Lviv High Castle

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A fragment of Lviv engraving by A. Gogenberg, 17th century

Part of the South Wall of High Castle.

Modern view of the Castle Hill. On the left is the hill of the lion and in the background, the Lviv television tower.

The Lviv High Castle or Lviv Castle Hill (Ukrainian: Високий замок / Замкова гора, Vysokyi zamok / Zamkova hora; Polish: Wysoki Zamek; Russian: Высокий замок / Замковая гора, Vysoky zamok / Zamkovaya gora) is a historic castle located on one of the hills of the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv. It is currently the highest point in the city, 413 metres above sea level.

The High Castle is located in close proximity of the historic centre of Lviv (see picture), formerly being surrounded by a fortification wall. The Castle Hill took its name from the High Castle (as opposite to the other, Low Castle), which used to be located on the hill from the 13th century to the late 19th century. The castle was a main defensive fort of the city during its existence.

As it follows from Rus' Chronicles, the first fortifying structures appeared on the Castle Hill in the time Halych-Volhynia, and were built by Leo I of Halych. It was originally a wood and soil construction, as most others at that time. In 1259 by a request of Burunday Khan they were destroyed, but in 1270 were rebuilt. In 1340, when Lviv was first occupied by Casimir III of Poland the wooden castle was put under fire. In 1353 it was destroyed again by Litvenian. New castle appeared on the hill in the end of XIV century. It became the residence of local royalty.

The castle was rebuilt and repaired many times. In the times of Khmelnytsky Uprising it was taken by Cossack forces of Polkovnyk Maksym Kryvonos in October of 1648. In 1704, when Lviv was occupied by Swedes the caste was heavily damaged. In 1777, Austrians initiated disassembling of fortifications around the caste.

In the 19th century, the then destroyed castle was taken apart and new items were built in its place. The fortification was strengthened, trees were planted on the hill's slope, and a park was constructed. On the place where the castle once stood, a Union of Lublin Mound was constructed in 1869, dedicated to the 300-years of the Union of Lublin. Currently, an observation platform is located atop the kurgan. In 1957, a 141-meter tall television tower was constructed on top of the hill (see picture).

In 2004-2005, there were talks of reconstructing a stone castle on the hill. The project gained some support and opposition. However, at this time, plans for the construction of the castle are not realistic.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Wikimedia Commons has media related to High castle, Lviv.

http://www.lvivcenter.org/en/uid/picture?pictureid=570

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