- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1325 · 14th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Chernivtsi, Ukraine
- Coordinates
- 48.5219°, 26.4983°
History
Defences stood on the Dniester from the early Middle Ages, and the stone castle was enlarged in the 13th and 15th centuries, the latter under Prince Stephen the Great of Moldavia, who gave it its tall walls and towers. In 1621 Polish-Lithuanian forces under Jan Karol Chodkiewicz held off the huge army of Sultan Osman II at Khotyn. In 1673 Hetman Jan Sobieski crushed an Ottoman army here, a victory that helped carry him to the Polish throne. In the 18th century the Ottomans rebuilt the outer defences on modern lines, and the fortress later passed to Russia. Today it is a historical reserve and a favourite film location.
What to see
Visitors can walk among the massive walls and towers of the citadel, the courtyard with the commandant's palace and the wide earthworks of the later fortress. Look out for the decorative patterns in pale brick on the walls. The high riverbank gives broad views over the Dniester.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q141012
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