Students Collaborate To Revive The Graceful Charm of Pidhirtsi Castle, An Architectural Masterpiece Crafted During The 17th Century in Ukraine.
Unlike people who eventually succumb to the passage of time, abandoned buildings seem to have defied the process of decay, often standing as a striking reminder of mortality embraced by nature’s embrace.
There is a strange fascination with a place that once teemed with life’s activities. Elaborately painted walls crumble, once-grand rooms become infested, and dirt and dust cover windows that were once crystal clear.
Fountains that once flowed with water are now dry and overrun with withering ivy. Many structures worldwide fit this narrative, but one of the most captivating stories is that of Pidhirtsi Castle, a beautiful Renaissance palace located in the Ukrainian town of Pidhirti.
This well-preserved fortress was constructed between 1635 and 1640 by architect Andrea del Agua, under the request of Crown Hetman Stanislaw Koniecpolski, with the assistance of engineer Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan. Unlike other castles in the region, this one was designed for leisure, evident in its Italianate gardens and two churches on the grounds, giving it the appearance of a palace or country retreat rather than a military stronghold.
The castle is square-shaped, surrounded by a moat and defensive fortifications on each side, with the exquisite palace at its center. It is the oldest castle in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The interior is designed in a Western European style, as evident in the names of its various halls, such as the Green, Crimson, Knightly, Mirrored, and Golden Halls, all adorned with luxurious Turkish fabrics on the walls and furnishings.
Over the years, the castle underwent several reconstructions and suffered significant damage on multiple occasions. It was first severely devastated during the Polish-Soviet War in the twentieth century, and its misfortunes continued after World War II, when it was converted into a hospital for tuberculosis patients. In 1956, a lightning storm struck the castle, causing a fire. Throughout the Soviet era, it was frequently abandoned or used improperly. These unfortunate events led to the deterioration of the castle’s east and west wings, crumbling walls, and flooding in the courtyard and park.
