Lubart’s Castle, Volyn
This castle in the capital of Volyn, the city of Lutsk, is considered one of the most interesting and best-preserved in Ukraine. And once it managed to unite all of Europe!
The stone fortress was erected here as early as the 15th century, during the rule of the son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania named Lubart. This place is often called Lubart's Castle in his honor. Over the centuries, the castle has undergone several renovations, but its advantageous location has allowed it to remain an epicenter of political life. The famous Prince Vytautas, who turned Lithuania into the largest state of late medieval Europe, lived here. It was he who organized an event in Lutsk to create a prototype of the European Union.
In 1429, a congress of European monarchs was held in the castle. More than 15,000 people from all over Europe came to the city: representatives of the Kingdom of Poland, the Holy Roman Empire, Denmark, the Livonian and Teutonic Orders, Byzantium, Muscovy, as well as Tatar khans, and Papal envoys. The congress lasted for 7 weeks, its agenda included discussions of politics, trade, and religious issues in Europe. For the feasts held during this event, hundreds of barrels of wine and entire herds of animals were required.
Later, it was the bishop's residence, a chancellery, and housing for officials. After a great fire in the middle of the 19th century, the castle fell into disrepair and thus there were plans to dismantle it. However, the walls were so solid that the task was next to impossible. So the fortress was later reconstructed and recognized as an architectural monument.
Lubart's Castle is still magnificent – although today perhaps not for kings but rather travelers. In particular, there are numerous museums inside, containing ancient tomes, weapons, building materials, and book exhibits. One of these travelers was the famous Polish writer Józef Kraszewski, who described the fortress: “I have seen many castle ruins but none of them seemed to be as majestic, as beautiful, as impressive as Lubart's Castle.”
Alla Zagaykevych
Alla Zagaykevych (b.1966) is a Ukrainian composer of contemporary classical music, performance artist, curator of electroacoustic music projects, musicologist. She graduated from Kyiv National Music Academy of Ukraine. In 1995-1996 she attended annual course for
composition and musical informatics at the Institut IRCAM (Paris). Since 1997 she is a lecturer at the Composition’s Department of the Kyiv National Music Academy of Ukraine where she founded the Electronic Music Studio (supported by International Renaissance Foundation). List of Zagaykevych’s works include symphonic, instrumental and vocal chamber music, electroacoustic compositions, multi-media installations and performances, operas, music for films.
Alla Zagaykevych - Artistic Director of International projects
Electroacoustics (Kyiv, since 2003), EM-VISIA (Kyiv, since 2005). President of
Electroacoustic Music Association of Ukraine (since 2010). Author of musicological articles in scientific periodicals (Ukrajins’ke Muzykoznavstvo, Muzyka, Krytyka, Organised Sound, MusikText). Winner of the Ukrainian Film Academy Golden Dzyga for Best Composer (2017)
