Svirz Castle ( uk, Свірзький замок, Svirz'kyi zamok, pl, Zamek w Świrzu) is a fortified aristocratic residence in
Svirzh,
Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast ( uk, Льві́вська о́бласть, translit=Lvivska oblast, ), also referred to as Lvivshchyna ( uk, Льві́вщина, ), ). The name of each oblast is a relational adjective—in English translating to a noun adjunct w ...
,
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
. It was originally built by the
Świrski noble family in the 15th century. Inside the castle is a small church dating from 1546.
The stronghold was completely rebuilt in the 17th century at the behest of its new owner, Count
Aleksander Cetner. It is believed that General
Paweł Grodzicki was responsible for the modernisation of the castle's fortifications.
Though surrounded on all sides by
moats,
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
s, and
marsh
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found a ...
es, the fort was taken by the rebellious
Cossacks on several occasions. In 1648, the
Turks
Turk or Turks may refer to:
Communities and ethnic groups
* Turkic peoples, a collection of ethnic groups who speak Turkic languages
* Turkish people, or the Turks, a Turkic ethnic group and nation
* Turkish citizen, a citizen of the Republic ...
set it on fire; they were less successful during the
Lwow raid of 1672.
The castle stood in ruins for many years. It was restored in 1907, only to be devastated by fire in 1914. Rebuilding and restoration have occurred on several occasions since.
References
* Лильо І. М., Лильо-Откович З. М. Прогулянка Львовом. Путівник — К.: Балтія Друк, 2005. — 224 с.: іл. (укр.)
* Памятники градостроительства и архитектуры Украинской ССР. Киев: Будивельник, 1983–1986. Том 3, с. 174. (рус.)
External links
*
Photos of Svirzh castle
{{Castles in Ukraine
Castles in Ukraine
Buildings and structures in Lviv Oblast