Golden Horseshoe Castles Tour
We invite you to visit 3 historic Ukrainian towns forming the horseshoe on the map of Lviv region. Castles we explore during this 6-hour tour are great examples of the fortification architecture and with our professional local guide, you learn the historical facts and beautiful legends about the events that took place in each castle.
On its southern edge lies the town of Zolochiv with 17th century Castle, a former residence of the Sobieski family. We wander around the picturesque gardens of Zolochiv Castle and admire the beautiful flowers and landscapes of the castle’s grounds. With our guide you uncover the secrets that lie within the castle’s mysterious stones that legend believes can bring happiness.
On the northern edge lies the 14th century Olesko Castle – one of Ukraine’s most picturesque castles. Surrounded by a nice park, it also has beautiful countryside views from the castle’s courtyard and inside the castle grounds we enjoy the exhibits of the 15th-18th centuries art collection started by the famous king of Poland John III Sobieski.
And to the east we find the 17th century Pidhirtsi Castle. Known as the Ukrainian Versailles for its beauty, castle nestles among the hills of the Voroniaky Uplands. Several influential Polish aristocratic families lived here and made it a real jewel. Unfortunately there is nothing left to see inside (except for a small but intriguing “The ghosts of the Pidhirtsi Castle” exhibition), but with he help of our guide you learn how Pidhirtsi Castle used to look like and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views at the Styr River valley from the Castle’s grounds.
Highlights:
1. Olesko Castle
Located about seventy-five kilometers from Lviv, Olesko Castle is one of the best-known castles that had been reconstructed from ruins. The first historical records of the castle, built on top of a 50-meter hill, are found in a document dated 1390, when Pope Boniface IX gave Olesko and Tustan to a Catholic bishop of Halych.... 2. Zolochiv Castle
One of the most remarkable palaces of Lviv region, Zolochiv Castle, was built in 1634 by Jakub Sobieski (father of the Polish king Jan III) to replace the Old Ruthenian wooden fortress. The Sobieski castle comprised solid walls in a then-current Dutch style, with four pentagonal towers at each corner, and the so-called “grand palace”.... 3. Pidhirtsi Castle
Pidhirtsi Castle was constructed by the Italian architect Andrea del Agua between 1635 and 1640 for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s Crown Hetman Stanislaw Koniecpolski. Unlike other castles of the region, Pidhirtsi Castle was built for leisure rather than for defensive purposes – a notion that is accentuated by its Italianate gardens and the two churches on...
