Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, Medieval fortress in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine.
Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle is a fortress on a limestone peninsula formed by the Smotrych River in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine. The complex includes tall towers of dark stone, broad walls with arrow slits, and inner courtyards connected by arched passageways.
Ruthenian and Lithuanian rulers began building the complex in the 14th century to protect the trade route along the river. Later Polish owners reinforced the walls and added new towers when Ottoman armies threatened the region.
The name of the fortress comes from the Slavic word for stone, referring to the rocky peninsula where it stands. Inside the courtyards today, visitors can watch artisans working with leather and wood using methods passed down through generations.
Access is by a stone bridge leading onto the peninsula, and paths inside are mostly paved but uneven in places. Visitors planning to climb all the towers should wear sturdy shoes and allow time for narrow staircases.
Each of the eleven towers carries its own name, reflecting either its former function or the family that funded it. The different heights and shapes of the towers show how military engineering changed over the centuries.
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