Attractions of Khotyn

Khotyn Fortress is a remarkable example of medieval defense architecture of Ukraine, one of the most significant architectural monuments of Bukovyna.

It was built in the 13th century by order of Prince Danylo Halytsky on the site of early Slavic fortifications. The castle (citadel) consists of four defensive towers, the commandant's palace, officers' barracks, a church with fragments of a 16th century painting.

For a long time Khotyn Fortress was an outpost of the Galicia-Volyn principality, an important defensive point of Transnistria. In the 16th century it was strengthened by the Moldavian King Stefan III.

In 1621, near Khotyn, united Polish-Ukrainian troops under the command of Hetman Yan Karol Khodkevych defeated a 150,000-strong Turkish army that was considered invincible. The decisive role in the Battle of Khotyn was played by the 40,000-strong Cossack army of Hetman Petro Sahaydachnyi.

However, Khotyn remained under the rule of the Turks, who in the 18th century, with the help of French engineers, built a new fortress near the castle with earthen ditches, bastions and four gates. Inside could accommodate a 20,000-strong garrison.

After the annexation of Bessarabia to the Russian Empire in the 19th century, the fortress was rebuilt, the castle mosque was transformed into the garrison church of Oleksandr Nevsky, and the mosque on the territory of the New Fortress became the Church of Saint Nicholas.

After the Crimean War, the Khotyn Fortress lost its significance as a military facility, but it survived well. Its powerful walls served as scenery in such famous films as "Zahar Berkut", "The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe", "D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers", "Robin Hood's Arrows", "Taras Bulba".

Restoration was carried out to the 1000th anniversary of Khotyn Fortress. Museum expositions have been opened in the barracks: the history of artillery, siege weapons, numismatics, art gallery.

There is a souvenir shop on site. Parking is paid.

Khotyn Historical Museum is a department of the Chernivtsi Regional Museum of Local Lore.

It is located in the former house of the priest of the Church of the Intercession.

In five halls there are expositions that cover the history of the region: "Khotyn region - Slavic land", "Khotyn region in the period X-XVII centuries.", "Russian-Turkish war", ethnography of Khotyn region of the late XIX - early XX centuries. and other.

Of particular interest is the model of Khotyn fortress and Cossack jewels.