A lot can be said about this city: the second capital of the Galicia-Volhynia and Lithuanian Principality, the place where interesting historical events unfolded, where in 1429 a congress of European monarchs took place, where every street of the old city, every stone of the sidewalk keeps the memory of hundreds of years that Lutsk has been standing on the earth.
Lutsk is not just the administrative center of Volynska Oblast, it is one of the oldest cities of Ukraine, preserving the architecture and mood of the European Middle Ages.
When exactly the city was founded is not known. Officially history of Lutsk begins in 1085, but it is believed that already since the VII century on the island surrounded by the waters of the rivers Styr and Glushets settled Dulebs, Krivichs, Yatvyags and other East Slavic tribes. The etymology of the name Lucheska is not known for sure either; according to one of the most widespread versions, it was named from the word «onion», which also means «bend of the river».
The town’s eventful history is associated with many famous names. Thus, in 1001, Grand Duke Vladimir himself founded the first Lutsk fortress of wood on a hill, which withstood the sieges of the Polish king, princes and even Yuri Dolgoruky. In the XIV century, a stone castle was erected in its place. After the reconstruction in the XVI century, it has survived to our time unchanged. The medieval Lutsk Castle of Prince Lubart is one of the most famous sights of Ukraine.
Under the Lithuanian Prince Lubart, Lutsk reached incredible prosperity and was considered the second capital of the Lithuanian Principality. Located on an important trade route from the Northern Baltic countries to Byzantium, the city became a major trade center, where merchants from different countries came. Thus, German and Polish neighborhoods with their characteristic architecture appeared in Lučeskie.
Many people dreamed of taking possession of the rich and well-fortified city — the Lutsk castle could not be conquered by any conqueror. Several times the city passed from the Vladimir-Volynsky, then Galicia-Volynsky, Lithuanian principalities, Poland and the Russian Empire. Such a troubled fate, however, favorably reflected on the beautiful architectural appearance of the old part of the city, since 1985 received the status of historical and cultural reserve «Old Lutsk».
The opposition of Catholic and Orthodox cultures that constantly existed in Lutsk, as well as the multinational racial composition of the city’s inhabitants had a significant impact on the architecture. Now you can see here not only the majestic St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Holy Protection Church, where the masterpiece of art of the XIII century — the icon of Our Lady of Volyn was born, but also the Dominican monastery, monasteries of the Shirits and Brigidoks, synagogue, the most beautiful Lutheran church in the neo-Gothic style and many other religious buildings of different spiritual cultures, which have survived to our time from the XIII-XX centuries.
Lutsk architecture includes medieval temples, a castle, old low houses, one of which was inhabited by Lesya Ukrainka, ancient sidewalks in the old part of the city, and beautiful examples of Stalinist architecture in the new part. The architecture of the two eras is separated by a cozy and beautiful pedestrian street Lesya Ukrainka, on one side of it there is a modern provincial town, and on the other side there is a real Middle Ages, full of masterpieces that delight the eye and soul of any visitor of the city.
Today Lutsk sights are not only ancient buildings. There are several museums where you can see the rarest antiquities: Museum of Volynsk icon, in the exposition of which the priceless pearl is the miracle-working Kholm icon of the Mother of God of the XI century, in the towers of Lubarta Castle — the only in the country museum of ancient bells, ancient books and weapons. The main mystery of the city is the underground Petropavlovskij-kostel, a visit to which leaves the most vivid impressions for adrenaline lovers — tombs, dark corridors of the three-storey crypt, coffins, human skulls and bones are remembered for a long time.
Lutsk is visited by tourists not only from Ukraine — people from Europe and Russia also come to see it. Amazing, mysterious, peculiar city Lutsk conquers the heart of every guest who came to get acquainted with its history, architecture and unique atmosphere, that is why you want to come back here again.