Rivne Oblast is a land of ancient castles, mystical love tunnels, basalt pillars, and quiet Polissya forests. Here, the history of princes intertwines with the nature of Polissya and unique landmarks not found elsewhere in Ukraine. We present to you 16 places worth visiting.
Nature Reserve “Sokoliny Hory”
Address: near the villages of Bilche and Hubkiv
Source: UkraineThis
The “Sokoliny Hory” Reserve suddenly opens up: you drive along an ordinary Polissya road, and suddenly a deep valley of the Sluch emerges before you, with cliffs, pines on the slopes, and a breathtaking view. “Sokoliny Hory” is part of the Nadsluchansky region, where the river has carved rocky banks, creating a landscape that is completely atypical for the flat Rivne Region.
Steep slopes, granite outcrops, narrow trails along the cliffs – here you want to stop and just enjoy the view.
The strongest impression comes from the height above the Sluch near Hubkiv. Below is the bend of the river, around is silence and the wind in the treetops. Nearby are the ruins of Hubkiv Castle, adding even more depth to the view. This place is not for noisy tourism. People come here for space, light, and the feeling of wild, nearly untouched nature.
Biliiv Settlement
Address: village Biliiv
Near the village of Biliiv, on a high cape above the Stubla River, earth mounds of an ancient fortification have been preserved. There are no walls or towers, only grass, a hill, and silence. But if you look closely, it becomes clear: this is not just a hill, but a place where life was bustling over a thousand years ago. Biliiv Settlement dates back to the 10th-11th centuries – the era of Kievan Rus.
From here, there is a wonderful view of the river floodplain and the surrounding fields. The place is calm, without crowds of tourists, but with a special atmosphere – as if history is not in textbooks, but simply under your feet.
Knyazha Hora
Address: near the village of Marynyn
Knyazha Hora is another point above Sluch, from where you can see how the river cuts into the rocks and lays the forest into green waves. The climb here is not difficult, but very picturesque: the trail goes among pines, and at the top, a panorama opens up that is worth traveling dozens of kilometers for.
Once at this height stood a castle of the Korets princes, and today only earthen ramparts and outlines of fortifications remain. But the main thing here is the feeling of space.
The wind, the smell of pine, the river below, and the horizon without buildings. This is a place for those who love to gaze far and long – and find in silence more than in the noise of the city.
Novomalin Castle
Address: village Novomalin, Pampusyuka Street
Novomalin is cozily hidden among the hills near Ostroh, and here you can see the ruins of a castle that remembers the 16th century. Novomalin Castle is not a restored tourist site with ticket offices and souvenirs but a true romantic ruin. Stone walls with breaches, remnants of a tower, grass growing among the old masonry – everything looks somewhat wild and very atmospheric.
The castle was built by the Ostroh princes, later it was rebuilt, fortified, and time and wars gradually took it apart.
Korets Castle
Address: the city of Korets
In the very center of Korets, above the Korych River, rise picturesque ruins of Korets Castle. Once, this was a powerful stronghold of the Korets princes – with bastions, walls, and defensive towers. Today only fragments of walls and arches remain, but even in this condition, the castle looks majestic.
Standing on the remnants of the walls, you can see the river below, the old houses of Korets, and a broad panorama of the surrounding hills. It is particularly beautiful here at sunset – the red light highlights the texture of the stone. This is a place for those who love ruins with character: a bit dramatic, a bit romantic, and very photogenic.
Alpaca Fluffy Farm
Address: village Horodysche, Shchaslyva Street, 56
Farm hours: Fri – Sun – 10:00 – 17:00
If you want to change the format of castles and ruins for something warm and smiling – visit Horodysche, on Shchaslyva Street. The name is symbolic: here is the Alpaca Fluffy Farm – a farm where you can meet alpacas, feed them, and just spend time next to these incredibly calm animals.
The farm is well-kept, spacious, with possibilities for walking around the area and taking photos. Alpacas approach closely, curiously inspecting guests and not in a hurry at all. This is a location for family visits, dates, for a reboot – when you want a bit of warmth, living contact, and simple joys amid the nature of Rivne Region.
Ladomyria
Address: Shkilna Street, 1, Radiviliv
“Ladomyria” is not just a park, but an entire ethnographic space outside. In Radiviliv, there is a skansen, where authentic Polissya huts, a wooden church, outbuildings, and household items are gathered. Here you can enter an old hut, see a stove, benches, towels, and feel how people lived in Volhynia a hundred years ago – without gloss, but with warmth.
The territory is well-kept, green, with paths and spots for leisurely walks. In warm weather, festivals, workshops, and folk holidays are held here.
“Ladomyria” is a place worth visiting not just to look, but to live a little piece of the past.
Ostvytsia Park of Historical Reconstruction
Address: Marusi Churai Street, Rivne
On the shores of the Basivkutske Reservoir lies “Ostvytsia – a space of living history right in the city. This is a park of historical reconstruction, where the atmosphere of an ancient Rus settlement is recreated: wooden fortifications, dugout boats, workshops, and artisan zones.
Here you can see how to shoot a bow, forge iron or launch a boat into the water. In summer, it is especially atmospheric: water nearby, the smell of smoke from the fire, children's laughter, and a view of the lake.
“Ostvytsia” is an option for active recreation in Rivne when you want something lively, tactile, that breaks the routine.
Palace of Lubomyrskyi or “Castle on the Hill”
Address: the city of Rivne
It is often called “Castle on the Hill” – and rightly so. The Palace of Lubomyrskyi rises above the Ustya in the center of Rivne, on an elevation that once controlled the approaches to the city. In the 18th century, it was a luxurious residence of the Lubomyrskyi magnates with a regular park and palace interiors.
Today, from the former grandeur, only reconstructed buildings remain, but the location itself has retained the status of the historical heart of Rivne. Walking around the outskirts, it is easy to imagine carriages, balls, and a life of magnates.
First Book Museum
Address: village Peresopnytsia, Verba Street 22
In the small village of Peresopnytsia, there stands a modern building with glass elements – this is where the museum dedicated to the Peresopnytsia Gospel is located. This is the same 16th-century Gospel, on which the presidents of Ukraine swear.
Inside the building is an interactive exhibition, models of the ancient city, copies of the book's pages adorned with luxurious ornaments, and explanations of how the first known translation of the Holy Scriptures into Ukrainian was created.
Nearby is the settlement of ancient Peresopnytsia, ramps, and space above the Stubla River. Here, there is a sense of silence and the depth of time. This is not just a museum; it is a place where Ukrainian statehood and culture have a very concrete address.
Moshchany Nature Reserve
Address: near the village of Mala Moshchanytsia
The Moshchany Nature Reserve is an area of wild nature without loud signs or tourist attractions. Forested areas, marshy sections, old trees, and silence interrupted only by birdsong. The reserve is part of the conservation network of Rivne Region.
People come here not for service but for the feeling of true Polissya. The trails are not always marked, mobile signal may disappear, but there is fresh air, soft moss underfoot, and the opportunity to see nature without human intervention. This is a location for those who love silence and slow strolls.
Hot Tub above the Sluch
Hot Tub above the Sluch is about atmosphere and relaxation. In the valley of the Sluch River, among rocks and pines, locations with hot tubs under the open sky have been arranged. You sit in hot water, surrounded by forest, the river flows below, and above your head is a starry sky or foggy morning.
It is especially beautiful here in autumn and winter when the cold air contrasts with the steam from the water. This is a variant of relaxation for a group of friends or a romantic trip. After a walk along the cliffs of Sluch, plunging into a warm tub sounds like the perfect end to a day in Rivne Oblast.
Cost of renting a cabin: from 3080 UAH
Ranch Green Oak
Address: village Green Oak, Dubno District
A village with the poetic name Green Oak sounds like a promise of silence. There are no loud attractions here – only hills, fields, and space that breathes tranquility. The road here winds through rural scenery, where time seems to slow down.
The area attracts those seeking authentic Volhynia without decorations: old houses, gardens, tree rows, and the wide sky.
This is a location for a leisurely trip, a photo walk, and a reboot – when you want simplicity and naturalness.
- Cabin booking: from 3500 UAH
- Hot tubs: 1600 UAH per day without limit
Quarry near the village of Klesiv
Klesiv is known for its granite quarries, and one of them has become almost a tourist location. A giant bowl with turquoise water amidst stone walls looks impressive and even a bit unreal. High cliffs of layered stone, clear water, and the scale of the space create a feeling as if you are in a canyon.
People come here for photos, views, and the feeling of space. But it is important to remember: these are active or former industrial sites, so safety comes first. The location is beautiful but requires caution.
Phosphate Mountains
Address: village Rubche
Near the village of Rubche, you can see an unusual for Polissya landscape – light mounds and hills that locals call phosphate mountains. These are remnants of mineral extraction, but they look almost like backdrops for a fantasy film.
The contrast of white and gray slopes with greenery creates a unique landscape. It's interesting to wander, photograph, and just observe how the industrial history of the region has transformed into an unusual natural and technogenic space.
Tower in Kleivany
In Kleivany, near the famous Tunnel of Love, stands an ancient castle tower – a remnant of what was once a powerful castle of the Czartoryski princes.
This is a massive stone structure with loopholes and thick walls, dating back to the 16th century.
Standing nearby, it's easy to imagine how the castle controlled the approaches to the town. The tower looks restrained and stern, but therein lies its charm. It is one of those locations where history has not been reconstructed – it has been preserved in stone.
Rivne Oblast is when you expect nothing special, but return with a memory brimming with impressions. The ruins of castles without ticket offices, turquoise quarries in the forest, cliffs above the Sluch, a museum that reveals the history of the Ukrainian book, and the silence that cities so lack.
Here, they do not entertain – they reveal. And perhaps that is why this region leaves a deeper impression than noisy tourist brands. Because it is alive, unembellished, and native.
