What to see in Lutsk: main sights of the city in Volyn

The city-museum combines ancient history and the dynamic present. Its walls still remember the knights, kings, and ordinary citizens who shaped the evolution of Volyn. There are old castles, majestic cathedrals, and even underground passages and treasures shrouded in legends. Read on to find out where to start your journey around the Volyn.

Cathedral of the St. Peter and Paul

It is located in the Old Lutsk History and Culture Reserve. The construction of the church began in 1616, and it was designed by Italian architect Giacomo Briano.

The work lasted almost a quarter of a century. During this time, the church has undergone significant changes under the influence of various architectural styles: from Renaissance to Baroque and Classicism.

The collegium once belonged to the Jesuit order, and today it houses an educational institution.

Tourists will see wall paintings, sculptures, memorial plaques, and paintings of the 18th century, for example, the St. Francis Icon.

There is a four-tiered dungeon in the church, where travelers will see ancient frescoes and Latin inscriptions, visit the crypt, refectory, and tomb. One of the rooms was used to hold and torture prisoners.

Lubart's Castle

One of the oldest castles in Ukraine.

In the 10th century, there was a small settlement on this site, and in the 14th century, by order of Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania, the construction of a powerful fortress began.

It served not only as a defensive structure, but also as a residence and center of political life in Volyn, where conferences of Central European monarchs were held.

There is a legend that the ruler wanted to gift the palace to his beloved, who, unfortunately, died before the work was completed. It is also said that eggs were added to the concrete used to create the building, which allegedly strengthened the foundation.

We advise you to visit the building ceramics exhibition on the second floor of the entrance tower. Tourists can see ancient artifacts found during archaeological excavations. A medieval prison is located on the lower level.

The tower hosts an exhibition of castle weapons and the country's only museum of bells. The oldest exhibit dates back to 1647.

By the way, this is the attraction depicted on the back of the 200 hryvnia banknote.

Lutheran Church

The building was erected in 1906 in the Neo-Gothic style. It was once home to the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Carmelite Order, which was destroyed by fire in 1845.

In the tenth century, the church served as the main church of the German colonists.

During the First World War, the basement was used as a hospital for typhoid patients.

Later it was transferred to the Baptist community, which restored the building.

The Sculptor Holovan's House

It is located on the territory of the Old Lutsk History and Culture Reserve too.

Although the artist's family lost their own home in Soviet times, he continued to work for the benefit of the city.

And so, after 20 years of artistic activity, the local authorities gave him a small plot of land for development. Mykola Holovan was free to create and work on his unique figures.

Today, the reserve contains more than 500 sculptures of various styles.

Lutsk Zoo

The zoo is located in the Central Park. The menagerie was founded in 1979 and reconstructed several times.

It is home to more than 146 species of animals, including lemurs, lions, deer, camels, peacocks, donkeys, and monkeys. Some of them are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

One of the most prominent monuments of sacred architecture in Volyn.

On the site of the modern cathedral once was a wooden church of the Holy Cross. In the seventeenth century, a Bernardine monastery appeared, and later a new brick church was built. The construction of the shrine was completed in 1789, and it was designed by Polish architect Paweł Giżycki.

Today, the church is considered an important religious center in Lutsk. It belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Tourists will see the wall paintings and gilded icons "Cathedral of Russian Saints" and "Ascension of the Lord's Cross."

We also recommend going to the crypt, where services are sometimes held.

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