Kyiv Fortress

Kyiv Fortress is one of the largest preserved fortifications in Europe. Its story stretches back more than a thousand years. The first defences appeared in the time of Kyivan Rus, and in the 17th and 18th centuries Cossack hetmans, including Ivan Samoilovych and Ivan Mazepa, strengthened the site with stone walls and bastions.

Today you can walk along old ramparts, see former gunpowder stores and barracks, and explore the Mazepa Wall. One of the most interesting spots is the Mazepa (Palatial) Tower, where, according to legend, the hetman once lived during a period of military reforms.

Kyiv Fortress is a great stop for anyone curious about the city’s military past and historic architecture.

Photos: from the “dig-content” website