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The original was posted on /r/ukraine by /u/duellingislands on 2023-07-05 01:25:11+00:00.
Original Title: 4:53 EEST; The Sun is Rising Over Kyiv on the 497th Day of the Full-Scale Invasion. Today, an entry in our series on the Castles of Ukraine all about the mysterious Svirzh Castle in the Lviv region! + Discussion + Charities
🇺🇦 Слава Україні! 🇺🇦
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Another entry in our series on the Castles of Ukraine! You can find previous entries here:
Castles of Ukraine (Overview) | Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle | Tustan Cliff Fortress | Pidhirtsi Castle | Nevytskyi Castle | Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Castle | Ostroh Castle | Lutsk Castle | Vyshnivetskyi Palace | Khotyn Fortress | Radomyshl Castle
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Svirzh Castle
Svirzh Castle, looking mysterious.
Svirzh Castle (also called Svirzkyi Castle) is in the town of Svirzh in the Lviv region and has had many faces and many incarnations. Its first life was as a wooden fortress of the Rurik royal family of the Kyivan Rus. Indeed, it was the perfect place for a fortress - swamps and marshes wrapped the castle grounds in a blanket of natural defenses. For centuries, the castle served as a key defensive fortification of western Ukrainian lands.
It is hard not to see this as concept art for a Witcher game.
The incorporation of stone into the castle’s foundations began in the 16th century when two brothers, who, it is believed, named the town as their last name and started the construction of the stone castle given the strategic importance of the place. To this day, the castle greets all with year 1530 engraved above its main entrance.
There is a lot of discussion about who these two mysterious brothers were and what their real name was; some say they were the descendants of the mysterious Halka himself, whose name, rumored by some, gave a name to the whole region of Halychyna with its capital in the city of Halych.
The castle as we can see today was built in the beginning of the 17th century. It was modernized and strengthened so that it could continue to serve its role as a defensive structure of highly volatile areas located on many geopolitical crossroads. The castle survived a lot, but it did crumble under the onslaught of Turks in 1672 and was in decay for some time after that.
In the 19th century, the castle was restored and redecorated in a Neo-Gothic style and yet again high life in castle was in full swing. The castle turned into a cozy family residence with rose gardens; however, the most horrible blow to the town and the castle arrived in the WW1 when the front line passed through the area, and russian soldiers burnt and pillaged the castle. The owners without hesitation rebuilt the beloved castle and, it is rumored, russian POWs were employed to renovate what was destroyed. So that’s fun.
But the renovation was short lived as WW2 front passed through this land twice, and then the remaining destruction was perpetrated by the soviets, who for a time being organized there a school for tractor drivers. But let’s be honest here - nothing was renovated or updated for students of tractor driving - neglect was the key word - neglect of both architectural and historical artifacts and the Ukrainian people.
Today the castle is by no means restored to its old glory. But it is still one of the most breathtaking places to visit - you can not only take in the history of this area, but also spend a whole day enjoying nature and the beauty and tranquility of this picturesque corner of Ukraine.
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Love Conquers All
As always, we include a local legend about the castle :)
In the 17th century, a enemy came to the land from far away and sieged Svirzh. The siege was long, for the castle was well-protected by treacherous swamps, and the only gate in the castle was secured by a deep moat and a bridge.
A local girl worked in the town, and she fell in love with an enemy soldier. The soldier learned of her feelings and deceived her by telling her that her love was mutual. He told her that they can be together only if he can get inside of the castle. And he promised her that, if she would only open the gates, no one in the castle or her family will be harmed.
Blinded by reckless love and filled with a false hope that war can be stopped by it, the girl opened the fortress gate on a moonless night. Seizing their opportunity, the enemy forced their way inside the castle’s perimeter and - to the horror of the girl - they plundered the castle and killed all those inside. And her beloved? Without hesitation, he threw the girl into a deep castle well on the reasoning that she was a traitor to her own people.
So when you are in the castle, you will inevitably see and hear the windows and doors closing shut by unknown invisible forces. It is the soul of a naïve girl who learned her bitter lesson and is now trying to desperately to keep the enemy out.
Sadly, some mistakes cannot be undone.
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I know that’s a pretty depressing legend, so here’s a different legend at the castle to cleanse your palette:
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The 497th day of a nine year invasion that has been going on for centuries.
One day closer to victory.