Khotyn

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Shortened history of the castle:

Khotyn was almost always a frontier town: it was on the border of several Slavonic principalities (Galician Principality from 1140s, Halych-Volhynian Kingdom from 1199, Moldavian Principality from the middle of the 14th century), Ottoman Empire (1712), Russian Empire (from 1812) and Romania (in 1918-1940). Due to its geographical location Khotyn fortress played a great role in Ukrainian and European history.

The fortress over the river Dnister was built in times of Vladimir the Great in order to defend western borders. There is no way to find out how the border outpost looked in those times. However, location of Khotyn fortress was really well chosen: on a natural rock foundation, near a passage across the Dnister River. The castle walls were covered with stone later, in the 13th century.

Khotyn fortress is famous for the battle of 1621 which decided the fate of Europe. In April 1621, sultan Osman II started military campaign against Poland which was defenseless after the battle of 1620 with Turkish troops. Europe was too week at those times to stand the pressure of the numerous sultan’s army. Poland could have capitulated, and half of Europe would have been conquered by the Turks, but Polish wanted to have the last word...

The whole horde went against Khotyn with 300 thousand Turks and 100 thousand Tartars. Against this numerous and well organized army struggled 35 thousand Poles and 40 thousand Cossacks. Osaman II expected to win this battle in a few hours and the Khan predicted self-confidently that he would have breakfast under the walls of Khotyn among the Cossacks troops and dinner in the fortress with the Polish troops. But the Khotyn battle lasted five weeks and the peace treaty was only concluded in october 1621.

Half a century later, on November 11, 1673, Khotyn is the theatre of a new victory over the Turkish army. This time, the triumph is celebrated by Polish, Lithuanian and Cossack troops headed by Jan Sobeskiy.

In 1856 Khotyn fortress was delivered from its military status and became a touristic object.

Opening times and additional information:

It is open daily for visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entrance ticket for adults costs 4 hrn, children – 2 hrn.

For permission to take photos you will have to pay an additional 1 hrn.