About This Site

Akkerman Fortress is the largest medieval fortress in Ukraine, located in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi on the shore of the Dniester Estuary. Built in the 13th-15th centuries by the Genoese and Moldavian rulers, the fortress impresses with its scale and well-preserved architecture.

Akkerman Fortress is a grand defensive complex covering over 9 hectares with a wall perimeter of about 2.5 kilometers. It is the largest medieval fortress in Ukraine and one of the best preserved in southern Eastern Europe. The fortress was built on the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Tyras, which existed here from the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD. After the destruction of the ancient city by the Goths and Huns, Antes, Slavs and Bulgarians settled on this site. In the 10th century, Bilhorod was part of Kievan Rus'. The modern stone fortress began to be built in the 13th century when the city came under the control of Genoese merchants who created an important trading enclave here. The Genoese built an inner citadel with thick walls and round towers. In the 14th century, the fortress came under the rule of the Principality of Moldavia. The greatest flowering of the fortress occurred in the 15th century when Moldavian ruler Stephen III the Great carried out large-scale reconstruction. By 1440, the main elements of the fortress were completed - 34 towers, some reaching 20 meters in height. Outside, the fortress was surrounded by a deep moat. White limestone was used for construction, and a mixture of eggs, crushed marble, carbon and silicon was used as mortar.

Historical Significance

The history of the fortress begins with the ancient Greek colony of Tyras (6th century BC - 4th century AD), which was one of the most important trading centers on the northern coast of the Black Sea. After the destruction of the ancient city, a Slavic settlement arose on its ruins. In the 13th century, the territory came under the control of the Republic of Genoa, which founded a trading enclave here. The Genoese began building a stone fortress to protect trade routes. In the 14th century, the fortress became part of the Principality of Moldavia. The most significant period in the fortress's history was the reign of Moldavian ruler Stephen III the Great (1457-1504). He carried out large-scale modernization of fortifications, built new walls and towers, strengthened the citadel. By 1440, the fortress acquired its modern appearance with 34 towers and powerful walls. In 1484, after a nine-day siege, a 300,000-strong army of Turkish Sultan Bayezid II and 50,000 troops of Crimean Khan Menli I Giray, supported by over 100 large ships, captured the fortress. The Turks ruled it for 328 years. Under Ottoman rule, the fortress repeatedly suffered attacks by Zaporozhian Cossacks. Among the chieftains who tried to capture the city were Hryhoriy Loboda, Severyn Nalyvaiko, Ivan Sulima, Ivan Sirko and Semen Paliy. In the 18th century, three Russian-Turkish wars took place. In 1770, the fortress was first captured by the Russian army. In 1789, the city was captured without a fight by a large detachment of Don Cossacks and a Jäger corps led by Mikhail Kutuzov. Ottoman rule in Bilhorod finally ended in 1812 after the Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812, when under the Treaty of Bucharest, Bessarabia came under the control of the Russian Empire.

Highlights

• ✓Largest medieval fortress in Ukraine (9 hectares)
• ✓34 preserved defensive towers
• ✓Genoese citadel from 13th century
• ✓Panoramic views of the Dniester Estuary and Black Sea
• ✓Ruins of ancient city Tyras
• ✓Unique combination of Genoese, Moldavian and Ottoman architecture
• ✓UNESCO Tentative List candidate
• ✓Museum exhibitions and archaeological finds

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