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The Lviv High Castle or Lviv Castle Hill is a historic castle located on one of the hills of the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv. It is currently the highest point in the city, 413 metres above sea level.
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 bricks castle appeared on the hill in 1362 by the
king Casmimir III. It became the residence of polish nobels.
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 caste 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 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.
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