Moshchanytsya: Earthworks and Church Architecture

Moshchanytsya brings together a vivid history of fortifications and a second cultural highlight: the distinctive features of the 1935 Holy Trinity Church. Two surviving bastion-type earthwork forts give the sites a clear historical character, while the church stands out for its unusual central section and dome. For a trip focused on culture, the town offers more than just a single architectural landmark.

Two Earthwork Forts, Two Layouts

The remains of two bastion-type earthwork forts survive under the collective name “Cossack Ramparts.” They served to defend against enemies, particularly the Tatars. Their significance can be understood through their specific forms, not just their military function: the first site is quadrangular, while the second is pentagonal. Their locations, layouts, and rampart features help distinguish the two archaeological sites.

The first site lies on the eastern edge of the town, on a strip of land bordered by two stream valleys. Square bastions remain at the corners of its quadrangular layout. The earthen rampart runs along all four sides and stands 1.5 to 2 meters above the interior. The ditch also varies by direction: on the northern side it is up to 3.5 meters deep, while on the other sides it is no more than 2 meters deep. These directional details make the earthwork’s form more tangible and show that the sides have different ditch depths.

The second archaeological site lies in the northwestern part of the village, one kilometer from the quadrangular fort site. It is pentagonal, measures 200 by 200 meters, and is only partially preserved. On the eastern section, a straight stretch of rampart runs for about 170 meters and is 2 to 2.5 meters high. The comparison shows how different the fortification traces are: the first site is defined by a rampart on all four sides and ditch depths that vary by direction, while the second is defined by its pentagonal outline and the eastern rampart section described above.

Jesuit History and Church Architecture

The fortifications are connected with the activities of the Jesuit order. Another historical thread leads to Ostroh: a Jesuit college had been established there before Princess Anna-Aloiza Chodkiewicz (Ostrogska) transferred, among other properties, Moshchanytsya to the order in 1627. The income from the transferred estates was intended to fund the construction and upkeep of the college. In this way, the defensive function of the earthwork forts and a specific 17th-century endowment story are linked to the history of the order.

The 1935 Holy Trinity Church offers a different architectural highlight. Its central section has an unusual kink, alongside a distinctively shaped dome and paired vertical ribbon windows. These features give the building a character quite different from that of the earthwork forts: here, the focus is on the shape of the building and the arrangement of its windows, while at the forts it is on the layout, rampart, and ditch. If you plan to visit the church, check visiting arrangements in advance.

Moshchanytsya is a particularly good choice for a holiday apartment if you want to focus your trip on history and architecture. The town’s history ranges from fortifications with different layouts, through its connection to the Jesuit order, to the 1935 church.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Samostrily, Birok, Babyn, Dubno, Velyka Omelyana, Riwne, Klewan, Braniv

For the broader travel overview: Rivne Oblast.