Chernelytsia by the Dniester : the development of a medieval grod into a town

The article explores the early history and gradual modernisation of Chernelytsia - a town of Pokkuttya region. The first settlement in this region was noted on a high triangular cape on the right bank of the Dniester. Initially, it was a modestly fortified settlement located on the border of the Kievan state. However, after its incorporation into the Galicia Rostislav state and subsequently into Galicia–Volhynia Romanovich state, the settlement developed into a tri-part fortified grod of 5 ha in area. The author hypothesises that the grod ceased to be active between the 2nd half of the 16th century and the 1st half of the 17th century, after it had fallen prey to the Tatars who had raided Pokkuttya. Another period in the history of Chernelytsia is marked by the emergence of a new settlement at the area of today’s town’s centre. The emergence is dated at the 1st half of the 15th century. Initially, both the new settlement and the old grod were active, however, soon after being granted a municipal charter, the new settlement took the lead in social and economic activity. The town structure ossified in the 17th century when the bastion castle was built, as well as the St Archangel Michael Church and a Dominican monastery. Also, three tserkov churches were active in Chernelytsia at that time. The market square emerged, the town hall and a synagogue were built, and suburbs became discernible. The town plan changed only at the end of the 18th century when the new era in town’s history started