Description of the attraction
One of the architectural attractions of the Lviv region is the outstanding building of the Renaissance in Ukraine - Zhovkva Castle, which is located in the city of Zhovkva on Vecheva Square.
The castle was founded in 1594 by the founder of the city Stanislav Zholkiewski. The construction of the building was carried out according to the project of the architect Pavel Schastlivy, later Ambrosius Blagosklonny, Peter Beber and Pavel Rimlyanin were engaged in its construction. The castle had a quadrangular shape, at the corners there were towers, which were connected by covered galleries with two-storey buildings. In the courtyard there were service rooms and a palace. The entrance is fortified with a four-story tower.
In 1606, a menagerie was set up in the Zhovkva Castle, where various animals were bred for hunting.
The castle constantly changed its owners, but unlike other fortresses, only members of one family ruled it: in 1620, after the death of Stanislav Zholkiewski, the castle came under the leadership of his wife, in 1624 their daughter Sophia became its owner, and then ownership passed into the hands of Teofila, the daughter of Sophia. At the end of the 17th century, the castle was the summer residence of the Polish king Jan III Sobieski. Then it became one of the richest royal palaces in Europe.
In 1648, Cossack troops attacked the Zhovkva Castle, but thanks to a large ransom, the structure remained intact. But in 1655 the attack was repeated, after which the castle was still captured, and the city was robbed. At the beginning of the XVIII century. the castle was the residence for Tsar Peter I, and hetman I. Mazepa also visited it. Later, the palace became the property of the city.
Due to many years of reconstruction, the modern appearance of Zhovkva Castle does not at all correspond to its old appearance. Today the Zhovkva Castle is a monument of history and architecture of the city of Zhovkva, on the territory of which there is a museum, the State Historical and Architectural Reserve has been created and a tourist information center has been opened.
