Khotyn Fortress

The Khotyn fortress is a large tourist attraction in Ukraine. The fortress was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. The location of the Khotyn fortress was well chosen. It stands on a rocky territory near a passage across the river Dnister. The panorama of the fortress is really wonderful. When you get close to the fortress you perceive its magnificence with its five towers and 40 meter-height.

Initially the construction of the Khotyn fortress goes back to the Khotyn Fort, which was built in the 10th century by Prince of Kievan Rus’ Volodymyr.  It served as the border fortification of Kievan Rus’. Construction on the current fortress started in 1325. Major reconstructions were made in the 1380s and in the 1460s.

In 13 century Prince Danylo of Halych and his son Lev rebuilt the Khotyn fortress. In this period a half-meter stone wall and a 6-meter wide moat around the fortress were added. During 14th-16th centuries the Khotyn fortress served as a residence to Moldavian Princes which also made some reconstructions. In this period the fortress acquired the structure that it has nowadays.

Today Khotyn is one of the biggest cities of the Chernivtsi region, an important tourist and cultural center of Ukraine. The Khotyn fortress has often been chosen as a setting for movies. The fortress represented French and English castles and historical fortifications.