The Fortress Of Khotyn

Khotyn attracts tourists from all over the world, one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, recently celebrated its 1000th anniversary. The city is located in the Chernivtsi oblast of Ukraine, the administrative center of Khotyn district, on the right Bank of the Dniester.





It is a small town with a population of about 11 000 inhabitants. Development is predominantly single storey, but the main roads are paved and are in good condition.





The name of the city — Hotin (Khotin'), comes either from the name of the founder of the settlement, or from the Slavic "Khotin '" that is desirable. Indeed, Hawtin was a welcome for many — the land for more than a thousand years, the history included at least a dozen principalities, kingdoms and empires. At first it was small, built by East Slavs in the ancient place of settlement, a wooden Fort, which protected them from many conquerors. Next while it existed unfortified settlement.





Especially large settlement Hawtin was in XI-XIII centuries when it was part of Kievan Rus. Then he held the territory of more than 20 hectares. Historians have substantiated the thesis that the castle and the town Hawtin originate from the very beginning of XI century After the Mongol conquest of Russia the role of wife as one of the most important outposts of Galicia-Volyn Principality in the South-West has increased even more. Its fortifications guarded an important crossing on the Dniester and held back the predatory raids of the steppe nomads. Prince Daniel Galitsky, though, and was forced to submit to the Golden Horde, not refused to fight with her. For centuries it was repeatedly reconstructed and expanded, destroyed the invaders and rebuilt again. Although in the EIGHTEENTH and NINETEENTH centuries the fortress gradually lost its military significance, under its walls continue to boil battle. It several times stormed by Russian troops.

On the territory of the fortress, surrounded by strong defensive walls, you can go through the Bender gate. The citadel itself is, as it were in a valley, surrounded by hills and waters of the Dniester. The height of the walls is impressive (about 20 meters). Connected the citadel with the surrounding area only one Entrance with a wooden bridge over the moat. The bridge across the rampart leads to a Gate tower of the castle. In the citadel five towers that You already know the Input (Gate), forging, curfew, North and East. The height of the walls, connecting them to 40, thickness — 5 meters. In the centre of the courtyard is a well, depth 65, width is almost 3 meters, it still has water.





There are also the Prince's Palace, the house of the commandant of the fortress, castle Church, barracks, buildings and the entrance to the cave. In the dungeon of electric lighting no sunlight there is practically misses. Inside the fortress you can see the ruins of the mosque, the military school, and customs of the XVIII century.

Today in front of the entrance to the fortress, and since 2000 is a Historical and architectural reserve, is a huge monument in honor of Ukrainian Hetman Petro Sahaidachny.





Opened it in 1991, during the celebration of the 370 anniversary of Khotyn battle. It is part of this protected space and very successfully embedded in an existing landscape.



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