Official Site of Lutsk City Council

Lutsk is one of the most ancient cities of Ukraine. Its historical centre is located near the river Styr and the city's name comes from the old Russian word “luka”, i.e. a meadow or flood-land place in a river arch. According to the chronicles of 1085 Lutsk had become a military fortification and center for trade and commercial activities at that time.

Historically, the city was the last capital of Volyn-Galician Rus, a south residence of Lithuanian grand dukes and a traditional capital of Volyn. Lutsk was the site of a meeting of great European monarchs in 1429. It witnessed war in 1431 and became a shelter for people of the Volyn region during the war against Tatars at the end of the XV century. In the traditional town layout for medieval towns, the Upper Castle (Grand Duke’s residence) was situated in the eastern section. The Roundabout Castle stood nearby with buildings for other dukes and nobility and wealthy citizens. Commercial trading blocks were situated between the Castle and the Styr River. The rest of the city, including the local government, was separate from the Castle.

Some of the ancient buildings are preserved to this day and since 1985 this part of Lutsk has been included in the State Historic-Cultural Preserve.

The most ancient building is the Upper Castle built by Lubart in 1340-1384. Today, only three towers - Vorotna, Styrova and Vladycha, connected with high walls - remain standing, along with the house of the Regional Treasury.Only one tower, Chartoriysky's, remains of the Roundabout Castle as well as some of the castle walls. Some monastery complexes can also be seen.

The Brigitta Convent was established in 1624 and functioned until a fire in 1845, when it was converted to a local prison. The Jesuit Convent with the Collegium and Roman-Catholic church was built in 1616-1639 by the Italian architect Jacob Briano. It was a part of the fortification system of the Roundabout Castle. The Jesuit Collegium was a very important higher educational institution famous for its library and student theatre. The Roman-Catholic church was the main cathedral in Lutsk. After World War II it became a warehouse and then a Museum of Atheism. In 1992 it was restored to its previous status.

Opposite the Roman Catholic church there was the group of buildings of Sharita’s Convent. It existed during the XV-XVIII centuries and included the Bishop Palace, a hospital and a Latin school. At the end of the XVIII century the Academy of Science was founded in the same location and later – the Convent of Charity.

Commercial blocks and buildings for church workers and wealthy citizens were situated beyond the west side of the Roundabout Castle. In this area, you can see the house where the Kosach family lived, two of whose members, Lesya Ukrainka and Olena Pchilka, are among the most famous women not only in Lutsk, but throughout Ukraine. The home is now the location for the office of the Lutsk Cultural Preserve.

There is a Dominican Monastery on the south bank of Styr. When the monastery was flourishing it had a school, a printing-house and a music choir. It was a legally separated part of the town. Today there is a seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church here.

The Jewish residential area is situated to the west of the Dominicans. The synagogue is preserved with the defending tower which gave it its nickname “Little Castle”.

More buildings of historic interest are situated nearer to the centre of the old town: the Lutheran kirk and the Protection of the Virgin Church. German colonists built the kirk in 1906-1907 and it is now used by evangelists. The Protection of the Virgin Church is considered to be the oldest church in Lutsk, first being mentioned in 1583. It houses one of the oldest icons of Ukraine. It was restored in the XVII century and the Bell Tower was built in the XIX century.

The Bazilian Monastery is situated in the northern part of the old town and includes the Church of the Exaltation. In the past it was also the site of a hospital and a school. These orthodox brotherhood buildings were intended to protect people’s beliefs, language and culture from the influence of Catholicism.

The future of the old part of Lutsk will depend on preservation efforts. The task is to maintain the ancient image of the city with all its functions. Restoration of destroyed buildings on their former foundations is the first step towards the realization of this goal.


© 2002-2010 Informational Analytical Centre 19 B. Khmelnitsky st., Lutsk, 43025 Development and support: "Gelios"