Olyka is a small town 40 km east of Lutsk, the administrative center of the Olyka hromada in Lutsk Raion. It received town status only in 2025, although its history here is several centuries longer than in many regional centers. Olyka is included in the list of historical populated places of Ukraine, and its castle and collegiate church are among the finest Renaissance and Baroque monuments in Volhynia.
From Chemeryn to Olyka
The name of the town is first mentioned in the Hypatian Codex under the year 1149. During the time of the Kingdom of Ruthenia, the fortified town of Chemeryn with a trading suburb stood nearby at the confluence of the Putilivka and Osenyshcha rivers. Later, life shifted here, and the new town took its name from the small Olychka River.
The first documented owner of Olyka was Lenko Zarubych (1433). In 1460, Grand Marshal of Lithuania Petro Montigirdovych provided funds for the Church of Saints Peter and Paul — the oldest in the territory of modern Volyn Oblast. From the Montigirdovych family, Olyka passed through marriages to the Kyshka family, and then to the Radziwiłł family, who owned it for over 400 years. In 1547, Mikołaj Radziwiłł "the Black" received the title of Prince of Olyka from Emperor Charles V.
What to see
Olyka Castle is one of the first bastion-type castles in Ukraine, square in plan with bastions at the corners, a moat, and a bridge. Today it houses a hospital, so it is mainly viewed from the outside.
The Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity (1635–1640) was built according to the design of Benedetto Molli and Giovanni Maliverna, modeled after the Roman Church of the Gesù. The facade is decorated with sculptures of Saints Wojciech, Stanislaus, Peter, and Paul by the Lviv master Melchior Ampeli, and the crypt contains the Radziwiłł family sepulcher.
The Lutsk Gate is the only surviving fragment of the once powerful city fortifications. There is also the Church of Saints Peter and Paul from 1460 and the Trinity Church from 1886 in the Zavorottia suburb. Buildings from the early 20th century have been preserved on the central streets.
Olyka on video
When to go
Olyka is worth visiting in spring or autumn, when you can calmly walk around the castle, collegiate church, and gate in two to three hours. The town is often combined with Lutsk, Zhydychyn, and the Tsuman Primeval Forest.
Nearby
Lutsk is a 40-minute drive away. More about the region can be found in the article Lutsk Raion.
Tip
The collegiate church is active, so it is best to view the interior outside of service times. The best view of the castle is from the bridge across the moat. Near the collegiate church, there is a small square from which a walk along the old streets to the Lutsk Gate begins.
How to get there
Buses run from Lutsk to Olyka, and by car it takes about 50 minutes.
