Berlach O. Principles of historical and architectural formation of fortification complexes of Volyn

The present dissertation is dedicated to the study of the principles of historical and architectural formation of fortification complexes of Volyn. The paper deals with the formation of the Volynian fortification complexes. It is the first attempt ever made at the classification of the fortification complexes after their composition, architecture and planning, construction peculiarities, type of plan, construction area, and level of engineering achievement. The author determines the factors critical for the formation of the architecture of the fortification constructions of the Volyn region. The dissertation offers a description of the historical and artistic value of the castles and fortresses, gives the analysis of scientific research into the fortification constructions, as well as the author’s original dimensional drawings, sketches from nature and photographic images. In the course of research, the author was able to discover the principal peculiarities of architectural and compositional solutionof constructions in the castles and monastic fortresses of Volyn. The dissertation substantiates the creative principles of Volynian tradesmen and professional architects of the Volynian fortification architectural school and defines the methods and principles of formation of fortification complexes. The results of the scientific study show that the previous researchers were somewhat superficial in the analysis of the historical and architectural peculiarities of the castles and monastic fortresses of Volyn.