Zhovkva Castle stands on the main square of the town of Zhovkva, Ukraine. The Polish hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski founded it as his fortified residence. Construction began in 1594 and was mostly complete by 1606.
The castle had an entrance arch in the Serlian style and was surrounded by moats up to 17 meters wide. One wing held an arsenal and stables, and another adjoined the city wall. A garden laid out in 1606 housed a menagerie of wisents, deer and chamois. The palatine chapel was consecrated in 1640.
Its golden age came in the late 17th century, when it passed to Jakub Sobieski and then to his son, King Jan III Sobieski, who celebrated his victory at Vienna there. After the partition of Poland the castle fell into disuse.
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