About the city and region

Lutsk is the administrative, cultural and industrial center of the Volyn' region. It is situated on the Styr river in the North-Western part of Ukraine. The city is designated as its own region withing the region. The population of the city for today counts for about 206 000 people.

According to the legend about the city formation Lutsk was founded in the VII-th century. Hence the first documented reference origins 1085 year. The city used to be a capital of Halych-Volynia until the foundation of Volodymyr-Volynsky.

The city was erected around a wooden castle built by a local branch of the Dynasty of Ruriks. At times the stronghold was a capital of the duchy, but since there was no need for a proper capital in medieval Europe, the city did not appear to be an important centre of commerce or culture. In 1240 the closely located town was seized and looted by the tatars, but the stronghold was didn't fail. In 1321 George son of Lev, the last of the line, died in a struggle with the forces of Lithuanian Dukes and the fortress was seized by the forces of the latter. In 1349 the town was captured by the forces of Kasimir II, but it was soon retaken by Lithuania.

Places of interest

• Two castles (the Upper Castle dated by the 13th century and the Lower Castle - by 14th century)
• Catholic Cathedral in the city (erected in 1610 as a church, was reconstructed in 1781)
• Orthodox cathedral (erected in 1755 as a church and monastery)
• Several monasteries, both Catholic and Orthodox: 17th and 18th century)
• Two XVIth century Greek-Catholic churches
• Fortified stronghold (Little Castle, 15th century)

How to get there

Lutsk is about 400 km away from Kyiv city. You can get there by train for about 40 hrn or you can also take a mini-bus that will bring you right to the destination.