- Type
- Castle
- Coordinates
- 49.9683°, 24.9006°
History
A stronghold on a low hill surrounded by marshes is recorded in the 14th century, when Poland and Lithuania fought over the borderlands of Galicia and Volhynia. In the 15th century Olesko became a permanent part of the Polish Crown and the property of powerful noble families. In the early 17th century the Daniłowicz family rebuilt the fortress as a Renaissance residence, and on 17 August 1629 John Sobieski, grandson of Jan Daniłowicz, was born here. In the 18th century the castle belonged to the Rzewuski family, who also built the nearby Capuchin monastery. After years of decline and damage in the 20th century the castle was restored and in 1975 opened as a museum, part of the Lviv National Art Gallery.
What to see
The oval castle is surrounded by terraced Italian-style gardens, and its rooms hold a collection of art from the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: portraits, sculpture, furniture and icons. The large canvases of John III Sobieski's battles stand out. Opposite the castle stands the Baroque Capuchin monastery, and the whole ensemble is best seen from the hill.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q785544
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