Zolochiv Castle
Encyclopedia
Zolochiv Castle was a residence of the Sobieski
noble family on a hill at the confluence of two small rivers in the south-eastern part of Zolochiv
, Galicia (now part of Ukraine
's Lviv Oblast
).
The rectangular fort was built in 1634-36 by Jakub Sobieski
using the labor of enslaved Crimean Tatars
. 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". The Chinese Palace, a diminutive mauve-colored rotunda
flanked by one-storey wings, was added later in the century as Jan III's gift to his French-born wife, Marysieńka
.
In 1672, the castle was taken after a 6-days siege by the Turks
under Kapudan Pasa.
Three years later, it survived a new siege by the Ottoman army. After Jakub Ludwik Sobieski
's death in 1737, the castle passed to the Radziwill
princely family and then (in 1801) to Count Łukasz Komarnicki whose heirs sold it to the Austrian crown in 1834.
In the 19th century, the castle was adapted for use as a hospital and barracks. It was turned into a prison in 1872 and continued in use after the September Campaign. There's a chapel commemorating the victims of the NKVD
on the grounds of the castle.
Since 1985 the complex has been supervised by the Lviv Art Gallery and under restoration. Recently it began to open its grounds for visitors. Exhibits include more than 25 European coats of arms, dinosaur bone chandeliers, and a replica of a typical royal crown
from the 13th century, that could be similar to that of Daniel of Galicia.
Sobieski
Sobieski is a Polish noble family name, and may refer to:-People:...
noble family on a hill at the confluence of two small rivers in the south-eastern part of Zolochiv
Zolochiv
Zolochiv is a town located in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zolochiv Raion ....
, Galicia (now part of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
's Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast is an oblast in western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Lviv.-History:The oblast was created as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on December 4, 1939...
).
The rectangular fort was built in 1634-36 by Jakub Sobieski
Jakub Sobieski
Jakub Sobieski was a Polish-Lithuanian noble, parliamentarian, diarist, political activist, military leader and father of King Jan III Sobieski. Son of castellan and voivode Marek Sobieski and Jadwiga Snopkowska.- Life :...
using the labor of enslaved Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars
Crimean Tatars or Crimeans are a Turkic ethnic group that originally resided in Crimea. They speak the Crimean Tatar language...
. 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". The Chinese Palace, a diminutive mauve-colored rotunda
Rotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
flanked by one-storey wings, was added later in the century as Jan III's gift to his French-born wife, Marysieńka
Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien
Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien, in Polish: Maria Kazimiera, known also by the diminutive form "Marysieńka" was consort to King John III Sobieski, from 1674 to 1696.-Biography:...
.
In 1672, the castle was taken after a 6-days siege by the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
under Kapudan Pasa.
Three years later, it survived a new siege by the Ottoman army. After Jakub Ludwik Sobieski
Jakub Ludwik Sobieski
James Louis Sobieski was the son of King John III of Poland and Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien.-Biography:...
's death in 1737, the castle passed to the Radziwill
Radziwill
The Radziwiłł family is an noble family of Lithuanian origin. The descendants of Kristinas Astikas, a close associate of the 14th century Lithuanian ruler Vytautas, were highly prominent for centuries, first in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the...
princely family and then (in 1801) to Count Łukasz Komarnicki whose heirs sold it to the Austrian crown in 1834.
In the 19th century, the castle was adapted for use as a hospital and barracks. It was turned into a prison in 1872 and continued in use after the September Campaign. There's a chapel commemorating the victims of the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
on the grounds of the castle.
Since 1985 the complex has been supervised by the Lviv Art Gallery and under restoration. Recently it began to open its grounds for visitors. Exhibits include more than 25 European coats of arms, dinosaur bone chandeliers, and a replica of a typical royal crown
Crown of Rus
The Crown of Rus, also known as the Crown of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, is the crown with which Daniel of Galicia was crowned in 1253 by a papal archbishop in Dorohochyn.The crown is believed to have been lost...
from the 13th century, that could be similar to that of Daniel of Galicia.