Usually, medieval castles and fortresses of Ukraine are associated with the western regions and seem too fabulous, distant and rare. Well, we must dispel these myths! In almost every region of Ukraine there are dozens of walls of ancient fortresses and castles.
Khmelnytskyi region is no exception, because, in addition to the famous Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress, there are about twenty unique historical monuments in the Khmelnytskyi region! Today we want to introduce you to some of them.
If you do not know how to spend a romantic autumn weekend – we offer you a trip to the castles of Podillia, which is easiest to start with an arrival to Khmelnytskyi.
Starokostiantyniv. The Ostrozkyis’ castle
Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi founded this fortress in 1561. The building was to protect the region from the Tatar invasion. The construction of the castle took ten years, and in 1571, near the confluence of the Ikopot and the Sluch rivers, grew a steep medieval fortress. Guests of the city were led to the castle by a magnificent drawbridge. The Ostrozkyi’ castle complex had defensive towers and walls, an entrance gate and a small church with a bell tower. Under the castle walls is the coastline of the city beach, indescribable beauty!
Entrance ticket to the castle costs 30 UAH. You can also book a tour, the price of which ranges from 50 UAH, depending on the number of visitors. Working hours: 8:00-17:00, all week.
Medzhybizh
Following the M-12 highway towards Vinnytsia, you will pass the famous land of the Boh and the Bozhok rivers, known as Medzhybizh. This historical and cultural reserve has the second most popular fortress in Khmelnytskyi region.
The name of the village comes from its location: at this place the Pivdennyi Buh River connects with its left bay – Buzhok. And do you know that the Buh used to be called Boh (in the sense of ‘rich’ or ‘the one that flows through the rich, fertile land’)?
Some believe that the name of the river comes from the word ‘bhatyi’ – curved, nimble, crooked. In any case, the wide Buh and the more nimble Buzhok gave the name to a wonderful place with a legendary history.
The fortress is almost invisible from the road, but if you cross the bridge, you will immediately see it. Next to the fortress is the 16-19th centuries palace of Seniavskyi-Chartoryiskyi and many other interesting sights.
An interesting fact: Baal-Shem-Tov, the founder of Hasidic Judaism, is buried in the Medzhybizh Jewish cemetery. Every August or September (before the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah), a large number of Hasidic Judaism pilgrims come to the tomb of the great man.
The price of an entrance ticket to the fortification is 50 UAH for adults and 30 UAH for pupils and students. There are interactive quests waiting for the fortress visitors, in particular The Family excursions Marathon. Museum working hours: from 9:00 to 18:00, all week. More information about the modern life of Medzhybizh can be found on the official website of the Mezhybizh State Historical and Cultural Reserve.
Letychiv
There is another magnificent fortress not far from Medzhybizh. The Letychiv castle and monastery complex is located next to the road and resembles a gingerbread castle, interesting not only from the outside, but also for its filling!
Letychiv is also known not only for the castle and monastery complex, but also for the burial of the Ukrainian Robin Hood – Ustym Karmaliuk and the famous fish market (probably the largest in the Khmelnytskyi region).
The city lies along the Khmelnytskyi-Vinnytsia highway, about 50 km away from Khmelnytskyi. Letychiv, like a ghost town, appears in the middle of the track quite suddenly, enchants with its beauty and puzzles a little by the unexpected appearance. That is why, it is worth stopping there for at least a minute, because while driving the medieval tower will sink into the air as quickly as it appeared a moment ago. In addition to the tower, the city has a former Dominican monastery and the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Don’t miss it – be sure to visit, when you will stop in Letychiv!
Sutkivtsi. Church-Fortress
Most travelers go to Sutkivtsi in order to see a famous masterpiece – the Church-Fortress of the Intercession. In addition to the unusual temple, there are ruins of an ancient fortress. Although there is not much left of the fortification, the ruins look very impressive. So, let us tell you more details!
Sutkivtsi is located near Khmelnytskyi, about 6-10 km from Yarmolyntsi. The amazing building, a temple of the soul and protection of the former city – the Church-Fortress of the Intercession lives there, in a quiet natural place for several centuries already.
Why were defensive temples built? Primarily, for a quick response to the enemy, even at the most inopportune moment.
The Church-Fortress of the Intercession is very beautiful! Her whiteness enchants with contrast and uniqueness on a green and yellow autumn background.
Excursions through the church-fortress are conducted by the temple abbot – Father Volodymyr.
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamianets is beautiful at any time of the year, because the old town attracts tourists with architecture from different eras. Of course, the Kamianets-Podilskyi Fortress is the most popular site for travelers. Today, many tourists are fascinated by the successful combination of strong defensive city walls and the 12-18th century Old Castle.
The complex, built in the 17th century, is almost the only surviving example of fortifications of this type. And how beautiful is the castle bridge! Young tourists are told that legendary Lake Amadoka once overflowed on the site of the fortress and the bridge. Whether this is the case or not is unknown, but when October paints the plants in warm colors, it is a pleasure to contemplate this fiery land!
At the Kamianets-Podilskyi Historical Museum-Reserve you can take part in many interesting quests-excursions and even get married in a day! Working hours: from 9:00 to 17:00.
The full list of quest tours can be viewed via the link.
Zhvanets. Tower of Zhvanets Castle
Zhvanets was always between two fires. Initially, the border town was being tossed between the Russian and the Austro-Hungarian empires, and later stood on the corner of three countries – Romania, Soviet Ukraine and Poland. Today Zhvanets no longer has the status of a town, but remains a large village with a legendary history on the banks of the Dnister River.
Zhvanets Castle was built in the middle of the 15th century, and was involved in a significant number of historical battles. The castle was often rebuilt, unfortunately, fortification was completely destructed in the 20th century.
Today only the northern tower of the castle has survived. It is located on the steep slope of the Dnister River and has an interesting sentimental view. In general, the shore of Zhvanets resembles country of Moomin-Trolls, even the tower in general outlines resembles the Moomihouse. When the autumn sun fills the slope with yellow, like lime tea, light – Zhvanets seems to be the most beautiful place on the planet.
The distance from Khmelnytskyi to Zhvanets is 118 km, the fastest and most comfortable way to get to the village is taking the highway N03.
Sataniv
There is another lost in time medieval building, which is located not far from the Sataniv sanatorium, almost 80 kilometers away from Khmelnytskyi. There was a magnificent pentagonal fortress with towers, about 600 years ago on a high hill on the Zbruch River banks. Today, only three towers remained from the castle, one of which is located under the hill, and two others remain to guard the high Zbruch bank.
Sataniv is incredibly beautiful – there are artificial waterfalls, picturesque forests, a rapid Zbruch stream and several recreation areas.
The village is permeated with fragments of different eras, which are constantly found underfoot, in the devastated walls of a synagogue or the castle.
When the forests are covered in yellow blankets, Sataniv will change beyond recognition and seductively meet romantic tourists.
Thus, the Khmelnytskyi region is rich in fortifications, which look especially good against the background of contrasting early autumn. Travelers who decide to spend their vacation in the land of the Bog and the Bozhok rivers or on the shores of Zbruch and Smotrych rivers, will not regret for a moment about their choice.
In addition, natural photo zones and sentimental tourism always inspire and leave behind a lot of pleasant memories for winter evenings!
Travel from Khmelnytskyi, explore Ukraine and share your impressions!
Authors of the text: Yuliia Rakhno and Sergii Tolstikhin,
More interesting information about Podillia can be found on the page of Khmelnytskyi Tourist Information Center
Author of the photos: Serhii Zysko, Igor Zapadenko.
