Zbarazh Castle

Zbarazh was built between 1626 and 1631 for the Zbaraski princes to a design in the new Dutch manner: a square of earth ramparts with corner bastions enclosing a two-storey palace, defence and residence combined. It withstood a long siege in 1649 that Sienkiewicz later made famous in With Fire and Sword. Restored from ruin in the late twentieth century, the palace now holds museums of regional history, icons and decorative art, and the casemates under the ramparts are open as part of the route.

What you actually see

• The bastion square - earth ramparts with corner bastions round the whole complex.
• The palace - the two-storey residence inside the defences, restored with museums.
• The casemates - vaulted chambers under the ramparts.
• The icon collection - Podillia and Galician icons in the museum ranges.

When to go

April to October is the comfortable season. The museums keep set hours and close on Mondays. Summer weekends bring events in the courtyard.

Honest expectations

The restoration is thorough to the point of feeling new. Museum labelling is in Ukrainian. The town around has little else.

Nearby

Vyshnivets is northeast, and Ternopil is southwest.