The Kamenets fortress is one of the most impregnable defensive structures in Ukraine. It was built in the XIV century on a high rocky bank of the river. Smotrych to protect the Turkish bridge - the only possible entrance to the city. The first known description of the Kamenets castle dates back to 1494. From the side of the city, it had a gate with a tower; the Polnye gate was built in the northern wall. The garrison was armed with 11 cannons and one large "tarrasnitsa".

In 1621, under the leadership of the royal engineer Theophilus Schomberg, the New Castle was built according to the Dutch model, adapted for defense in the conditions of artillery struggle. The new castle consisted of two earthen semi-bastions (casemates were located in them) and curtain walls, in front of which a dry moat was arranged. The system of dungeons has survived to this day, as well as most of the stone walls - escarpment and counterscarp.
The main struggle during the siege of the city by the Turks (August 12–26, 1672) took place here. There were about 1,000 defenders in the New Castle (in total, the city's garrison numbered about 1.5 thousand). The Turks, on the other hand, had a 5-fold advantage in artillery, and more than 80 times in manpower. The most powerful Turkish artillery in Europe sowed havoc, destroying fortifications and houses in the city. Every day, 400 cannonballs and 200 mortar grenades hit the New Castle. Turkish sappers were digging in order to land him in the air.

The besieged decided to retreat to the Old Castle. On August 25, the Turks blew up a mine under the Great Western Tower and launched an assault. The defenders repulsed him, but it became clear that the castle would not last long. The headman M. Pototsky and other leaders of the garrison decided to start negotiations with the Turks. They agreed to accept an honorable surrender. During the negotiations on August 26, the Chernaya tower took off. A gunpowder warehouse exploded, blown up by the head of the castle artillery Geckling. More than 500 people were killed, including "Hektor Kamenetsky" Yuri Volodievsky, who was considered the soul of defense.