Lubart's Castle

Lutsk, Ukraine, Ukraine

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Lubart's Castle in Lutsk, Ukraine, originated in the mid-14th century as a stone fortress built by Lithuanian Prince Lubart, son of Gediminas, replacing earlier wooden defenses on a hill overlooking the Styr River to serve as the seat of the Galicia-Volhynia rulers.

This triangular stronghold, featuring three main towers - Lubart, Švitrigaila, and Bishop connected by 10-meter-thick walls, withstood sieges by Casimir the Great in 1349 and others, while hosting the pivotal 1429 Congress of European monarchs under Vytautas to discuss alliances against the Turks.

Fortified further in the 15th-17th centuries with added tiers and loopholes, it evolved from a princely residence enclosing a cathedral and palaces into a cultural hub, now preserving an armoury, bell collection, and ceramics exhibit as Lutsk's iconic landmark featured on the 200 hryvnia bill.​