The history of one of the most influential princely dynasties in Eastern Europe begins on Castle Hill in Ostroh. For several centuries, the Princes of Ostroh shaped the political, military, and cultural life of the Ukrainian lands. They were statesmen, military commanders, patrons of the arts, defenders of the Orthodox faith, and supporters of education.
The most renowned representative of the dynasty was Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi, the most influential member of the Ruthenian nobility in the sixteenth century. Owing to his immense political influence and vast estates, he was often referred to as the “Uncrowned King of Rus’”. He founded the Ostroh Academy, the first institution of higher education in Eastern Europe, and sponsored the publication of the Ostroh Bible – the first complete printed edition of the Bible in Church Slavonic. He also financed the construction and restoration of churches, monasteries, schools, and hospitals. Thanks to his efforts, Ostroh became one of the leading cultural and spiritual centres of Europe during that period.
Vasyl-Kostiantyn’s father, Kostiantyn Ivanovych Ostrozkyi, was one of the greatest military commanders of his time. In 1514, he led the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to a remarkable victory over the Muscovite forces at the Battle of Orsha. Throughout his lifetime, he won more than sixty battles, becoming a symbol of military excellence and the defence of the Ruthenian lands.
Today, Castle Hill is an architectural ensemble consisting of the Stone Tower, the New (Round) Tower, the Epiphany Church, and the Gate Bell Tower. The oldest structure in the complex is the Stone Tower – a donjon built in the fourteenth century. It was once the only stone building within the fortress, surrounded by wooden defensive walls. During sieges, it served as a storage place for provisions, housed a well, and its spacious halls welcomed princes and distinguished guests. At the end of the sixteenth century, the tower was reconstructed and later connected to the Epiphany Church by a covered gallery. Its Gothic vaults, Renaissance portal, and massive buttresses have survived to this day, reflecting the building’s original defensive function. Today, the Stone Tower houses a museum.
The south-western part of the castle is protected by the New, or Round, Tower, one of the finest examples of sixteenth-century defensive architecture in Ukraine. It was built at a time when firearms were becoming increasingly important in warfare. As a result, the tower combines medieval fortification traditions with innovative engineering solutions for its era. Its massive walls, machicolations, and numerous loopholes allowed for the effective defence of the castle.
A special place within the ensemble belongs to the Epiphany Church, the ancestral church of the Princes of Ostroh. It served both as an Orthodox place of worship and as part of the fortress’s defensive system. The crypts beneath the church became the final resting place of members of the princely family. The ensemble is completed by the eighteenth-century Gate Bell Tower, which still serves as the main entrance to Castle Hill.
Castle Hill is also a place of national remembrance. It is home to a mass grave of soldiers of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic who died fighting for Ukraine’s independence in 1919. The memorial reminds visitors that the history of this place did not end with the Princes of Ostroh. Instead, it continues to evolve, preserving the memory of new struggles and contributing to the ongoing story of Ukrainian statehood.