Zbarazh: Castle, Churches and Routes

Zbarazh combines themed routes with a focus on history and architecture. The castle is at the heart of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve; churches and a monastery complex are also among the local cultural sites. To plan your trip, you can compare routes by theme and length and consider the buildings as historical highlights in their own right.

Routes with Different Areas of Focus

A tourist guide published in 2023 lists the 2 km route “Zbarazh – City of Ida Fink” as well as an excursion to the New Jewish Cemetery. It also lists the 3.2 km religious pilgrimage route “Sacred Zbarazh.” The route passes the Church of the Saviour, a Way of the Cross, St. Anthony’s Church, the Church of the Dormition, the Church of the Resurrection and Christian cemeteries.

The two routes differ both in their stated lengths and in their focus: the shorter route’s title mentions Ida Fink, while “Sacred Zbarazh” is explicitly religious in focus and connects several churches and cemeteries. At 3.2 km, it is 1.2 km longer than the shorter route. You can therefore consider theme and route length as two separate criteria when making your choice.

In the wider region, the 30 km “Journey Along the Old Border” cycling route runs from Zbarazka Buda in the village of Chornyi Lis via Novyky, Ivanchany and Kobylla toward Mylne and Zalozhtsi. As a regional cycling route with its own course, it differs from the shorter themed routes in Zbarazh. Check the current route before setting out; if you plan to take the excursion to the New Jewish Cemetery, confirm in advance whether it is running on your chosen date.

Castle and Cultural Heritage

The State Historical and Architectural Reserve in Zbarazh was founded on February 8, 1994. Zbarazh Castle, dating from the 17th century, holds a central place in the reserve. The reserve also includes the Church of the Transfiguration, dating from 1600, and the Bernardine Monastery complex. This means there is more to see than the castle alone: sacred buildings and the monastery complex are historical landmarks in their own right.

Since its foundation, the reserve has developed scientific and collection-related activities, as well as exhibitions and excursions. The main castle has more than 35 exhibition halls with permanent displays on archaeology, ethnography, regional crafts, weapons, sacred art and numismatics, as well as an organ hall. The range of subjects extends beyond any one collection or period.

Exhibition halls dedicated to weapons have also opened in the castle. They display original bladed and firearms, as well as warriors’ protective armor. These groups of objects provide concrete examples of the weapons theme alongside the other areas covered by the permanent displays.

The Bernardine Complex and Its History

The Bernardine Monastery complex comprises three separate cultural heritage sites of national significance. St. Anthony’s Church in New Zbarazh is listed under protection number 662/1; the monastery cells are numbered 662/2 and the bell tower 662/3. This breakdown shows that the national designation covers three individual parts of the complex.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Janusz Mykolaiovych took the initiative to bring the then-popular Bernardine Order to Zbarazh. This was in gratitude for its members’ service as chaplains in the troops of the Princes of Zbarazh. Another historical detail concerns New Zbarazh: in the spring of 1628, construction of the first church began there at the foot of a small hill near the Hnizna River.

Discover more destinations: Borshchiv, Husiatyn, Chortkiv, Velyki Hai, Kosiv, Oryshkivtsi, Ternopil, Monastyryska.

For the regional travel overview: Ternopil Oblast.