Zamkova Hora hill ( uk, Замкова Гора, literally Castle Hill) in

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

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 ...

is a historical landmark in the center of the city. It is part of the city's geographic relief complex known as

Kyiv Mountains Kyiv Mountains or Kyiv Hills ( uk, Київські гори, Київські пагорби) is a term used in journalism and literature for hills and highlands around the city of Kyiv that range from approximately 150 to almost 200 meters. The ...

(or Kyiv Hills). The place is called "Zamkova" because

Vytautas the Great Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', O ...

had his

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

here. Other names: Khorevytsya, Kyselivka, Frolovska, Lysa Hora. Some important events of Ukrainian history took place on the hill.

According to some researchers, Zamkova Hora also has a

mystical Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight in u ...

prehistory, supposedly being one of the '' lysi hory'' ("bald mountains") - the sites of the

witch Witchcraft traditionally means the use of Magic (supernatural), magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In Middle Ages, medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually ...

gatherings. Geographically, it is really "bald" (lacking trees) from several sides. In the 18th century a cemetery was established on the hill (now abandoned). It is now a small landscape park in

Podil Podil ( uk, Поділ) or the Lower cityIvankin, H., Vortman, D. Podil (ПОДІЛ)'. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine. is a historic neighborhood in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. It is located on a floodplain terrace over the Dnieper betwe ...

Raion still containing interesting grave monuments. Zamkova Hora is also one of two hills that border the

Andriyivskyy Descent Andrew's Descent ( uk, Андріївський узвіз, ) is a historic descent connecting Kyiv's Upper Town neighborhood and the historically commercial Podil neighborhood. The street, often advertised by tour guides and operators as the "Mo ...

. Reclaiming the mystical essence of the hill, local

satanist Satanism is a group of ideological and philosophical beliefs based on Satan. Contemporary religious practice of Satanism began with the founding of the atheistic Church of Satan by Anton LaVey in the United States in 1966, although a few h ...

groups have conducted their ceremonies there since late 1980s. Small

ritual A ritual is a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects, performed according to a set sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by the traditions of a community, including a religious community. Rituals are characterized, b ...

structures were covertly built on site.

External links

''Zamkovagora'' Project
(named after the hill, aimed to study and preserve not only it, but also other landmarks of old Kyiv) Former castles in Ukraine History of Kyiv Tourist attractions in Kyiv Hills of Kyiv European witchcraft Former buildings and structures in Ukraine Andriyivskyy Descent Podilskyi District {{KyivCity-geo-stub

See also

External links