Lviv High Castle

This article is about the historic castle in Lviv. For other uses, see Vysokyi Zamok.

Lviv High Castle
Високий замок
Lviv
A fragment of Lviv engraving by A. Gogenberg, 17th century
Part of the South Wall of High Castle.
Site information
Condition	ruins
Site history
Built	1250 (1250)
Materials	wood (initially)
Demolished	1869

The Lviv High Castle or Lviv Castle Hill (Ukrainian: Високий замок / Замкова гора, Vysokyi zamok / Zamkova hora; Polish: Wysoki Zamek) is a historic castle located on the top of the Castle Hill of the city of Lviv. It is currently the highest point in the city, 413 metres (1,355 ft) above sea level. The castle currently stands in ruins.

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 from wood. 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 captured by Casimir III of Poland the wooden castle was put under fire. In 1353 it was destroyed again by Lithuanians. A new brick castle appeared on the hill in 1362 by the king Casmimir III. It became the residence of Polish nobles.

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

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.

References

This article is based on the articles in the Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish Wikipedias.
Castles.com.ua - Vysokyi Zamok (Ukrainian)

External links

Media related to High castle, Lviv at Wikimedia Commons

Lviv

History	Timeline Armenian Statute Dormition Brotherhood Jesuit Collegium First Siege by Cossacks Second Siege by Cossacks Lwów Oath Siege by Turks Leopolis Triplex Stauropegion Institute Stauropegion Press Ossolineum Galician Rada Halytsko-Ruska Matytsia Prosvita Ruthenian Triad Ruthenian National House Hutsul Secession Batiars Lwów Eaglets Battle 1918 Pogrom 1918 Battle 1920 Secret Ukrainian University Lwów–Warsaw school of logic Lwów School of Mathematics Battle 1939 Massacre of Lviv professors Lviv pogroms Lwów Ghetto Lwów Uprising Sknyliv air show disaster

Religion	Armenian Cathedral Cathedral of St. George Boim Chapel Bernardine Church Bridgettine Convent Carmelite Church Convent of Benedictines Church of St. Anne Church of John the Baptist Church of Mary of Snow Church of St. Elizabeth Church of St. Mary Magdalene Church of St. Onuphrius Church of the Dormition Church of the Purification, Lviv Church of the Transfiguration Dominican Church Jesuit Church Latin Cathedral

Attractions	Arena Lviv Arsenal Museum Bandinelli Palace Black Kamienica Catholic University Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów Forum Lviv Freedom Boulevard Government House King Cross Leopolis Korniakt Palace Lviv High Castle Lviv University Lychakivskiy Cemetery Market Square Mickiewicz Square National Museum Polytechnic University Lubomirski Palace Metropolitan Palace Old Town Pharmacy Museum Potocki Palace Sapieha Palace Scottish Café Shevchenkivskyi Hai Theatre of Opera and Ballet Skarbek Theatre Town Hall Ukraina Stadium Union of Lublin Mound

Transport	International Airport Tramway Lviv railway station Lviv Suburban railway station

Polish–Lithuanian Castles and Forts in the Kresy

Black Ruthenia

Surviving	Old Grodno New Grodno Lida Mir Nieśwież Dwór Stanisławów

Ruined	Gieraniony Holszany Krewo Lubcz Nowogródek Różana

Volynia

Galicia

Surviving	Brzeżany Olesko Podhorce Pomorzany Stare Sioło Świrz Tarnopol Wiśniowiec Zbaraż Potok Złoty Złoczów Żółkiew

Ruined	Brody Buczacz Czortków Dobromil Halicz Jabłoniewka Jazłowiec Krzemieniec Lwów Mikulińce Podzamcze Pniów Rakowiec Skała Podolska Skałat Trembowla

Podolia

Surviving	Kamieniec Podolski Latyczów Międzybuż Satanów

Ruined	Busza Czarnokozińce Kudryńce Okopy Świętej Trójcy Sidorów Zinków Żwaniec

Coordinates: 49°50′53.92″N 24°2′21.88″E / 49.8483111°N 24.0394111°E / 49.8483111; 24.0394111

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