It was symbolic that the ceremony of signing the declaration proclaiming 2008 the Year of Castles and Palaces of Western Ukraine by the heads of the Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytsky regional councils took place in the Golden Hall of Potocki Palace in Lviv, a region where a number of castles and palaces are being restored today.
The officials who signed the declaration are undertaking to promote joint efforts to preserve the authenticity and originality of the castles and palaces in Lviv oblast, and to help disseminate information about them in Ukraine and abroad. They will also be urging the president of Ukraine, the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, the prime minister, and the deputy prime minister in charge of humanitarian matters of Ukraine, as well as international organizations, public figures, and foreign regions and cities twinned with western Ukraine to support this initiative.
It is no secret that Ukraine’s castles and palaces are in terrible condition. Even so, the government does not seem overly concerned that they are being quickly destroyed by the ravages of time. A number of measures have already been adopted on the regional level. In Zakarpattia, for example, 1.5 million hryvnias were allocated for the restoration of castles in Mukachiv and Uzhhorod in the past two years. Another 700,000 hryvnias were allocated this year. Of course, this is not enough, especially considering the people’s great cultural need to explore these architectural masterpieces. Last year alone, more than 100,000 tourists visited the newly restored Uzhhorod Castle. This year the number of visitors will be much higher because news about the beauty of this architectural site is traveling fast.
A program aimed at the preservation and restoration of Ukraine’s historical heritage is also underway in Volyn, where the 14th-century Lutsk Castle, together with the castle in Kamianets-Podilsky, is listed among the seven wonders of Ukraine.
Zolochiv Castle’s great palace will be opened in Lviv oblast on May 18. Last year it was visited by 92,000 tourists. The castles in Pidhirtsi and Zhovkva, gems of the Ukrainian cultural heritage, are also being restored.
However, legislative changes are needed to make these efforts systematic and adequate. A law should be passed to help regulate and accelerate budgetary allocations for the restoration of Ukraine’s architectural monuments. Lists of architectural sites under state protection must be updated. This question was discussed at the press conference held in conjunction with the launch of the Year of Castles and Palaces.
The final decision on whether such structures are subject to privatization must be made. If so, this must be done on a legal basis, with all conditions and the order spelled out. Privatization of castles and palaces has its opponents and advocates. Ukrainians are still undecided as to what is better: leave them in the public domain and restore them gradually and with losses, or allow wealthy people to acquire them. They will carry out the restoration works quickly but will use them for their own purposes. At any rate, this issue cannot be left unresolved, because this is increasing the number of lawsuits and public resentment.
The Year of Castles and Palaces will include scheduled cultural events, but its main task must be the consolidation of Ukrainian society. Therefore, its initiators are hoping that other regions of Ukraine will join this project to jointly preserve castles and palaces, a unique phenomenon not only for Ukraine but the rest of the world.
Some people are hoping that Euro 2012 will serve as a powerful impetus for the project. There is one caveat, however: every effort must be made to prevent these hurried measures — the best way to describe the preparations for the European soccer finals — from damaging architectural sites, which is a very likely possibility.
