Ostroh

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.

Background

Ostroh stands on the Horyn River, and its population was estimated at 14,894 in 2022. The Hypatian Codex first records it in 1100, as a stronghold of the Volhynian princes. From the 14th century the Ostrogski princes had their seat here and turned it into a centre of learning and trade. Magdeburg rights followed in 1585, and in the 17th century a moat and a rampart with five bastions were built around the town. The Great Maharsha Synagogue dates from 1627. The railways of the 19th century passed Ostroh by, and the station serving the area was built at Ożenin in 1873, 14 kilometres from the town.

Source: Wikipedia, "Ostroh"

Highlights

• 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.

Before you go

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.

Key facts