FORTRESS (ФОРТЕЦЯ)

The fortress dates from the th century for the first wooden constructions, but from the th to the th centuries it was rebuilt many times. It is accessed by the «bridge of Turks» dating from the th century. The road through the bridge leads to the fortress, probably one of the most fascinating views of Ukraine. It appears that in 1685 the Cossack hetman Yu. Khmelnytsky was strangled to this bridge by the Turks. Another legend is that, while fleeing the city, the Turks tried to take a full gold trolley that fell into the river Smotrytch. Today, it is still possible to see people looking for the treasure. On the left, the New East Tower (1544) overlooks the river, and a little further, built on the cliff, a bunker recalls that the peaceful gorges of the Smotrich were the place of fierce fighting. Just behind the tower is the fortress museum with a very beautiful exhibition on the history of the city and Ukraine. The most interesting part of the visit is in the heart of the fortress. You can enter the tower of the right, the Rozhanka tower and, on the first floor, follow the full stone path. In the second and third floors, the entire fortress can be seen on the countryside as a ship lost over time. By returning to the bridge, we descend by two stairs to the river. There is the church of Elévation, wooden with its roof covered with foil.