Lutsk

Agrandir le plan

Shortened history of the castle:

According to historical chronicles, there were two castles in medieval Lutsk. Unfortunately, the second one, the Okolnyi Castle, was completely destroyed in the 14th century.

The 28 meter-high Entrance Tower of Lutsk Castle was where the idea of a united Europe was voiced for the first time, as incredible as it may seem. And it happened in 1429: European monarchs from 15 states were invited to Lutsk. The Holy Roman (and German) Emperor Sigismund, Danish King Eric IV, Polish monarch Władysław II Jagiełło, the Grand Masters of the Teutonic and Livonian orders, a legate of Pope Martin V, Vasili II, Grand Prince of Moscow, an ambassador of the Byzantine Emperor Palaeologus and other high and mighty leaders responded to this invitation. In total more than 15,000 guests came, while the population of Lutsk itself was only about 5,000 residents! A series of very important questions were raised at this “summit”, such as forming a coalition against the growing power of the Ottoman Empire (groundwork of the modern European Union!) or even equal rights for Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Imagine the cost to organize such a summit: records show that seven hundred barrels of beer and honey drinks were consumed daily! It seems that in the Middle Ages the term ‘diet’ was completely unknown.

And a last anecdote: it is the only castle in Ukraine seen by nearly every Ukrainian, thanks to the fact that they hold its picture in their hand with every 200 hryvnas bill.

Opening times and additionnal information:

The castle is open daily from 10am to 7pm.

Entrance ticket:
- adults 4 hryvnas
- children and students 2 hryvnas

Sigmundskron

Agrandir le plan

Shortened history of the castle:

The first time the castle was mentionned dates back to 945, which makes it one of the oldest castles of southern Europe.

In the end of the fifteenth century, the Prince of Tyrol, Duke Sigismund the Rich, bought the castle, renamed it Sigmundskron Castle and developed it to withstand firearms. The castle stood for several decades as a major defensive point of Tyrol before falling suddenly into disrepair, due to financial difficulties.

At the end of the 18th century the castle belonged to the Count Wolkenstein, then in the 19th to the counts of Sarnthein and from then until 1994 to the counts of Toggenburg. In 1996 the castle passed into the possession of the Province of Bolzano. In the spring of 2003, after much controversy, Reinhold Messner was given a licence for his long-planned mountain museum.

Opening times and additionnal information:

Museum and castle open from Tuesday to Sunday (10 am – 6pm)
Open from the 1st sunday in March until the last sunday in November

Châteaugay

Agrandir le plan

Shortened history of the castle :

The castle of Chateaugay stands above the village of the same name. It was erected in 1381 by Pierre de Giac, chancellor of the King of France Charles VII, on the ruins of the castle Vigosche. It was enlarged in the sixteenth century by Laqueuille before being sold as national property during the Revolution.

The keep is the only remaining building of the fourteenth century castle, and has never been restored since then.

On the ground floor of the keep, the Chateaugay Wine (a typical product from Auvergne which was loved by Henri IV) can be tasted and bought.

Opening hours and additionnal information:

Open from mid-June to mid-September everyday from 2pm to 7pm.
Open on reservations the rest of the year.
Free entrance (tip only)

E-mail : mairie@chateaugay.fr