About Lutsk Castle
During the time of Vytautas, Lutsk officially became the second capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania after Vilnius. One of its defensive points in Volyn was Lutsk Castle, which consisted of the Upper and Lower (Okolny) Castles. The Upper Castle resembled an equilateral triangle, with towers located at its vertices, each 100 meters apart. All three towers of the Upper Castle have a quadrangular plan and have been preserved to this day. They are named: the Entrance (Lubart’s) Tower, the Styrova (Svidrigailo’s) Tower, and the Vladycha (Bishop`s) Tower.
The Upper Castle was built over four construction periods from the 14th to the 15th century. The third construction period occurred during the reign of Vytautas, starting at the end of the 14th century and continuing into the early 15th century.
The Okolny (Lower) Castle consisted partly of wooden fortifications and partly of masonry. It had eight towers: four wooden and four masonry. The length of the masonry part of the castle was 500 meters, and the wooden part was 260 meters. The Okolny Castle began to be reconstructed in brick starting in 1502. Only one of its eight towers has survived to the present day – the Tower of the Czartoryski Princes.
In 1387, Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło separated the land of Lutsk from the Volyn Principality and transferred it to the Lithuanian Prince Vytautas. In the same year, Vytautas moved there with his court, family, and boyars. Later, Vytautas titled himself the Prince of Lutsk.
In the 15th century, during Vytautas’ reign, several stone buildings were constructed in the area of the Dominican Monastery near the city fortifications; a new line of defense was actively built to protect the territory around the newly constructed quarters: the Latin, Jewish, and Karaite. At the same time, the Holy Protection Church was erected, as recorded in a document of the Grodsky Court dated October 16, 1637. In 1420, the Holy Trinity Church in the Okolny Castle was built, where the Catholic cathedral, along with the bishop and chapter, was transferred. An Armenian church of St. Stephen was also constructed at that time.
During Vytautas’ reign, important political and religious events took place in Lutsk. In 1412, Bishop Euphemia was consecrated for Turov in the St. John the Theologian Cathedral. In 1429, the European monarchs’ congress was held at the princely palace within the Upper Castle. The congress aimed to address political and economic issues in Central and Eastern Europe and decide on Vytautas’ coronation. The event was organized by Vytautas himself. An honorary guest was the Hungarian, German, and Czech King Sigismund of Luxembourg, who, a few years later, became the Holy Roman Emperor.
Lutsk Castle lost its defensive function only in the 18th century.
Today, the castle holds the status of a national architectural monument. It has been restored and is open to tourists. The castle houses the Museum of Books, an Art Museum, and exhibitions of ceramics, metalwork, and furniture in the Entrance Tower. In the Vladycha Tower, visitors can explore the arsenal and the only Museum of Bells in Ukraine. Exhibitions are also available in the Styrova Tower. Outside the Upper Castle, there is a museum space in the Okolny Castle dungeons.
Tourist Information: Address of the historical and cultural reserve: 23 Dragomanova St., Lutsk 43016; www.facebook.com/zapovidnyklutsk2020; zamok.lutsk@ukr.net; +380 332 723 432.