The Park “High Castle”, located almost in the center of Lviv, rises majestically above the city. From the highest point, at the altitude of 413 meters above sea level, where is the observation point, there is a breathtaking panorama of the ancient city. Among the medieval architecture there could be seen the green islands of Lviv parks.

The High Castle is located in close proximity of the historic centre of Lviv, formerly being surrounded by a fortification wall. The Castle Hill took its name from the High Castle (as opposite to the other, Low Castle), which used to be located on the hill from the 13th century to the late 19th century. The castle was a main defensive fort of the city during its existence.

As it follows from Rus' Chronicles, the first fortifying structures appeared on the Castle Hill in the time Halych-Volhynia, and were built by Leo I of Halych from wood. It was originally a wood and soil construction, as most others at that time. In 1259 by a request of Burunday Khan they were destroyed, but in 1270 were rebuilt. In 1340, when Lviv was captured by Casimir III of Poland the wooden castle was put under fire. In 1353 it was destroyed again by Lithuanians. A new brick castle appeared on the hill in 1362 by the king Casmimir III. It became the residence of Polish nobles.

The castle was rebuilt and repaired many times. In the times of Khmelnytsky Uprising it was taken by Cossack forces of Polkovnyk Maksym Kryvonos in October of 1648. In 1704, when Lviv was occupied by Swedes the castle was heavily damaged. In 1777, Austrians initiated disassembling of fortifications around the castle.

In the 19th century, the then destroyed castle was taken apart and new items were built in its place. The fortification was strengthened, trees were planted on the hill's slope, and a park was constructed. On the place where the castle once stood, a Union of Lublin Mound was constructed in 1869, dedicated to the 300-years of the Union of Lublin. Currently, an observation platform is located atop the kurgan. In 1957, a 141-meter tall television tower was constructed on top of the hill.

In the 60-80 years of 19th century one could watch fires of Stry, which is located 70 km from Lviv and 120 from Stanislaus, present Ivano-Frankivsk.

The park itself was designed more than a half century ago. Due to its relief, it consists of two terraces. The lower terrace is one of the most beautiful places in the park. It stretches with its Chestnut alley from the Kryvonosa Street (central entrance to the park) to the Castle (Zamkova) Street. On the upper terrace in 1869-1900 there was created a big Barrow of Lublin Union, and after World War II next to it there were built tower and the building of the TV centre.

But many years ago, as evidenced the very name "High Castle", on this mountain there really was a castle. Ever since times of Daniel Romanovich the defensive stronghold had situated on this place for a hundred years. In 1340 the princely castle was occupied by Polish King Kazimierz III. In addition to the defensive meaning, the castle served as a prison.

Almost for three hundred years nobody has managed to capture the fortress. This was done for the first time in 1648 by Colonel of the troops of B. Khmelnitsky Maksym Krivonos. In 1704 the Swedish King Karl XII captured the "High Castle". Since then it was gradually destroyed. Up to nowadays there remained only a small piece of it.

In 2004-2005, there were talks of reconstructing a stone castle on the hill. The project gained some support and opposition. However, at this time, plans for the construction of the castle are not realistic.

The High Castle Park (Uzhhorodska and Knyazha Streets): an old shady park on the hill towering above the city, ruins of an old castle, the viewing platform, and breathtaking sceneries

The highest hill in Lviv (413 meters above the sea level and approximately 130 meters above the level of suburbs) was built artificially in the end of the 19th century in honour of the Union of Lublin. And so Lviv obtained a viewing platform the likes of which can not be found elsewhere in Europe. The views from this platform will not leave anyone who dared go up there indifferent.

The stone lion which used to stand near the City Hall is now on guard at the foot of the artificial barrow. This lion is more than 400 years old. A fragment of the wall of the castle which stood on the hill since the 14th century can be found nearby.

A huge alley of age-old chestnut trees runs along the lower terrace of the High Castle Park. A memorial stone has been placed here in honour of the victory of Polish King Jan III Sobieski over the Turkish army in 1675 on Lysenytsky Fields which can be seen from this place.

The chestnut alley ends with a small gardener’s house (1892) surrounded by many exotic plants. An artificial cave with the inscription reading “August 15, 1841” was placed here as a decoration for the park in mid-19th century. The cave’s entrance is guarded by two 17th-century stone lions from the old City Hall. They hold shields with the coats of arms of Lviv patrician families. This cave was once called “The Suicidal Cave” because people who fell in love but could not be together due to circumstances of life committed suicides here.

The High Castle Park is also unique due to its location on a high wooded mountain right in the centre of the large city, and so there’s only a 10-15-minute walk from the noisy streets to the coolness and cosiness of age-old trees where nothing reminds of the bustling urban life.

Southern hills of the High Castle, Lychakiv district, Keizerwald hills and Vynnyky suburbs have been covered with vineyards producing more than one hundred barrels of wine annually. Monks and monasteries of the Roman Catholic Church have also had an important influence on the history of the regional wine. Living in a big trade centre, Lviv citizens very well knew and appreciated refined Greek, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian wines as well.

What’s the best to be served with good wine? Cheese, of course. Being real gourmands Lviv citizens borrowed traditions of cheese making from the neighbouring countries. So, the words “cheese” and “wine” started to be used together in Lviv in the Middle Ages.

Cheese & Wine Holiday is a fantastic opportunity to learn Ukrainian traditions, to taste good wines and cheese in the open air, to visit fairs and folklore concerts, to enjoy animations and different competitions.