17th century castle in the town of Zhovka, Ukraine
Zhovkva Castle, the Sobieski residence in Żółkiew (Zhovkva)Miniature model of the castle's presumed original appearance
TheZhovkva Castle (Ukrainian:Жовківський замок;Polish:Zamek w Żółkwi) occupies the principal square of the town ofZhovkva inUkraine. It was founded by Polish HetmanStanisław Żółkiewski as his fortified residence. Construction began in 1594 and was mostly completed in 1606.
The castle had a typicallySerlian entrancearch and was encircled bymoats (up to 17 meters in width). One wing of the building accommodated thearsenal andstables; another was immediately contiguous to the city wall. In 1606, a garden was laid out next to thehetman's residence. It contained amenagerie withwisents,deer, andchamois. The palatinechapel was consecrated in 1640.
The golden age of the Zolkiew Castle was the late 17th century when it passed through inheritance toJakub Sobieski and then to his sonKing Jan III Sobieski, a native of Zhovkva. It was there that the king celebratedhis victory atVienna. In the 18th century the castle's facade was decorated with the statues of its owners from the Zolkiewski, Daniłowicz,Sobieski, andRadziwill families.
After thepartition of Poland the castle fell into disuse and was auctioned off. During the 19th century the chapel and some other structures were dismantled or rebuilt to accommodate a local school. The castle sustained further damage during theFirst World War. Some restoration was undertaken just before theSecond World War, but much more was required following the end of hostilities.
Black Ruthenia
Volhynia
Red Ruthenia
Podolia
