attractions

This place is super impressive from outside but inside its a little lacking. The views from the top of the walls are amazing but that is about it on the inside.Set at the convergence of 2 rivers the castle is in a picturesque location. Originally a wooden castle built in 1146 the impressive castle you see now was built in the 1500's being added to up to the late 1800's. Since 1968 there have been major renovations here to bring you the museum you see today. There is also a church inside the castle built in the mid 1500's.  This castle is one to stop and see for sure!
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Really awesome ruins of a castle just off a nice road near Zhitomir! We loved this place! Built by the Russian businessman Tereshinkov at the end of the 1800’s. This castle, designed by a Dutch Architect, this castle has really deteriorated over the last century. We weren’t able to find to much info on this particular place but it appears it has been abandoned for a while. Only a few of the exterior walls are left standing. 
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This was another point we came to and were sadly disappointed. We were looking for an old castle or at least the remnants of one. We did find one tower from the original castle but we also found a newly built castle. Well at least it was under construction but stopped for some reason. We didn’t see anyone around to ask the story about it but left confused and a little sad. 
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An interesting place but a little hard to find. From on top of the hill there isn’t much to see but once you find it there are a few room underground you can go in and explore. Look out the firing holes on the valley below! Built in the 1400’s it was partially destroyed by the Turkish. Then in the early 1800’s the remaining ruins housed police and a church. Then rumor spread that the remaining wall would fall and crush the houses in the valley below. So dismantling began in and now there isn’t much left but the views from the top of the hill are amazing! 
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A nice castle with a still functioning church attached. There are tours available to go through the castle but when we visited there was a huge group of children going on the tour so we decided to forego the tour inside. Built in the 1560’s. through the years it passed between many hands and slowly the castle wall was torn down and rebuilt smaller. During WW2 it was used as a gathering point for young people who were then sent to Germany for labor camps. After the war it was briefly a museum before abandoned until 2010 when restoration was started and continued to this day. 
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This was a surprise. Nothing amazingly special but interesting none the less! Built in the 1500’s This tower would of served the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and his estate here. To this day his winery is still operating. If you would like a tour it is 200 grieven per person plus another 300 if you would like to try any wines. 
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One of the largest castle complex’s of the former Russian Empire. Popova Castle is still impressive to see today. They are also working on renovating it so make it more friendly and appealing to visit. There is some English here but the translation is horrible and some of it is not understandable. A hint be careful when saying the name or Ukrainians will laugh at you. Its pronounced more like Papova. Built at the end of the 1700’s by Major General Popov. Built in the Gothic Revival style with elements of Barosque and Romance. The castle is still standing today! While some of the out buildings of the castle have been repurposed the main building is still there to serve as a museum. 
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Located in one of the oldest towns in Ukraine, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ackerman Fortress is a well-preserved fortress that is worth visiting! Built between the 13th and 15th centuries it is considered one fo the most well-preserved fortifications in Ukraine. Originally built in the 13th century it served as the main defensive post for the town, then known as Tyr, and the surrounding area. It was finally concurred after 200 years by the Turks. They named it Akkerman Fortress (white fortress) as they ruled the area for the next 300 years. Finally, it came into Russian hands after they defeated the Turks and then it slowly lost its importance as a defensive fortification. Now it is a great museum where you can stroll along atop the walls of the once mighty fortress. Explore the former dungeon and in general have a relaxing day enjoying the sights and sounds of the area. 
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This place was a little tricky to find. You cant drive right to it as it is located in some sort of school/sporting area that is closed to vehicles. Once we found the castle it was enclosed in another fence with an old man living inside who demanded we pay him 50 greiven each we wanted to see the castle. We refused to pay and just saw it from the outside of the fence. Still a very stunning castle and worth the effort! Built between 1810-1820 by an officer Kurisov from Russia. The castle was rebuit by his son in 1891 in the Moorish style and an English park was planted behind the palace. Now it is all abandoned and falling apart. If you want to see it hurry! Who knows how much longer this beautiful piece of architecture will be around! 
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Originally build in the 15th century and being updated continuously for the next 200 years today there is not a lot left of the castle. You can see part of one tower and a second tower has an amazing view on the side of a cliff looking out over part of the river here. The location of the castle was so good for defense that in the same spot in the 1930’s another bunker was built as part of the Stalin Line of defense. This bunker is still there today looking out over the water but the door has been locked so going inside is not a possibility. 
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We had a difficult time finding this one. Mostly because there isn’t much left. Its on top of a hill in the village of Ozaryntsi. Built around 1657 it was first attacked and destroyed in 1690 from a devastating raid by Turkish forces. It was rebuild in 1699. At some point it was destroyed a second time and left for ruins. There are still underground passages here, that have been sealed off, that when they were discovered contained old weapons and coins.  In general it’s not much to see here. Rather boring and difficult to find.  
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The history of this castle goes back to the 1500’s. Originally build of wood it was attacked and burned down by invading Tartars. The castle was rebuilt this time from stone. Then in 1765 the castle and surrounding land was purchased by the Potocki Family. Then the church was added to the castle and in 1846 a convent was started here. Of course during soviet times it served a few purposes the church closed and everything turned into a medical hospital. Now the church is open again and but the rest of the castle is still occupied by a mental hospital. We were not able to go into the church but a very nice nurse told us about the castle and what is going on now. 
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A interesting castle along the side of the road in Ternopil region. Not much of the original castle has survived two towers and part of a wall is whats visable Built by Polish Nobles in 1639 the castle changed hands multiple times then finally lost most of its relevance due to the borders moving. In the 1800’s a Jewish business man bought the castle and began to dismantle much of it using the material to build a distillery. Sometime in the 1900’s what little bit that was left of the castle was preserved so now there is still something to gawk at. 
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This castle was difficult to get to. The road we used was gravel but not very well maintained. The roacks in the road were the size of grapefruits and it was difficult to manage. The local people were using their normal cars to get here so it is doable. You will have to walk the last 500 meters and its uphill to get to the castle. Built in the early 17th century on top of a mountain the castle is in a very picturesque location. We could see it from a great distance as we were approaching. On two sides of the castle are steep cliffs to the river below. The castle was well defensed but not invincible. It was conqured by the the Turks twice and lastly by Cossacks led by Maxim Krivonos. Legend says that when the Turks captured the castle they had a girl enclosed inside one of the walls and her spirit still haunts the castle to this day. 
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A very nice from the outside castle. As you approach on the road it looks like a huge castle that will be amazing! Then once you arrive you realize you mostly see the protective walls that would of surrounded the castle and also the towers at each corner. There is not castle standing in the center. Still interesting but you have to pay if you want to go walk around the empty grounds. There appeared to be something in two of the watch towers but we weren’t able to get in… What you see is actually a castle that’s around 100 years old. The original castle built in 1640 was destroyed over the years especially during the Hetman Boghdan Khmelnitsky. The castle was bombed in WW2 and only the remains of a couple towers remained. Everything you see was rebuilt during and after the Soviet times. 
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In the town of Skala Podilska there is an old castle. It doesn’t appear to be to much but it was fun to explore. This castle is nothing to amazing but one of the highlights was that you can still go in most of the tunnels that would have been under the castle. So you really get a feel for what it would have been like. Originally built in the 14th century that castle was destroyed over the years by multiple attacks. The castle that is there now was built in the 18th century. Unfortunately it was dismantled quiet a lot during the Soviet Union to acquire its stone for building materials. 
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One of the oldest Castles in the area. Now the castle is in ruins but still rather interesting. We were there for about an hour walking around and trying to see all the small rooms that are there. Mostly now the interior rooms of the castle are filled with trees so its difficult to get around inside.  Built in the early 14th century now the castle is in ruins. It served as a summer retreat for Catholic Bishops from the 15th to 18th centuries. In 1674 the castle was destroyed by Turks but it was quickly rebuilt. In 1794 it was on the border of the Russian Empire. Then in the second world war it was used as a base for NKVD troops who stayed here for some time.  
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This was a little unique castle that was interesting for very different reasons. We both were amazed by the amount of “graffiti” or carvings in the castle walls. Not much of the castle exists to this day but what is there has been marked with names and dates that go back to before the first World War. There are quite a few carvings that would have been put on the castle during WW1.Originally built in the 16th century it was attacked many times until finally the Cossacks destroyed it. What you see was rebuilt in the 18th century. The castle name was changed when the border between the Russian and Austrian Empires split the town that the castle was located in thus creating a new town that the castle was now a part of. 
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An exceptionally nice castle and museum now. It was a joy to walk through and the interior of the palace inside the castle walls is like something from a fairy tale. Recently remodeled the palace itself was a work of art The first castle was built here in 1434 but was burned down and rebuilt a couple of times. What is there now was built around 1632. The castle was then purchased by the Potocki Family in the 1700’s and sold again in the 1800’s. The castle was damaged badly during WW1 and partially renovated by the Polish after the first war. Now it is undergoing renovations and there is a museum located here. Its well worth the visit. 
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The castle at this place was a bit strange the ambiance inside was just something different than most.  First when you arrive there is a sign that says don’t enter yet the gate is open. So you go in and the courtyard is abandoned with grass growing everywhere. You are free to wonder around through some of the existing tunnels and look through the holes in the wall out over the beautiful valley below. The castle was owned for sometime by a Polish Magnate who donated some of the grounds to a church who built a monastery. So behind the castle there is a monastery. It has a nice park in it and also a hospital for people with issues breathing. 
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From afar as you approach this castle it is unreal! It is located on a bend in the river and high above the river that once flowed below! You see the ruins of the castle and another building as you approach. Then as you wind your way down the incredibly horrible road you get to the entrance to the castle only to see it closed because there is a childrens camp there. So you have to walk around the camp and then and only then you can get access to the castle and former church that still stand here.  History here dates back to the 9th century. The castle you see though is not nearly that old. After being destroyed multiple time it was restored in the early 19th century by a Polish family. Then changed hands many times and many times. The area is rich with history and mystery. There are tunnels under the castle that are still accessible. It is said they lead to a near by cave where a monk used to live and now the cave is guarded by a headless knight… Its interesting and worth visiting if for nothing else just past the castle is a very nice waterfall with nice places to camp. 
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Another place we stumbled on by accident and were so glad we did! We were in the valley headed towards Borschiv when we saw this church on top of a hill. The road to get to it was very steep and gravel so a bit challenging but we made it. To our surprise there was not only the ruins of a castle but a church as well! The abandoned church had another church  next to it that had been there since 1763! It was rather strange to walk through the ruins of one church while hearing the singing coming from next door. The Castle is in ruins with almost nothing left. We met an old Shepard who told us that when the Soviets came in 1939 there was a beautiful Polish palace and park but they destroyed it. The castle still exist but in 1992 the city decided to tear more of it down. Continuing much of the destruction the Soviets brought. 
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One of the best known castles in Ukraine. It was the movie set for many a Soviet mid-evil themed film. Therefore it was well taken care of over the last 100 years. It costs 25 grieven a person to enter and it is crowded but worth the visit! First built in 1325 with upgrades occurring throughout the years the castle is still standing strong to this day. In more recent history in 1918-1919 the castle was occupied by 5 different countries Russia, Ukraine, Moldovia, Austria-Hungary and Romania…  The castle is on the list of 7 National Ukrainian Wonders and for good reason. The restoration done on the castle is top notch. Many small details were added to make it seem like you are really walking back into time. 
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Built in the early 1600’s this castle withstood many battles from attacks of Tartars to Cossacks and many more. Unfortunately, in 1768 there was a fire and the castle was never rebuilt. Over the years local people came and slowly dismantled the castle to use the materials for other things. There is only one tower standing to this day and what would have been the entrance to a pub. While it was interesting to come and see its not that amazing. With the main attraction being the one tower still standing its rather dull. The view of the Dneister here is very nice but the castle leaves much to be desired. 
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A unique castle in Ukraine with a great history but unfortunately it is in a state of disrepair that makes it not so interesting to stop and see. Founded by the Knights Templar Originally build in the 12th century it passed through dozens of hands over the years. Finally, the last blows came in the mid 1700’s as the castle was involved in different wars it was damaged but nobody carried out work to restore it as it was no longer in the style of the day. It was decided to let the old stone castle disappear. 
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An awesome castle with an amazing view! It’s a long steep walk to get there but it is worth it! Taking 100 years to build it was started in 1090. It was first conquered in 1242. It became part of Transylvania in the 1500’s. Was involved in dozens of wars until finally in 1766 it was struck 3 times by lightning and burned. Whats left are the remnants of the stone walls. There is a legend about a king that when he went to battle with the Tartars he took his daughter to her grandmothers but left his wife and son at the castle. The Tartars captured the castle and took his wife and son away. His wife was killed but his son was accepted as a Tartar. The king ordered the death of any Tartars in the area Many years later his beautiful daughter met a young boy that told her he was Tartar. The king was away hunting so his men decided to carry out his order. Before they could the daughter noticed that the young boy had the same birthmark as her. She tried to reach her father hunting but when they returned his son was already killed. The king committed suicide and the daughter went made. Now she still returns at sunset to mourn the death of her brother. 
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A really cool castle north of Uzhgorod. Its falling down some but its rather remote and the scenery is very beautiful. Originally built in the 13th century above the Uzh river on the site of an old wooden fortress. It was a part of many battles. In 1644 it was captured by the King of Transylvania and he destroyed it. It was then forgotten and abandoned for some time leaving it in the state it is in now. The road to get here was very good and we enjoyed coming. Its not far from Uzhgorod and shouldn’t be missed! 
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One of the nicest preserved castles you will find in Zarkarpatia region. This castle cost 30 grieven to get in to walk around. One of the most impressive things you will notice as you walk around is a huge deep water well in the castle center. Originally built by Hungarians in the 14th century it has passed through hundreds of hands over the years. It was rebuilt and fortified by French Engineers at one point. For almost 100 years it was used as a prison. During the advance of Napoleon, the crown of St. Stephen was kept here for safe keeping. The castle has 130 rooms and is divided into 3 sections upper, middle and lower. Originally it was surrounded by a large and deep moat. If your in the area stop by. It would be better to take a tour through the castle and hear all the legends associated with it. 
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An interesting find in Transcarpathia. A palace built as a fortress…. Started in 1711 but not finished until 1798 by Count Teleki from Transylvania. This was to be his summer house. But Count Teleki died in 1714 so the estate went to his, then 4 year old, nephew. The main residence was finished first followed by surrounding it with a wall with loop holes to fire weapons from. The palace stayed in the Teleki family until 1928.  It is currently home to a tuberculosis hospital. We were able to walk around in the courtyard but couldn’t go inside any of the buildings. 
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Beautiful Castle Ruins. You can drive right into the castle and park in the courtyard. There are also plenty of places to camp in the courtyard if you like. The road to get here was in good condition and we really enjoyed it.     Built in the 16th century Pinew Castle is mostly ruins today but rather well cared for. For over 100 years this was the largest castle in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Originally the castle would have had a mot around it and a draw bridge to enter. In the 1700s the castle was sold to a family who tried to restore it and began using it for a home. Due to the constantly changing borders it was difficult and the castle slowly degraded until it was finally abandoned. It is famous for a rather large amount of underground passages. Some of them are still accessible including the passage to the dungeon! 
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This place is rather interesting. It’s a perfect example of a privately ran castle in Ukraine making enough money to keep going and slowly rebuild things to bring it back to its glory. Tours were free but donations were asked for. Built in the 14th century during a remodel in the 1800’s a skeleton was found inside one of the walls…. Later during WW2 it was used as a prison by the Germans. After the war it became a place for the local city council among other things. In 2001 a local artist was allowed to do with the castle as he please and he and his wife began turning it into what you see now. A nice place that is just off the main road and worth the time to stop and see. 
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A really cool bunch of ruins in the middle of Vinogradov. First mentioned in Hungarian Chronicles in 903 nobody knows the true age of this castle. During the 1300’s the castle suffered many attacks and finally was in very bad condition. So bad that the owner just gave it to some local monks and built himself a house not far away. Finally, the castle was mostly destroyed at the end of the 16th century by Austrians. Now it is easy to get to and walk around gazing out over the city below. Maybe take a picnic and enjoy the scenery. 
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From the outside, this castle is impressive! Inside its not much to look at. Monty doesn’t think it`s worth paying the entrance fee to go inside. You can still see the ditch that would have been the moat surrounding the castle and go over the drawbridge to enter it! Built in the 16 century, when it was new it would of held an impressive array of 73 cannons! There was a huge battle fought here between the Polish and the Cossacks. After WW1 the interior was changed and it became a prison for some time. 
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Another castle that looked great on the outside but as we entered it was just an abandoned castle left to nature to reclaim. You can drive into the courtyard, but be careful going through the buildings as the roof has collapsed on most of them. The floors are rotting away and nothing is stable. Completed in 1561 the castle is in ruins now. It didn’t last long as it lost its defensive purposes and was given away in 1632. For a long time it was used as a Polish school. 
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Another castle that is now a mental hospital. We were able to go inside the courtyard and have a look around, but many areas are off limits due to the hospital. The roads to get here were good, but there isn’t much to see. The outside of the castle is difficult to see due to thick vegetation and the inside is mostly off limits due to the hospital.The castle was finished enough to be occupied in 1564 but it was not considered 100% complete until 1640. At its height, it would have been 100mx120m with over 200 cannons protecting it! By the early 1700’s it had survived dozens of battles, but was losing its defensive importance so it was slowly converted into a palace. In the early 1800’s it was used as a military hospital until it was abandoned to its fate in 1840. Then in 1883 it was decided to restore the castle. Again, after the first world war the castle was abandoned and it was later burned so that nothing stood but the walls. Then in the 1950’s a massive restoration took place to make it into what it is today.
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A favorite of Monty's!!! We roamed around this fortress for hours trying to find all the little nooks and crannies. Its free to enter and explore! The last 250 meters to get to it is on a dirt road that can be rough in dry conditions and slippery in wet conditions.  Finished in 1890 where the Russian border met the Austrian Empire. Tarakanov Fort is a massive complex surrounded by a moat. It was first tested in 1915, during the first world war. During WW2 the Germans captured it and, rumour has it, used it as a place to experiment with secret weapons. They filled a few rooms full of cement when they retreated. Abandoned since WW2 it is now in ruins just perfect for exploring! 
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A really cool castle in Lutsk that we were very surprised with! The outside of the castle looks stupendous and the inside is just as nice. The downside to the castle is there is an entrance fee to the castle, then a separate entrance fee to each building in the castle…. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in Ukraine. Having been built in the 1300’s it was never captured by enemy armies. It underwent many restorations over the years with the latest massive effort in the 1960’s and 70’s. One of the most interesting pieces of its history happened in 1429 when there was a meeting of European Monarchs here to discuss how to deal with the Ottoman empire. Kings and rulers from all over Europe attended this meeting. The King of Poland, emperor of Rome, Danish King along with representatives from 6 other empires, including a representative of the Pope all were in attendance. Over 15,000 people came for the meeting, which more than doubled the population of the city! Hundreds of barrels of wine, beer, mead and alcohol were drank along with thousands of kilos of meat! 
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An interesting Castle just outside of Lviv. There isn’t much left inside the castle. It`s just walls that stand as the wall and an empty courtyard. Would be a wonderful place for a picnic or camping. Built as a wooden fortress in 1448 the original fortress was burned sometime in the late 1400’s. It was then rebuilt from stone in the 1580’s. Unfortunately, it was taken and destroyed by Khmelnystky’s Cossacks in 1648. What you see today was built around 1650 by one of the last members of the Ostrogski family. Inside a palace would of stood where Prince Zaslawski would of resided. Once the prince died in 1656 the palace was allowed to deteriorate into what you see today. 
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 This was said to be an amazing castle one of the best in Europe that combines a renaissance palace with bastion fortification. Unfortunately when we came it was closed so we couldn’t go and see it. There is a fee to enter and the fee only allows you to walk around the outside of the castle. We were able to see a stupendous church that is located just near the entrance to the castle! The castle was built in the early 1600’s and recently has started to undergo a huge restoration that is why the interior is closed. The church that is nearby was built in the mid 1700’s It was built by the Polish. It suffered damage during WW2 and after the war was mostly left to die. Recently a huge undertaking to make emergency restorations was started. The church is still open for viewing and its worth it! It is one of the few places that signs in English, Polish, Ukrainian and German.  We were both very impressed with this place and recommend it to anyone! 
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It is falling apart. It appears they are trying to stop it from falling to pieces but it is not clear. A lot of wooden framework has been made to support the building so its hard to see exactly what is there now. Built in the 1600’s the castle stood up to many Tartar raids from 1687-1695. In the early 1700’s it slowly decayed until it was bought by a noble man who made it into a residence, though he had many parts of the original castle torn down. As recently as 1939 it was owned by the Potocki family. After WW2 it was turned into a school and then in the mid 1970’s left to rot and die. Not very interesting really due to the horrible state of the building. The road to get here was just being remodeled though so getting here should be much easier in the future. 
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Another interesting castle not far from Lviv. It is now a museum and it was closed when we came so we were not able to go inside the castle walls.Built in 1634 Zolochiv Castle is now a big restored museum. Inside the walls there are two palaces the largest is called the Grand Palace while the smaller is called the Chinese Palace. To get into the castle you have to pass over a working draw bridge! Its not far from Lviv and worth the visit if you have the time! The roads to get here are in great shape! 
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This is possibly Monty’s favorite castle in Ukraine! It was huge and outside was spectacular and the inside was very nice. Construction was started in the early 1800’s. In the late 1800’s it was sold to Leopold Koenig and he made it what it is today. Giving it a makeover in the Gothic Style and added servants quarters and the park.. After the 1917 Revolution it was turned into a Tuberculosis dispensary until 2008 when that was closed and the entire area disinfected. There is also a stone on the property that is said to have magical properties if you touch it your wish will come true!  
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An outstanding bunch of ruins of a castle! Really enjoyed stopping here and wandering around. Inside the castle there are plenty of flat spots for camping also. Construction of the castle started in 1386. The castle would have been surrounded by a mot when it was built, you still must use a bridge to enter the castle. Through the years it lost its importance as a castle and was turned into a palace. Unfortunately, it burned in 1832 and was never rebuilt after that. Now you have ruins with tunnels that run under the castle ground that you can go and explore. A fun place to visit and worth it if your in the area! 
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This was a place that had a lot of potential but in general we were left disappointed. When we were there the amount of trash around the area was terrible. There were also homeless people living there begging for money and drinking. So the atmosphere was rather unwelcoming. The castle was originally destroyed in 1648. The Soviet Union built a few buildings on the grounds of the old castle complex. Then recently it was decided to rebuild the castle. It was never completed but you still get the idea of what was there originally. 
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A neat place not far from Kyiv to go and visit a castle that has been turned into a working and living museum. Built in 1612 by the Monks of Lavra. Originally it was just a paper mill here that was made to produce paper specifically for the works and books produced by the monks. The paper mill worked until the late 17th century when it was destroyed in wars. Then in 1902 a flour mill was made atop the old papermill ruins. The flour mill worked until 1989 when it was abandoned and the area turned into the town dump. In 2007 the place was purchased and over 60 tons of garbage was removed and restoration begun. Now there is a nice park and museum you can visit. 
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