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    Tourist Attractions in Lviv

    The most interesting and beautiful tourist attractions in Lviv. Photos and a brief description.

    Lviv
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    About Lviv

    The historical heritage of Lviv was formed under the influence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Austrian and Russian empires, since at different times the city was part of all these states. From an architectural point of view, Lviv is a real European city, especially since they hurried to get rid of the legacy of the Soviet era there already in the first years of Ukraine’s independence.

    The city authorities are actively working on restoration projects, restoring historical buildings and developing infrastructure to attract as many tourists as possible. Therefore, Lviv is becoming more and more beautiful with each city. Its medieval churches, Baroque palaces and parks delight travelers. The rich collections of Lviv museums consist of priceless works of art, as well as unique handicrafts that tell about the difficult history of Western Ukraine.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Lviv

    Market Square

    The central square of Lviv, the architectural ensemble of which began to form during the period of Casimir the Great under the influence of Polish and German urban planning trends. There is a city hall, historical mansions of the nobility and rich merchant families, museums and administrative buildings. Today the square is an important tourist center of Lviv. All walking routes of the city pass through it.

    Market Square
    Lviv City Hall

    Lviv City Hall

    The first wooden town hall appeared in Lviv in the middle of the XIV century after the city adopted the Magdeburg law system. It burned down after a few decades. The building of 1835, made in the classical style according to the project of A. Vondrashek, F. Tresher and Yu. Markel, has reached our days. The building consists of four floors, a courtyard and a town hall tower decorated with a clock face made near Vienna.

    Potocki Palace

    A palace in the manner of "French" classicism, which belonged to the influential count Potocki family. The complex was built in 1880 according to the plan of the French urban planner L. de Vernie with the help of the Polish architect Yu . Tsybulsky. Lviv Potocki Palace was considered one of the most luxurious among the other possessions of this powerful family. Ceremonial receptions and meetings were held on its territory.

    Potocki Palace
    Kornyakta Palace

    Kornyakta Palace

    A unique monument of Renaissance architecture, erected in the XVI century for a wealthy merchant of Greek origin K. Kornyakta. After the construction was completed, it immediately became clear that the architect P. Barbon had the most elegant building in all of Lviv. One of the most picturesque places of the palace is the Italian courtyard, modeled after the typical "patios" of Florence. Nowadays, a museum is located on the territory of the mansion.

    House of Scientists

    Architectural monument of the late XIX century, the creation of the Austrian urban planners F. Fellner and G. Helmer. The house is built in the style of palace architecture typical of Central Europe. In the period 1918 — 1939, a casino operated in the building, since 1948 it has turned into a House of Scientists. Currently, the mansion belongs to one of the educational organizations. Lviv masquerade balls are held on its territory.

    House of Scientists
    Lviv Opera House

    Lviv Opera House

    Lviv became in dire need of its own opera stage at the end of the XIX century. At that time, the city was part of Austria-Hungary and was known as Lemberg. The theater was built in 1900 in a classical style with elements of Baroque and Renaissance. Its architecture was strongly influenced by the "Viennese pseudo-Renaissance" school. The theater building adorns the central part of the city, giving it a resemblance to classical European capitals.

    St. George 's Cathedral

    The Cathedral church of the Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine - UGCC. Previously, in its place there was a wooden Orthodox church and monastery (until the XIV century) and a Byzantine-style basilica (until the end of the XVIII century). The cathedral was built in the Baroque style according to the project of B. Meretin. From 1946 to 1990 it belonged to the ROC, but then it was returned to the UGCC. The temple complex includes a cathedral, metropolitan chambers, a terrace, a bell tower, a garden and chapter houses.

    St. George 's Cathedral
    St. Elzbieta 's Church

    St. Elzbieta 's Church

    The neo-Gothic temple of the beginning of the XX century, which, according to legend, was named after Empress Elizabeth of Bavaria, more popularly known as Sisi. Architect T. Talevsky worked on the project. The master embodied in his creation the features of North German and French temples, and also added a bit of harsh Romanesque stylistics. Since 1991, the church has been called the Church of St. Olga and Elizabeth. It belongs to the UGCC.

    Latin Cathedral

    The Catholic Cathedral, which is the only one in Ukraine has the status of a "minor basilica". In 2001, the church hosted Pope John Paul II as an honorary guest. The Latin Cathedral was built in 1360-1479 according to the project of P. Stecher. Restoration work was carried out in the XVIII, XIX centuries and at the beginning of the XX century. The architecture of the building is a mixture of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles.

    Latin Cathedral
    Chapel of the Boim

    Chapel of the Boim

    The chapel was erected at the beginning of the XVII century as a family crypt of the Boim family. The building is notable for the fact that its walls are decorated with sculptural groups depicting scenes from the Bible. The fact is that religious subjects were embodied mainly in painting. To depict biblical scenes with the help of sculpture is a rather non–standard solution for that time.

    Armenian Cathedral

    The temple of the XIV century, located in the historical part of Lviv. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in the city. The cathedral was built on the site of an Armenian church of the XII century at the expense of merchants Fanos and Jacob. At the beginning of the XX century, the restoration of the building was carried out. In 2000, the church was transferred to the Armenian Apostolic Church, although it originally belonged to the Armenian-Catholic branch. The fact is that by the time of the transfer, there were almost no Catholic Armenians left in Lviv.

    Armenian Cathedral
    Dominican Monastery and Cathedral

    Dominican Monastery and Cathedral

    The first Dominican monastery was founded in Lviv in the XIV century. The cathedral was erected in the middle of the XVIII century according to the project of Ya . de Witte on the money of Jozef Potocki. The building is one of the most striking monuments of European Baroque architecture with all the solemnity and splendor inherent in this style. The monastery complex has been restored several times, the last work was carried out in the 1950s.

    Church and monastery of the Bernardines

    The monastery originated in the XV century. Initially, all the buildings of the monastery were made of wood. During the XVI-XVII centuries, they were gradually replaced by stone ones. At that time, the monastery was surrounded by powerful fortress walls, the entrance was blocked by reliable gates. The Church of St. St. Andrew's was erected in 1600 – 1630 by the project of the monk B. Avelid, work on the interior was carried out in the XVIII century. The building was renovated in the 1970s.

    Church and monastery of the Bernardines
    St. John the Baptist Church

    St. John the Baptist Church

    The temple is located on the Old Market Square. According to one version, it was erected in the XIII century under Prince Lev Danilovich. However, some historical data and research indicate that the structure did not appear earlier than the XIV century. The architecture of the building traces the features of the Neo-Romanesque style. Nowadays, on the territory of the church there is a branch of the Lviv Art Gallery — the Museum of the oldest monuments of Lviv.

    The Jesuit Church

    The church was built in the XVII century by the project of the master from Italy D. Briano. However, the original construction plan was proposed by the monk S. Lakhmius. The church is one of the first Baroque buildings erected on the territory of Lviv. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, the local parliament – the "regional Sejm" - met in the church. Since 2011, restoration works have been carried out in the church with Polish funds.

    The Jesuit Church
    Pharmacy-museum

    Pharmacy-museum "Under the Black Eagle"

    The oldest city pharmacy, which has been operating since 1735. In the pharmacy museum you can see a curious exposition consisting of tablet machines, special dishes with inscriptions in Latin, antique scales, dried herbs and other interesting things. The exhibits are stored on the shelves of massive wooden cabinets of the XVIII century, which further enhances the corresponding "entourage". The pharmacy sells both modern medicines and branded medicines created according to old recipes.

    Lviv Beer Museum

    The museum occupies the basement of the Lviv brewery. His collection is dedicated to the history and traditions of brewing. The exposition opened its doors in 2005. Bottles and barrels, beer glasses and old recipes are collected here (about three hundred exhibits in total). After viewing the exhibition, visitors can go to the tasting room, souvenir shop and the restaurant "Robert Doms' Hop House" located in the dungeon.

    Lviv Beer Museum
    Shevchenko guy

    Shevchenko guy

    An ethnographic exhibition in the open air, where you can look at the traditional architecture of the village of Western Ukraine, as well as get acquainted with everyday folk life. The museum is located on the territory of the ethnic park "Znesenye". "Shevchenko Guy" consists of several dozen houses typical of various regions of Ukraine, churches and outbuildings.

    Museum of Ethnography and Art Craft

    The collection appeared as a result of the unification of the Museum of the Scientific Society named after T. Shevchenko and the City Industrial Museum, founded in the XIX century. The exposition is located in the historical building of the Galician Savings Bank. The museum funds hold a valuable collection of ethnographic exhibits, as well as handicrafts created by folk craftsmen.

    Museum of Ethnography and Art Craft
    Lviv Art Gallery

    Lviv Art Gallery

    One of the largest art museums in Ukraine, founded at the beginning of the XX century. The collection is located in the building of the palace, built in the Neo-Renaissance style by F. Pokutinsky. The gallery exhibits several tens of thousands of canvases belonging to the brush of masters from different countries. There are works by I. Levitan, I. Repin, I. Aivazovsky, P. Rubens, F. Goya, Titian, Y. Robert and other artists.

    Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum

    The museum was founded at the beginning of the XX century in order to preserve and develop the national Ukrainian culture. The creator was Metropolitan A. Sheptytsky, who initially maintained the exposition at his own expense. Later, the museum switched to state funding. The collection consists of icons, manuscripts, wood carvings, sculptures, engravings, paintings, textiles and ceramics.

    Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum
    Prison on Lontsky

    Prison on Lontsky

    The building of the former Austro-Hungarian gendarmerie in the Neo-Renaissance style, converted into a museum. During the Soviet period, the NKVD directorate was located on its territory, during the Second World War – the Gestapo headquarters, until 1991 – the NKVD pre–trial detention center (hereinafter – the KGB), until 2009 - the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. The museum was opened in 2009 on the initiative of the SBU. Its exposition is dedicated to the victims of the occupation regimes that existed at different times on the territory of Western Ukraine.

    Lviv Railway Station

    The first city railway station was built in Lviv in 1861 on the initiative of the government of the Austrian Empire. By the beginning of the XX century, the station stopped coping with the flow of passengers. In 1904, a modern building appeared, which provided waiting rooms for the first, second and third classes, as well as a dining room, a restaurant, a post office and utility rooms. At the time of opening, Lviv railway station was considered one of the most modern in Europe.

    Lviv Railway Station
    City Arsenal

    City Arsenal

    A defensive structure of the XVI century, built of massive stone. The building is a monument of Renaissance architecture. In 1704, the arsenal was destroyed by Swedish troops and later rebuilt. Until the XVIII century there was an armory, after – a prison, a torture chamber and an executioner's house. Since 1981, there has been a museum of weapons in the arsenal, which exhibits thousands of exhibits from around the world.

    Citadel

    The remains of the Austrian fortifications of the XIX century, which at various times were used by Russian, Polish and Soviet troops during military campaigns conducted in Western Ukraine. In one of the well-preserved towers there is a five-star hotel "Citadel Inn", whose interior is decorated in the "imperial" style of the heyday of Austria-Hungary.

    Citadel
    Powder Tower

    Powder Tower

    In the XVI century, the tower was part of the system of city defensive fortifications and guarded the approaches to Lviv from the north side. The structure is a monument of military architecture of the Renaissance. Ammunition, gunpowder and provisions were stored here in case of a siege. The thickness of the walls of the tower is about 2.5 meters, they are made of raw stone. Restoration work was carried out in the middle of the XX century.

    Stryi Park

    The park was laid out on the territory of the former Stryi cemetery at the end of the XIX century according to the plan of the head gardener of Lviv A. Rering. It is located in the southern part of the city. Initially, about 40 thousand trees were planted, paths were laid and lawns with flowerbeds were decorated. In Soviet times, the territory of the park was significantly increased due to the adjacent wastelands.

    Stryi Park
    Freedom Avenue

    Freedom Avenue

    The main street of the city is 350 meters long, the center of cultural and business life. On Svobody Avenue, the outlines of the facades of mansions intertwined features of Baroque, classicism and Neo-Renaissance. The Austrian period in the history of Lviv made a significant contribution to the formation of the architectural appearance of the street. Today, Svobody Avenue is one of the "iconic" places for tourists, as well as a favorite street for walking citizens.

    High Castle Park

    The park is located on the slopes of the Prince's (Castle) mountain almost in the center of Lviv. It covers an area of 36 hectares. A magnificent panorama of the city opens from the observation deck of the upper terrace. The High Castle Park was built in the XIX century on the site of the fortress of the same name, which by that time had been dismantled by the Austrians. In the middle of the XX century, a TV tower with a height of 200 meters was built on its territory.

    High Castle Park
    Lychakiv cemetery

    Lychakiv cemetery

    The cemetery of the XVI century, turned into a memorial museum-reserve. There is a version that even in the Middle Ages people who died from the plague epidemic were buried at this place. Grave grave consists of several parts – the oldest graves, the cemetery of the defenders of Lviv, the rebel quarter, the graves of victims of the NKVD, the pantheon of prominent Poles and others. There are also several memorials, including a monument in honor of the UNA division of CC "Galicia".