Attractions of Lviv region

Zhovkva Castle is an outstanding architectural monument of the Renaissance era, the main element of the fortification system of the "ideal city" of Zhovkva. The building is partially museumized, restoration is in progress.

The construction of the castle in Zhovkva began in 1594 by the city's founder Stanisław Żółkiewski, the author of the first project was Pavlo Shchaslyvy. The castle is quadrangular, with towers located at the corners, connected by covered galleries with two-story buildings. The entrance with the Serlian portal is fortified by a four-story tower. In the courtyard there is a palace and office premises. In 1606, the "Zvirynets" garden was built, in which bison, deer and fallow deer were bred for hunting.

At the end of the 17th century, Zhovkva Castle was the summer residence of the Polish king Jan III Sobieski, and became one of the richest royal palaces in Europe (in 1676, celebrations were held here in honor of Sobieski's victory over the Turks near Vienna). Hetman Ivan Mazepa and Tsar Peter I stayed in the palace. Later, the castle became the property of the city.

Until recently, various municipal institutions, a school and even residential apartments were located here.

Now the Zhovkva Castle Museum-Reserve is a branch of the Lviv National Art Gallery. A museum exposition has been opened in the eastern building, which acquaints visitors with the history of the city, the development of Zhovkiv fortifications, as well as outstanding personalities who lived or visited Zhovkiv. The new exposition is dedicated to the events of the Revolution of Dignity and the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The Zhydachiv Land Museum is part of the Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky Memorial Museum, which in turn is part of the Lviv National Art Gallery. Since 2013, the museum has been located in the premises of the former school in Zhydachiv.

The museum presents the most important events of the historical and cultural life of Zhydachiv - the chronicle Udech, the first written mention of which dates back to 1164. In particular, archaeological finds discovered during research on the territory of the former Zhydachiv Castle (XI-XIV centuries) and Castle Hill (XIV-XVI centuries) are exhibited. Among them: the Polovtsian idol of the VI-VII centuries, fragments of Cossack weapons, tools, iron, copper, stone products, etc.

Models of ancient castles that existed in Zhydachiv, as well as models of many other famous architectural monuments of Ukraine, are presented.

The exposition highlights the life and activities of famous historical figures associated with the Zhydachiv region. Among them are portraits and copies of portraits of the Danylovych, Zhevusky, Khodorivsky, Vyhovsky and other Cossack hetmans. The art gallery presents paintings and sculptures by famous Ukrainian artists of the 20th century. The permanent exhibition "Folk Embroidery of the Zhydachiv Region" displays the best examples of folk art of the middle of the 20th century.