Thread by @JPLindsley

Did you know Ukraine has majestic castles that guarded the gates of Europe? Here are 11 story-laden fortresses🏰 🧵

1. Kamianets-Podilskyi, "The Stones of Podilia," 14th c.: It blocked Tatar and Ottoman sieges. In 1672, it briefly fell to the latter. 📍 Khmelnytskyi region ⤵️

2. Palanok Castle, Mukachevo (14th century) 🛡️
Once held by the Transylvanian princess Ilona Zrínyi, who resisted a Habsburg siege in 1685, it's built atop an extinct volcano in quaint Mukachevo. It secretly held the Holy Crown of Hungary for a few months in 1806. 📍 Zakarpattia ⤵️

3. Olesko Castle (13th century) ⚔️
Birthplace of Polish King Jan III Sobieski, the hero of the Battle of Vienna which saved Europe from the Ottomans. Olesko was damaged by Mongol raids in the 1200s and rebuilt by Lithuanian nobles.📍 Lviv region ⤵️

4. Khotyn Fortress (13th–15th centuries) 🧱
Site of the massive 1621 battle where Polish and Kozak forces halted a 100,000-strong Ottoman army. Its towers rise 40 meters over the Dniester River. 📍 Chernivtsi region ⤵️

5. Medzhybizh Castle (16th century) 🛡️
A key stronghold in the Polish-Lithuanian defense system, it later became a center of Jewish mysticism. The Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidic Judaism, was buried here in the 18th century.📍 Khmelnytskyi region ⤵️

6. Stare Selo Castle (1584) 🪨
Designed with 3-meter-thick walls to resist Ottoman artillery, it fell into disuse after the 17th century and now stands as a vast shell.📍 Lviv region ⤵️

7. Dubno Castle (1492) 🏯
Built by Prince Ostrogski to guard trade routes, it was besieged by the Crimean Khanate in 1577 and again by Turkish forces in 1672. Soviet secret police used it to torture dissidents.📍 Rivne region ⤵️

8. Uzhhorod Castle (9th–17th centuries) 🏰
Originally built by White Croats in the 800s, then fortified by Hungarian kings, this castle held off Mongol invasions and later served as an Austro-Hungarian barracks. Now it's in a hub of zesty food & wine. 📍 Zakarpattia region ⤵️

9. Chervonohorod Castle ruins (17th century) 🏚️
Built on the site of a medieval Ruthenian fortress, this twin-towered castle was once captured by a Turkish sultan and destroyed in WWII. Only the haunting towers remain.📍 Ternopil region ⤵️

10. Ternopil Castle (1540) 🏰
Built by Polish hetman Jan Tarnowski to defend against Tatar raids, it survived multiple Ottoman attacks. The foundations and original walls remain and today it's a centerpiece of the lively Ternopil city lakefront. 📍Ternopil ⤵️

11. Akkerman Fortress / Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (13th–15th c.) ⚓️
Once part of a Greek colony, this seaside bastion was later a Moldavian stronghold with 26 towers and 2.5 km of walls. It controlled access to the Black Sea and guarded medieval trade routes. Now it's home to a winery.📍Odesa region ⤵️

Thanks for looking at these Castles of Ukraine.

I've been reporting from Ukraine every single day of Russia's full-scale invasion. Follow for insights into the history, culture, and resistance of this wild free land!🎬

Whoops. I showed the Mukachevo Castle for the Uzhhorod post, which I should have known because I've been to both! Here is Uzhhorod. There's a great café with bograch stew across from the entrance by the way.