Zolochiv Castle (1686)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Castles are a major part of Ukraine’s architecture, having witnessed many historic events, unique personalities, and various cultural influences. They have seen many rulers, battles, and wars, which defined different stages of the country’s formation.
1. Pidhirtsi Castle
Pidhirtsi Castle takes its name from its location in the small village of Lviv region. It is one of the most significant castles, being part of a popular regional tourist route called “golden horseshoe of Lviv region,” which also includes the castles of Zolochiv and Olesko.
Pidhirtsi Castle (1635/1640)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
The castle was built in 1635-1640 by the order of Polish crown hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski, who owned the settlement. The construction was led by architect Andrea dell’Aqua and engineer Guillaume le Vasseur de Beauplan.
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Later in the House of Sanguszko period, a museum was opened. In 1940, the palace became a part of the Lviv Historic Museum. In 1945, it was robbed and later became a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Since 1997, the castle has been a part of the Lviv Art Gallery.
2. Svirzh Castle
Svirzh Castle, located in the Lviv village of Svirzh, was founded in the second half of the 15 century by brothers Andriy and Martyn of the Świrskinoble family. Later it was owned by the Cetner family.
Svirzh CastleCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
The castle was damaged and rebuilt several times. In the 17th century it was conducted, supposedly by the general Paweł Grodzicki. The building was partly ruined during the Ukrainian Liberation War in 1648, after Ottoman empire attacks and heavily damaged in WW1.
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Earlier Svirzh castle had been well-protected, being located on the hill and surrounded by ditch, ponds and other hills. Now there is a park and an artificial lake around the castle. Recently it has been used as a site for cultural events.
3. Zbarazh Castle
Zbarazh Castle is located in the city of Zbarazh in the Ternopil region in the West of Ukraine.
The castle was built in the first half of the 17th century by the brothers Krzysztof and Jerzy Zbaraski.
Zbarazh CastleCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Late-renaissance style castle was created with a strong defensive character with composition including bulwarks, ditches and casemates. It was later amplified in the reconstruction conducted by Dymitr Wiśniowiecki of Wiśniowiecki family who were the next owners of the castle
Zbarazh CastleCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Zbarazh Castle experienced various sieges and storms, such as when in 1848 cossacks led by hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky took the castle and besieged it until 1849.
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Later the castle was damaged as a result of its use as a sugar factory and in the course of two world wars.
It became a museum in 1994.
4. Zhovkva Castle
Zhovkva Castle was built in 1594-1605 in the town of Zhovkva in the Lviv region. It was built by order of hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski.
Later the castle served as a residence of the Polish king Jan III Sobieski and further belonged to the Radziwiłł magnate family.
Zhovkva Castle (1594/1605)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
In the 17th century hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky was in Zhovkva during the Ukrainian Liberation War. In 1706-1707 Russian tsar Peter I resided in the castle.
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Later it was again owned by the Polish Sobieski and Radziwiłł families.
After being ruined in WW1, Zhovkva castle was reconstructed in the interwar period and after WW2 as we know it now.
5. Zolochiv Castle
The castle of Zolochiv in the Lviv region is known both for its art collections and defense buildings.
Built in the first half of the 17th century, Zolochiv Castle combines the residential and defensive character of “palazzo in fortezza” monument.
Zolochiv Castle (1686)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Zolochiv Castle was founded by Jakub Sobieski. In 1686 Polish king Jan III Sobieski ordered the castle to be renewed and decorated with works of art.
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The building now includes the Chinese Palace with the Eastern Cultures Museum, a large residential palace and a gate tower rebuilt at the end of the 19th century.
6. Khust Castle
Town of Khust can be found in the Zakarpattia region near the confluence of Rika and Tisa rivers. The construction of the wooden fortress dates back to the end of the 11th century.
The first mention of Khust castle was noticed in the 14th century.
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Although now there are only some parts of the castle we can observe, it once served as a fortress witnessing many battles and being heavily damaged and even ruined.
This is why the castle had been constantly rebuilt to improve its defense potential.
7. Lubart's Castle
Lubart’s Castle, or Lutsk Castle, is one of the most famous Ukrainian and the signature mark of the Volyn region. You can find its picture on the Ukrainian currency 200 hryvnia bills.
The castle has three towers, Entry (Gate), Styrova (Svydrygailo’s) and Vladych’s tower.
Lubart's Castle (1340)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
The construction began in the 14th century during the Lithuanian Prince Lubart’s reign and finished in the mid-15th century in the times of Švitrigaila.
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In 1429, Lutsk Castle held the gathering of the European monarchs. In 1388–1430, it was owned by Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania.
8. Olesko Castle
Olesko Castle is the oldest castle of the Lviv region, dating as early as 1327. It was built around 13th-to—early-14th century in the reign of King Andriy or Lev ІІ of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia.
Olesko Castle (1327)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
In its long history, the castle cycled through many owners, most of whom were Polish and Lithuanian monarchs.
Olesko Castle (1327)CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
It was also ruined multiple times in the 15th, 16th, and 19th centuries, was damaged during WW2, and suffered from a fire in the 1950s.
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Olesko Castle gained its name after the successors of its owner, Jan of Sienno, a Polish noble, took on the name “Olesky.”
9. Halych Castle
Starostynsky Castle in Halych in the Ivano Frankivsk region was founded in 1367. It was built in the place of earlier wooden fortifications on the hill up the Dnister and Lukva Rivers. This triangular-shaped castle consisted of two parts, the castle itself and the lower court.
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Halych Castle was strengthened with masonry fortifications in the 16th century and became fully masonry in the second half of the 17th century.
The castle was ruined many times after attacks by the Ottoman armies. It gradually lost its strategic importance in the 17-18 centuries.
10. Dubno castle
The castle of Dubno in the Rivne region was built in the first half of the 17th century by Prince Janusz Ostrogski.
The first buildings of the complex were built throughout the 14th to 16th centuries by other Ostrogski princely predecessors.
Dubno CastleCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Dubno Castle has a strategically secured location. It is protected by the Ikva River on its south and east and separated from the city by a wide ditch and two bastions on the city side. That is why the attempts to take the castle by storm failed.
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The composition of the castle includes an over-gateway corpus, and the Ostrogski Princes' Palace and Lubomirski Palace. The castle witnessed significant historic events, such as the Great Northern War. It was resided by Ivan Mazepa, Pylyp Orlyk, and Karl ХІІ.
