About This Site

Svirzh Castle is a fortified aristocratic residence from the 15th century in Svirzh village, Lviv Oblast, surrounded by a picturesque lake and romantic legends about hidden treasures and ghosts.

Svirzh Castle is located in the picturesque village of Svirzh, Peremyshliany district, Lviv Oblast, just 40 kilometers from Lviv. This elegant castle-palace impresses with its romantic appearance, reflecting in the waters of an artificial lake that surrounds it on all sides. The castle was built in the 15th century by the noble Świrski family as a fortified ancestral residence. Inside the castle walls, a small Gothic chapel from 1546 is preserved, one of the oldest parts of the complex. In the 17th century, the new owner, Count Aleksander Cetner, completely rebuilt the fortress according to the design of General Paweł Grodzicki, transforming it into a modern Italian-style bastion fortress. Despite powerful fortifications — moats, lakes and marshes around — the castle was repeatedly captured by Cossacks during the Liberation War. In 1648, the Turks set fire to the fortress, and during the Lwów raid of 1675 attacked again, but this time unsuccessfully. The castle stood in ruins for many years, was restored in 1907, again devastated by fire in 1914, and underwent several restorations in the 20th century. Today, Svirzh Castle is a unique example of combining medieval defensive architecture with Renaissance elements. Restored in 1975-1983, it attracts tourists with its fairy-tale atmosphere, picturesque island location and numerous legends about hidden treasures of Polish magnates.

Historical Significance

The first wooden castle at this site was built by the noble Świrski family in the 15th century. The Świrski family of Szaława coat of arms owned these lands from the 14th century and created their ancestral residence here for protection against Tatar raids. In 1546, a Gothic chapel was built inside the castle, preserved to this day as one of the oldest structures of the complex. During this period, the castle functioned as a fortified manor with wooden-stone fortifications. The fundamental reconstruction of the castle occurred in the 17th century under the rule of the new owner — Count Aleksander Cetner. He entrusted the modernization of fortifications to General Paweł Grodzicki, who applied the most modern principles of Italian fortification at that time.

Highlights

• ✓Romantic island location in middle of lake
• ✓Gothic chapel from 1546
• ✓Restored Renaissance palace
• ✓17th-century bastion fortifications
• ✓Picturesque moats and lakes around castle
• ✓Legends about hidden treasures and ghosts
• ✓Popular location for wedding photoshoots

Photo Gallery