Driving out of Kyiv along the Zhytomyr highway toward Polissia, somewhere around the 32-kilometre mark you catch sight of something that has no business in the Polissian landscape at all: a genuine fairy-tale castle, turrets and all, as if it had stepped straight out of a Disney title card. It is not a theme-park prop or someone's private whim, but the main entrance to Ukraine's largest film studio — Victoria Film Studios. Locals and travellers long ago nicknamed it the "Ukrainian Disneyland," and it is a stop worth making on the way to the Zhytomyr region — especially if you are travelling with children.
One honest warning up front, to spare you any disappointment: you can't go inside. But what you can see from the outside is enough for some striking photos and half an hour of wide-eyed delight for the little ones. Here's what this place is, what there is to see, and how to get there.
What the castle actually is
Victoria Film Studios is one of the largest and most modern film studios in Ukraine, founded in 2008 by producer Viktor Yablonskyi. The studio sprawls across roughly 36 hectares (some sources say "more than 35") near the village of Hurivshchyna in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region, on the M-06 Zhytomyr highway (Kyiv–Chop).
The main castle building is the studio's administrative entrance, built of natural stone, wood and metal. Its architecture deliberately echoes the outline of the famous castle from the Walt Disney logo — which is exactly how the spot earned its popular name. On the full production grounds behind the castle are outdoor sets with names like "Village," "Old Town," "Prison," "Lake," "River" and "Field," along with sound stages, prop warehouses and a fleet of picture vehicles — but all of it is hidden from the ordinary visitor's eye.
What you can see from the outside
The most rewarding part for a tourist is concentrated right in front of the castle and along the road — where access is free. It is a collection of large-scale metal sculptures of characters from world cinema, often standing up to three metres tall:
- The Alien — a metal figure of the main antagonist from the cult horror film;
- The Predator — its "colleague" from another franchise;
- The Terminator and Batman;
- The Iron Throne from Game of Thrones — you can sit on it and have your photo taken;
- and, by some accounts, a Mad Max–style battle car and a Ghost Rider motorcycle.
Nearby there is a small pond, and the castle itself makes a striking sight straight from the highway. For a child it is a little adventure: to clamber about, touch the giant figures of favourite movie heroes, and sit on the "iron throne."
Which films were shot here
Over the years, many Ukrainian and foreign projects have been filmed on the sets of Victoria Film Studios. Among the better-known titles are the films Lastivka ("The Swallow," 2023) and Forbidden Love (2016), the series Spring in My Heart, and individual scenes from international productions.
It is worth giving some honest context: much of what was filmed here in past years was commercial melodrama series, many of them aimed at the post-Soviet and Russian markets. Today the studio mostly rents out its facilities to various film companies, so don't think of the castle as a "temple of high art" — it is first and foremost a working production site with an eye-catching outer "wrapper." The castle itself, though, is well worth it as a piece of architecture and a photo location.
Visiting: the honest essentials
The key thing to know in advance: the studio grounds are closed. This is an active working site, so there are no tours inside; a barrier and security staff by the castle keep visitors from going any further. Judging by visitor reviews, you can take in everything that's accessible in about 20–30 minutes (with children, up to an hour or two, since they love climbing on the sculptures).
So the main piece of advice is simple: don't drive halfway across the country just for this — the scale will disappoint you. But dropping by on your way from Kyiv to the Zhytomyr region is exactly right: nice shots, a stretch of the legs for the kids, and a sip of cinematic magic right at the edge of the road.
If you do want a deeper "immersion" in cinema, some tour operators include an external viewing of the castle in combined tours of the Kyiv region (paired, for instance, with Radomysl Castle), while full tours with visits to the sound stages are run by a different studio — FILM.UA in Kyiv.
Getting there
By car: roughly 32–37 km from Kyiv along the M-06 Zhytomyr highway toward Zhytomyr; the castle is clearly visible from the road — you just need to turn off the highway.
By public transport: take marshrutka (minibus) No. 373, 762 or 773 from Sviatoshyn metro station to the village of Hurivshchyna — the ride takes about 40 minutes (around 17 stops). From there it's on foot: your landmark is the memorial cross "To the Fighters for Ukraine's Freedom," from which a cobbled road runs about another 1.2 km to the castle (over 2 km of walking from the stop in total).
Tip: if you're travelling without a car, allow time for the walking leg and wear comfortable shoes — there is no direct transport all the way to the castle.
What's nearby
Since the castle stands right on the Zhytomyr highway, it is easy to fold into a wider route toward Polissia. In the same direction lies Radomysl Castle (a historical and cultural complex in Radomyshl), and further on, already in the Zhytomyr region, the Korostyshiv Canyon, Denyshi with its cliffs and the ruins of the Tereshchenko palace, and other Polissian attractions. In short, the "Disneyland at Hurivshchyna" is the ideal first warm-up stop on a weekend route heading west out of Kyiv.
FAQ
Where is the Victoria Film Studios castle? Near the village of Hurivshchyna in the Bucha district of the Kyiv region, at the 32-kilometre mark of the M-06 Zhytomyr highway, roughly 32–37 km from Kyiv.
Why is it called the "Ukrainian Disneyland"? The studio's main entrance building echoes the shape of the fairy-tale castle from the Walt Disney logo.
When and by whom was the studio founded? In 2008, by producer Viktor Yablonskyi.
How big is the studio? About 36 hectares.
Can you go inside the studio? No — the grounds are closed; it is an active working site with no tours inside.
What can you see by the castle? Metal sculptures of the Alien, the Predator, the Terminator and Batman, and the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, along with the castle itself and a small pond.
Is it fun for children? Yes — children love climbing on the big metal figures and taking photos; a visit takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 1–2 hours.
How long do you need for the visit? Adults usually find 20–30 minutes enough; longer with children.
Which films were shot at the studio? Among the better-known are Lastivka ("The Swallow," 2023), Forbidden Love (2016), the series Spring in My Heart, and individual scenes from other projects.
How do you get there by public transport? By marshrutka No. 373, 762 or 773 from Sviatoshyn metro station to Hurivshchyna (about 40 minutes), then more than 2 km on foot past the memorial cross "To the Fighters for Ukraine's Freedom."
Is it worth a special trip? Not really — this is an "on the way" spot; it's worth dropping by while heading from Kyiv to the Zhytomyr region.
What can you visit nearby? Radomysl Castle, and further into the Zhytomyr region, the Korostyshiv Canyon and Denyshi.
