The most beautiful castles of Ukraine: top 10 ancient fortifications

30 August 2021

Castles and fortresses in Ukraine are architectural monuments that are a decoration of the country and allow visitors to get acquainted with our glorious history. They were built in different centuries for defensive purposes. Some fortresses were built to protect against invaders, while others were created by enemies to hold their positions. That’s why the castles are so stylistically diverse and majestic at the same time.

Picturesque fortresses are located in different parts of the country. There are more than a hundred of them, but today we offer you a rating of Ukrainian fortresses that have been preserved in the best condition and are most interesting for tourists.

Famous castles in Ukraine

We offer you the following Ukrainian castles and fortresses. 

Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress (Khmelnytskyi region)

Kamianets-Podilskyi Fortress is a majestic building in the Khmelnytskyi region. Historical evidence suggests that fortifications in the area existed as far back as the times of Kyivan Rus, but the fortress was officially built in the second half of the 14th century by Lithuanian princes from the Koriatovych family. In the 15th century, the fortifications came under the rule of Poland, and later – the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The fortress played an important role in repelling the attacks of Turkish-Tatar troops who tried to seize European lands.

In the 16th century, the rare wooden elements of the fortress were replaced with stone, and its massive walls acquired a modern look. The fortress changed hands several times, but retained its military significance until the 19th century. In 1937, it was granted the status of a museum-reserve.

Today, the fortress is included in the list of the main historical and architectural monuments of Ukraine. Excursions are held here on a regular basis. Every year in May, the fortress celebrates the City Day and the International Balloon Festival.

Medzhybizh Castle (Khmelnytskyi region)

If you are interested in the most famous castles in Ukraine, pay attention to Medzhybizh Castle. It is located in the village of Medzhybizh in the Khmelnytskyi region and was built in the Renaissance style. The history of this place includes several attempts to build defensive fortifications back in the XI century, but they were all destroyed by the Mongols. The real fortress was built by Lithuanians in the second half of the XIV century, and in 1540 Hetman Mykola Seniavskyi carried out a major reconstruction, thanks to which we know the fortress as it is now.

Medzhybizhzhya, like many other castles in Ukraine, has undergone numerous changes of ownership throughout history, and its legends are intertwined with romance and heroism. Interestingly, even in the XX century, this building had historical and political significance: in 1917, Pavlo Skoropadskyi organised a Ukrainian garrison corps here, which successfully repelled the Bolshevik offensive. 

Since 2004, the Ancient Medzhybizh festival has been held on the castle grounds on a regular basis, where you can watch archery competitions, jousting matches, etc.

Khotyn Fortress (Chernivtsi region)

Khotyn Fortress in the town of Khotyn has a long and rich history. The first fortifications on this site belonged to the Tivertsi tribes, who began building them in the fifth century. Later, in the 13th century, Prince Danylo Halytskyi built a stone fort on the southern bank of the Dniester. In the XV century, the fortress was captured by the Moldavian principality, which expanded the castle’s territory three times. During the seventeenth century, the fort changed hands several times. Interestingly, at the beginning of the 18th century, the Turks even hired French military engineers to build the outer defence line.

Today, Khotyn Fortress has become a popular location for filming many historical films, including The Rising Hawk, Taras Bulba, and others. There is a museum of torture here, and local guides conduct interesting excursions. On the territory of this castle in Ukraine, fans of historical reenactments re-enact horse battles, sieges and other military manoeuvres.

Lubart’s Castle (Lutsk Castle)

Lubart’s Castle, also known as Lutsk Castle, is located in Volyn. The image of this fortress can be seen on the back of the 200 hryvnia banknote. If you are interested in historical castles in Ukraine, be sure to visit this magnificent architectural monument. Its history dates back to the 11th century, but the stone walls began to be built in the 14th century during the reign of Prince Lubart. Today, only the central citadel has survived, offering guided tours and dungeon walks. There are 4 museums on the territory of the castle: of weapons, book printing, painting and bells.

Olesko Castle (Lviv region)

This Ukrainian castle, located near the village of Olesko, is one of the oldest monuments in Galicia. The fortress, mentioned in documents dating back to the 14th century, has undergone numerous destructions and rebuilds throughout its history. Today, the castle is home to the Lviv Art Gallery and a large collection of wooden sculptures, and a luxurious park is planted around the citadel, which is a pleasure to stroll through. 

Palanok Castle (Mukachevo Castle)

Palanok Castle in the Zakarpattia region is a medieval fortress with a rich history. That’s why when people ask about castles in Ukraine, the Mukachevo citadel is one of the first to come to mind. Built in the XI century, it was of great strategic importance. Built on a high hill, the castle consists of three tiers and has excellent viewing platforms. There are museums of painting and history, as well as souvenir shops on its territory. Interestingly, Palanok is included in the list of five fortresses in Europe that have never been conquered. 

Schönborn Castle (Transcarpathian region)

It is one of the most beautiful castles in Ukraine and one of the few that was not used for defence. Although it is called a castle, the building is actually more like a palace. Built in 1890, it served as the hunting residence of the Schönborn counts. This elegant ensemble, designed in the French Renaissance style, consists of 365 windows, 12 towers, 52 chimneys and 7 exits, which correspond to the number of days, months, weeks in a year and days in a week. Today, the residence is used as a sanatorium, but tourists can take a tour of the fireplace room and library, as well as walk around the territory of the residence.

Uzhhorod Castle (Zakarpattia region)

If you are interested in the ancient castles of Ukraine, pay attention to Uzhhorod Castle. Located in the heart of the city, it has a long history. Experts believe that it was built between the VII and IX centuries. Built on a high hill, the fortress was almost impregnable due to a deep moat and thick walls. Today it is a place for interesting excursions that allow you to feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. 

Dubno Castle (Rivne region)

Dubno Castle was founded in the 15th century by Prince Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is the only fortress in Ukraine built according to the two-bastion scheme. Today, part of the castle has been turned into a museum. It also hosts theatrical tours. The most spectacular is the night walk through the medieval bastions, which was recognised as the best in Ukraine.

Akkerman Fortress in Odesa region is known as the largest castle in Ukraine. Its territory covers 9 hectares and the length of the outer walls reaches 2.5 km, making it the largest in Europe. Located on the banks of the Dniester River, the fortress impresses with the view that opens from its territory. Originally, the castle had 34 towers, most of which have survived to this day. It consists of three main parts: The Civil Court, the Garrison Court and the Citadel.

The fortress was founded by the Mongol-Tatars in the XIII century and later came under the control of Genoese merchants. Throughout history, it was ruled by the Ottoman and Russian Empires. In the XIX century, it lost its defensive significance and was added to the list of cultural and historical monuments. Today, the fortress regularly hosts theatrical performances and knightly tournaments.

Ready-made routes through the ancient castles of Ukraine

In the past, there were almost 5,000 fortresses and castles on the territory of Ukraine, but only about a hundred of them have survived to this day in various states of preservation. However, this is enough to organise fascinating trips around the country. If you want to add castle walks to your holiday programme, you can create an itinerary on your own or use ready-made options:

• “Golden Horseshoe of Lviv Region”: it includes Starosilsk, Svirsk, Olesko, Pidhirtsi and Zolochiv castles. You can choose a bus tour that lasts 10 hours or go by car for 2-3 days.
• Kamianets-Podilskyi and the surrounding area: in addition to the city itself, Khotyn, Starokostiantyniv and Medzhybizh are worth visiting. These places are located in the Khmelnytskyi region, but are not always combined into one route by guides.
• Uzhhorod and the surrounding area: after a tour of Uzhhorod Castle, you can visit the Mukachevo and Nevytske fortifications, which are located nearby.

Travelling to the ancient castles of Ukraine is a great way to learn more about the country’s history and get a positive experience. All the fortresses offer fascinating tours and host various festivals and reenactments.