"Olesko Castle Olesko

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On a high hill, with its slopes rising above the marshy meadows of the Libertsia River, stands a mighty stronghold - Olesko Castle. An architectural and historical monument of the XIII-XVIII centuries, one of the oldest castles in Ukraine, was probably built by one of the sons of the Galician-Volyn prince Yuriy Lvovych.

Olesko Castle was located on the border between Poland and Lithuania, and Poles, Ukrainians, and Lithuanians were constantly fighting for its possession. For many years, the fortress played an important defense role. In the second half of the 15th century, the castle lost its importance as a defensive structure and turned into a residence of magnates. The stronghold acquires the features of a residential building with elements of the Italian Renaissance.

Later, the castle became the property of the Ukrainian magnate Ivan Danylovych, who harmoniously combined the defensive walls with newly built structures. In 1681, the castle was taken over by the Polish king Jan Sobieski. He repaired it and completed the outbuildings. The 19th century was a particularly difficult period for the castle. But, like a fairy-tale phoenix, it was constantly reborn, rising from the ruins. Today, the castle has been restored and returned to its 17th-century appearance.

Olesko Castle is filled with secrets and interesting legends. Some people believe that the castle is haunted. According to one version, the spirit of the Czech monk Jan Kasper lives here. Once, during a service on St. Anthony's Day, Kasper jumped into a well in front of thousands of pilgrims. Such evidence is recorded in the chronicle of the castle. And today his soul wanders the corridors and cannot find eternal peace. It is said that at night you can also see two shadows. These are the souls of lovers following the echo of voices, but they cannot meet each other.

Olesko Castle is known for the fact that the mighty Polish king Jan III Sobieski was born here. There is a strange legend about his birth. The future king was born during a terrible thunderstorm and a Tatar attack on the castle. When the midwife put the child on a black marble table, a strong thunder suddenly struck, cracking the table and making the grandmother deaf.

Today, the castle is a museum branch of the Lviv Art Gallery. Each hall is a kind of museum exhibit. The interior is impressive: wallpaper, furniture, walls, floor, lamps - everything is typical for the 16th-18th centuries. The lint-free wall carpets made of woolen and silk threads - the so-called tapestries - are noteworthy. The tapestry depicting scenes from Homer's poem "The Odyssey" is interesting in its plot.

In the museum, you will also see ancient iconostases, a collection of icons from the 15th-18th centuries, and a majestic painting by Martin Altomonti, The Battle of Vienna, commissioned by King John III Sobieski.

The unique collection of wooden sculptures of the 14th-19th centuries is also impressive. It is worth looking at the interesting works of Johann Pinsel. In his works "Samson Tearing the Lion's Mouth" and "The Sacrifice of Abraham" one can feel a spiritual duality: a person realizes his strength and at the same time he is powerless before the power of the elements.

For a long time, the territory of Olesko Castle served as a platform for film studios in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Poland. The heroic defense of the fortress from the Polish invaders in 1431 formed the basis of the opera "Oleska Ballad" and the novel "Blackened Wine" by the famous Lviv writer Roman Ivanychuk.

Olesko Castle can be reached from both Kyiv and Lviv. From the Lviv bus station on Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, there are shuttle buses to Brody. All of them go through Olesko.

Opening hours: 10:00-16:00 (ticket office 10:00-15:00), Monday is a day off.

You can also buy a ticket and see the exhibition on your own. Ticket prices:

for children - 15 UAH (the price of the tour is 60 UAH)
for students of secondary and higher educational institutions of Ukraine - 60 UAH (the price of the tour is 200 UAH)
for adults - 90 UAH (the price of the tour is 200 UAH)