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Meridiela.

Ostroh

A Volhynian town that was a centre of printing and learning in the sixteenth century, with a castle above the valley.

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Typetown
WhereRivne
Nearest cityRivne
Best seasonApril to October
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereAbout 45 km southeast of Rivne
EntryCharged at the castle museum

Ostroh was the seat of the Ostrozky princes, who founded an academy here in 1576 and a press that produced the Ostroh Bible in 1581, the first complete printed Bible in Church Slavonic and a landmark of East Slavic printing. The castle stands on a hill above the town with its round Murovana tower and the Epiphany church inside the walls. A museum of the book, a defensive synagogue ruin and the Tatar tower survive in the town below.

What you actually see

  • The castle - the Murovana tower and Epiphany church on the hill.
  • The book museum - the Ostroh Bible and early printing in the castle complex.
  • The academy - the sixteenth-century foundation, revived as a university.
  • The synagogue ruin - a large defensive synagogue standing roofless in the town.

When to go

April to October is the comfortable season. Museums close on Mondays. Winter is quiet.

Honest expectations

The synagogue is a roofless shell and restoration has not happened. The town is small and half a day covers it. Labelling is in Ukrainian.

Nearby

Dubno is northwest, and Rivne is north.

What to pack for Ostroh

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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