Ostroh Castle

The Ostroh Castle located in western Ukraine.

The New Tower stands in ruins.

The Ostroh Castle (Ukrainian: Острозький замок, Ostroz'kyi zamok) is a castle in the city of Ostroh, located in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine. The city of Ostroh was first mentioned in the 12th century. For almost three centuries, the castle it was a residence of the Ostrogski princely family which gave Ukraine famous military leaders, musical composers, and civil engineers. Today the castle is in ruins, and lasted from the 14th century to the 16th century.

Location

The castle itself is located in a relatively small elevated oval plaza. The area's natural geography helped to fortify the complex; the southern and eastern sides of the fortress raised upon a 20-meter high cliff, and the northern and western sides separate the city by series of trenches (moats) that replaced the big ravine.

History

The first wooden fortifications were built in the area before the 1241 Mongol invasion of Rus, during which they were subsequently destroyed. The ruins were later reconstructed by Knyaz Daniil from the Ostrogky family on the city's Sudovy Hill (castle hill). Since then, more additions and reconstructions were carried out, although the complex still retains its Medieval architecture.

The castle complex consists of four main structures: the Guard Tower (Vezha murovana) where the castle's museum is located, the Bohoyavlenska Church, the New Tower, and the Belltower (constructed in 1905).

Legacy

A small park sits right next to the castle, separated by a small moat. A monument was placed in the park in 1978, commemorating the 400 anniversary of the foundation of the Ostroh Academy. A building used to stand in the same location, in which the "Azbuka" (alphabet) and the Ostrog Bible were printed by Ivan Fedorov.

See also

• Seven Wonders of Ukraine
• Starokostiantyniv Castle - another castle of the Ostrogski family

External links

• "Castle complex of the city of Ostroh" (in Ukrainian). Seven Wonders of Ukraine. http://7chudes.in.ua/info/142.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-12. 
• "Ostroh" (in Ukrainian). Castles and churches of Ukraine. http://castles.com.ua/ostrog.html. Retrieved 2008-05-12. 
• "Ostroh Castle" (in Ukrainian). National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. http://www.history.univ.kiev.ua/portall/castle.html. Retrieved 2008-05-12. 
• "Ostrih". Encyclopedia of Ukraine. http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages\O\S\Ostrih.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-21. 

Coordinates: 50°20′00″N 26°31′00″E / 50.3333333433°N 26.5166666767°E / 50.3333333433; 26.5166666767