Attractions of Svirzh

Svirz Castle from the "Golden Horseshoe of Lviv Region" is a picturesque medieval building in the Renaissance style, a unique monument of defensive architecture of the XV-XVII centuries. Originally built as a fortress, but after the reconstruction of the XVII century. acquired the noble features of a magnate's residence. The first fortifications on the Belz Mountains, surrounded by lakes and swamps, date back to 1484 (the ruins of the tower and the grotto to the right of the entrance). Svirsk Castle was first mentioned in documents in 1530, when it belonged to the Svirz nobles. In the middle of the XVII century. it was rebuilt and significantly strengthened by Count O. Zettner, according to one version, inviting from Lviv a famous fortification engineer P. Grodzitsky. The castle with a moat and a bridge is divided into two multi-level courtyards, surrounded by Renaissance towers and houses. Having become a comfortable residence, Svirsk Castle was able to withstand several Turkish sieges, but before that it was captured by the Cossack troops of B. Khmelnytsky. He was badly injured during the First and Second World Wars. In Soviet times, Svirsk Castle became the property of the Union of Architects as the House of Creativity, but the restoration was never completed. It is planned to transfer the castle to a private investor under the terms of the concession.