Ustyluh is a small town in the west of Volyn, where the Luga River flows into the Western Bug. This is where the name comes from — "the mouth of the Luga" (ustia Luhy). Across the Bug is already Poland, so Ustyluh is a border town with the Ustyluh - Zosin international road checkpoint. But for tourists, it is primarily the town of Igor Stravinsky: here the composer lived and wrote music in the early 20th century.
History
On the territory of the town, there is a settlement from the 9th–12th centuries — a settlement existed here even during the princely era. At various times, the town was called Ustyloh, Uscilug, and Ruzhyampol. After 1795, it became part of the Russian Empire. In 1812, the surroundings of Ustyluh became an arena of battles: Polish units allied with Napoleon stood here, and on October 26, 1812, a decisive battle took place on the field between Ustyluh and Volodymyr, after which Napoleon's troops left Volyn. In 1921, the town passed to Poland, and from 1940 to 1956 it was a district center.
Stravinsky in Ustyluh
Composer Igor Stravinsky came to Ustyluh with his family for the summer: the estate belonged to the family of his wife, Kateryna Nosenko. In 1906, a house was built here where Stravinsky worked on his works, in particular the music that later made him world-famous. The house was restored, and in 2013 a museum of the composer was opened in it.
What to see
The Stravinsky House-Museum, the Nosenko family house from the early 20th century, the customs office from 1908, the chapel from the first half of the 19th century, and the Peter and Paul Church from 1920. Only fragments of underground passages remain from the 18th-century Roman Catholic church attributed to the architect Paolo Fontana — the building was blown up in the 1970s.
Between the village of Bubniv and Ustyluh is the Luga hydrological reserve, a bird nesting site in the river floodplain.
Ustyluh on video
Nearby
Volodymyr — 15 km, Zymne Monastery — along the way. More in the article Volodymyr District.
When to go
The Stravinsky Museum is best visited in the warm season: around the house is an old garden with a view of the Bug valley. In summer, concerts and musical events dedicated to the composer sometimes take place in Ustyluh. Before the trip, it is worth checking the museum's opening hours.
Tip
Ustyluh is a border town, so special rules apply near the border: you should not approach the river where border zone signs are posted. The town is small, you can walk around it in a couple of hours and combine it with a visit to Volodymyr and Zymne.
How to get there
From Volodymyr by bus or car in 20 minutes, from Lutsk — about an hour and a half along the H22 highway.
