Lutsk city, Ukraine

The capital city of Volyn oblast.

Lutsk overview

Lutsk is a city and administrative center of Volyn oblast of Ukraine. Lutsk is among the most oldest cities of the country dating back from 1085.

Lutsk city population is about 205,000 (2010).

The phone code of the city is +380 332 (6 digits number) and +380 3322 (5 digits number). The postal code is 43000.

Lutsk city flag

Lutsk city coat of arms

Lutsk city map location

Lutsk history

The date of Lutsk foundation is not known. According to one source it was founded in the 7th century, according to another - in 1000. The first record of the town refers to 1085 when it was a fortified town which stood the 6 months long siege.

By the end of 14th century Lutsk became a large trade center. Merchants used to come there from other countries, some of them moved there to live; so there were districts inhabited by the Germans, the Polish and others.

In 1429 a famous congress of monarchs took place in Lutsk, its aim was to “discuss measures against common enemy - the Turks”; the Polish king Yagailo was present there as well as the German emperor Sigizmund, the great prince of Moscovia Vasily II, the Dutch king, the Prussian gross master and the Byzantine ambassador.

At the end of 15th century Lutsk was considered one of the best towns in the area, but in mid 16th century the town started to decline.

In 1795 when Poland was divided for the third time Volyn lands together with Lutsk were included into Russian Empire. During War of 1812 Lutsk hosted the staff of Russian army commanded by legendary general Bagration.

The 30s and the 40s of 19th century were remarkable in Lutsk for its growing cultural level. In 1832 a gymnasium was opened there. A famous Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrainka spent her childhood in Lutsk.

During Russian civil war (1917-1920) Lutsk was occupied by opposite sides several times. From 1921 to 1939 the city was a part of Poland.

In 1939 according to Molotov-Ribbentrop pact Lutsk was occupied by Red Army and became a part of Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. During World War II the city was occupied by German troops and in 1944 the Soviet Army entered Lutsk.

Present day Lutsk is an industrial center specializing in scientific instruments, food and other light industries. Trucks are manufactured, and an automobile plant was constructed in the late 1970s in Lutsk city to build a Volynyanka, a multi-purpose vehicle for rural use.

Lutsk views

Lutsk city, Ukraine street

Author: P.Skopyuk

Lutsk city medieval castle

Author: Artem Kalinichenko

Lutsk medieval castle view

Author: Sergey Zozula

Lutsk attractions

The older part of Lutsk contains the 14th-century Lyubart Castle and a lot of buildings of old architecture. Three monasteries date from the 16th to the 18th century are here in Lutsk. A teacher-training institute and a medical school are also located in Lutsk.

Among the main places of interest of Lutsk are:

Pokrovskaya church, one of the most ancient churches, it was built in 13th-15th centuries (Danila Galitsky str., 12);
St.Trinity cathedral, 1752-1755. Originally it had been a Catholic monastery. It was rebuilt in 1877-1879 (Teatralnaya sq.);
Monastery of the Dominicans, 1390, first wooden, it was rebuilt of stone in 18th (Dragomanov str.);
The church of Holy Cross (1619) - an early sample of rebuilding a wooden construction into a stone one (Daniil Galitsky str., 2);
Jesuit monastery, 16th-17th centuries (Cathedralnaya str., 6);
St.Apostles Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1639. Now it is an open Rome-Catholic Cathedral;
Sharity monastery, 17th century (Cathedralnaya str., 17);
Brigidy monastery, 1624. It was erected instead of the palace of 16th century. In 1846 the monastery was closed, it was turned into a prison and later into a music school. At present this is a men’s Orthodox monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox church (Cathedralnaya str., 16);
A synagogue, 14th-15th centuries. An architectural monument (Daniil Galitsky str., 33);
Lutsky castle, 13th-14th centuries. A defensive construction, a symbol of the city. A Museum of bells is located in one of its towers. A Museum of ancient books and a picture gallery are located on the territory of the castle (Cathedralnaya str., 1);
Gulevich’s house, 16th century - a unique sample (Cathedralnaya str., 23);
A Museum of Volyn icon with the unique collection of icons from all over Volyn area. Kholmsk Virgin icon is a pearl of the museum. It is a unique monument of Byzantine art of 11th-12th centuries, one of the most worshipped Orthodox saint icons.