanok (Transcarpathian region).
- Ackerman (Odessa region).
- Uzhgorod (Transcarpathian region).
- Zolochevsky (Lviv region).
- Schönborn (Transcarpathian region).
These are the most beautiful castles in Ukraine, worthy of visiting tourists and the attention of the state.
Kamianets-Podilsky complex
This is perhaps the most famous fortified medieval building in Ukraine. The Kamyanets-Podilskyi castle was built in the 14th century. Lithuanian princes. Since 1434, the complex came into the possession of the Poles and was actively used as a defensive structure in battles against the Turkish-Tatar troops. Initially, the castle stood right at the entrance to the city. It was built from wood. Stone structures appeared already in the 16th century.
In the XIX century. Kamensk-Podolsky Castle lost its military significance, and a museum-reserve was opened in it. This complex, like many other castles in Western Ukraine, looks in full accordance with the ideas of a modern person about a fortified medieval fortress, and therefore it is very often used when shooting historical films. For example, the films "Taras Bulba" and "The Old Fortress" were filmed here.
Lutsk Castle
This complex was built by the Lithuanian prince Lubat in the 14th century. on the site of an old wooden fortification built in the 14th century. In 2011 Lutsk Castle was recognized as one of the wonders of Ukraine. For all the time of its existence, this complex has never been taken by either the Polish troops or the Galician army.
Like all other castles in Ukraine, Lutskenclosed by a stone wall with towers at the corners, on which arches are visible, which once served as entrances and were equipped with drawbridges. Later they were laid down. The old princely house has been preserved on the territory of the complex.
Dubno Castle
The construction of this fortified structure was completed in 1462. Dubno Castle was founded by Konstantin Ostrozhsky. In the 17th century, the complex was rebuilt and reconstructed in the then fashionable Renaissance style. The ancient palaces of the princes Ostrozhsky and Lubomirsky have been preserved on its territory.
One of the attractions of the Dubno fortified complex is an extensive system of underground passages. Nowadays, one of them houses a museum of torture instruments. The festival "Taras Bulba" is held annually in front of the building.
Olesko Castle
Many castles and fortresses of Ukraine in the past were the residences of kings, including Olesko. This fortified complex was built more than six centuries ago. The first mention of it falls on 1327. King Jan III Sobieski and Mikhail Koribut Vishnevetsky were born in this castle. In the 19th century, the fortress fell into decay, and during the First World War it was almost completely destroyed. The restoration of the old ruins was carried out in our time on the initiative of the historian Boris Voznitsky. Now the castle has a museum-reserve.
Skalatsky complex
This castle was founded by the Polish swordsman K. Vihrovsky in 1630. It is a quadrangular structure surrounded by a deep defensive moat. A pentagonal tower with loopholes was erected at each corner. During its existence, Skalatsky Castle changed owners more than once. Its owners were J. Firlei, the princes of Scipio. During the First and Second World Wars, this fortified structure was almost completely destroyed. Its reconstruction was carried out quite recently. Like many other castles in Ukraine, Skalatsky is currently a museum complex.
Khotyn Castle
When exactly this ancient fortress was built is not known for certain. According to scientists, it was built at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries. In the middle of the 13th century, the old wooden fortifications and buildings were replaced by stone ones by order of Prince Galitsky. Almost all the ancient castles of Ukraine that have survived to this day have undergone serious reconstruction in the past. Khotinsky is no exception in this regard. In the 15th century, this fortress was radically rebuilt. Its area was significantly increased by building thick stone walls and towers. The yard was raised almost 10 m.
In 1918, Khotyn was captured by the Romanians, and in 1940 went to the USSR. In this castle, as well as in Kamyanets-Podilskyi, historical films are often shot.
Palanok Complex
This ancient fortress is located near the city of Mukachevo. When exactly many of the most interesting medieval castles of Ukraine were built, historians, unfortunately, do not know. The Palanok complex is no exception in this regard. Some researchers believe that thesedefensive fortifications existed in the 9th century. In any case, the first mentions of this ancient fortress are in chronicles dated to the 11th century.
Palanok Castle lost its military significance by the 19th century. Subsequently, this building was used for a long time as a prison for political prisoners. Later, military barracks were located here. At present, the Palanok fortress has been completely restored, and there is a historical museum open to the public.
Ackermann Castle
According to some reports, the construction of this structure lasted more than two centuries (XIII - XIV centuries), and it received its main strengthening in the XV century. The castles of Ukraine by area are both small and large. Akkerman Fortress is considered one of the largest in this country. The length of its walls is about two kilometers, and their height in some places reaches 15 m.
At the moment, Akkerman Fortress is a historical and cultural reserve. Various kinds of festivals, musical and theatrical, as well as fencing championships are often held on its territory.
Zolochevsky Castle
The construction of this fortification was completed in 1634 at the expense of King Jacob Sobieski. Behind the thick stone walls, this monarch built a two-story Renaissance palace. In terms of equipment, this is perhaps the most interesting old castle in the country. Ukraine (at that time part of Poland), in relation to the amenities of residential complexes, a specialdid not differ in advancement. The premises of the Zolochiv castle were heated by fireplaces and stoves. In addition, sewerage was also provided, which is generally considered a rarity for medieval Europe.
After the death of Prince Yakov, the Zolochiv castle for some time passed into the possession of governor Tarle. Later, the famous princes Radziwill became its owners. In the second half of the 18th century, the castle, which had lost its military significance, began to gradually collapse.
In 1801, Count Lukasz Kamarnicki took up its restoration. In 1834 he sold it to the Austrian government. For some time there were barracks, and later - a hospital. In 1872, the Zolochiv fortress began to be used as a prison. In 1953, a vocational school was placed in the castle. The restoration of this building began only in 1986, after it was transferred to the Lviv Art Gallery.
Schoenborn Complex
Some castles and palaces of Ukraine are simply amazing architectural structures. An example is Shenborn, built in 1890-1895. Buheim Shenborn became its founder. Previously, a wooden hunting lodge was built in the Beregvar tract, which later became the summer residence of the counts. After some time, a luxurious palace grew here. Schönborn Castle is surrounded by 19 hectares of territory, on which a beautiful garden-arboretum is laid out. To date, this building is used as one of the buildings of the Karpaty sanatorium.
The most beautiful temples of Ukraine
Of course, fortresses and castles are not the only architectural landmark that this country can boast of. No less impressive are the ancient temples of Ukraine. Very beautiful, for example, is the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, located in the center of Kyiv, founded in 1051. Sophia Cathedral is also widely known all over the world - the first large Christian church in Russia, built by the son of Prince Vladimir Yaroslav the Wise in the 9th century. The most interesting sights of this state include the Dominican Cathedral of Lviv, the Svyatogorsk Assumption Lavra and many other ancient religious buildings.
Ancient castles and temples of Ukraine - the most valuable architectural monuments, great creations of human hands, places with an amazing history and unique beauty - certainly worthy of the attention of historians and tourists. In connection with recent events, it is unlikely, of course, that too many Russian travel enthusiasts will decide to go to a neighboring state to see its sights. However, let's hope this will not always be the case, and our tourists will be able to fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of these ancient monuments.
