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LVIV

[LVOV, LWOW, LEMBERG] 
Quick Facts
Places of Interest
Cultural Events
Side Trips
Hotels
Restaurants

Quick Facts and History
Located 70 km from the Polish border. The administrative center of Lviv Province and the "unofficial capital" of Halychyna [Galichina, Galychyna, Galicia] - ethnographic area comprising several provinces of the western Ukraine. The population of the city - over 800,000. The population of the province - over 2.7 million (over 90% are Ukrainians). The area of the province - 28,800 sq.km.

Founded in the 13th century by Prince Danylo Ghalytskiy [Daniil Galitskiy], Lviv was for another hundred years the western gateway of the Kyiv Rus. In the 14th century the area was seized by the Polish Kingdom and remained under the Polish reign till 1772. Then it came under the power of the Austrian (from 1867 on - Austro-Hungarian) Empire. In October 1918 the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) was proclaimed. However, it existed only few months. In summer 1919 the western Ukraine and Lviv were annexed to Poland. In September 1939, as the result of the division of Poland by Berlin and Moscow, the western Ukraine became a part of the USSR. In June 1941 Lviv was seized by the Nazi, occupation lasted till July 1944. From that time the western Ukraine together with the rest of Ukraine was a part of the USSR till August 1991. 

Included in: "Zarvanytsya 2000" (brief description, detailed program), "The Ukrainian Center of Europe" (brief description, detailed program), "Grand Tour of Ukraine" (brief description, detailed program), "Super Grand Tour of Ukraine" (brief description, detailed program). 

Places of Interest
Most of the old architecture (16th to 19th centuries) remains intact. It is a treasure of many architectural styles: Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Byzantine, German Baroque, rococo, classicist and many more. The standard city tour includes the following major sites: the High Castle or Prince Hill, where the fortress used to be, with the panorama lot; the Church of St.Nicholas (13th century); the Church of Assumption and the Kornyakt Belfry (16th century); the Church of St.Parasceve (17th century) and its unique 70-icon iconostasis; the Cathedral of Dominicans (18th century); the Old Pharmacy; Market Square (over 40 14th-18th-century buildings enough for a separate 2 to 3-hour tour); St.George's Cathedral (18th century); St.John's Cathedral (14th century); the "Vienna-like" Prospekt Svobody (Liberty Avenue); the magnificent Opera House (exterior), etc.

If you can hardly wait till you get there, take a tour of the best architectural sites of Lviv put together by the folks at UARNet.

"Three Museums Tour" (History Museum, Medieval & Renaissance sections; Museum of Furniture & Porcelain, the only museum of the kind in ex-USSR; Armory). 

The city-located open-air Museum of Traditional Rural Architecture and Every-Day Life "Shevchenkivskiy Ghay" (historical park), shows how country people lived in various ethnographic zones of the western Ukraine, the biggest sections being those pertinent to the Carpathian region. 

Drawing of St.Nicholas Church Boyko wooden churches are stunningly beautiful (some of them operating, some are just exhibits).

The National Museum of Fine Arts. Apart from good Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and Western paintings, it has a remarkable collection of 14th-18th-century icons (Christian sacral paintings).

For a pre-view of some icons from the museum (as well as some other Ukrainian museums), please, visit the virtual exhibition of the Ukrainian Icon In The 11th-16th c.c. at the web site of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The server is located in Lviv, Ukraine, so connection can be slow at times, but it is worth waiting. 

Museum of Ethnography has world famous exhibits of traditional folklore crafts. The collections of embroidery, "pysanky" (decorated eggs) and Hutsul wood carving are of special interest.

To get a general idea about Ukrainian embroidery have a look at some traditional designs and samples of clothing from central and eastern Ukraine at the site of Brama, Inc.

The ancient tradition of decorating eggs has evolved in Ukraine into an amazing art. Ann Morash is one of the biggest experts in this field - visit her web site and you will not only know what each of the symbols means but may even learn to make "pysanky" yourself.

Some good examples of traditional (though made by contemporary artists) Hutsul wood carving can be found in the EuroScope Gallery. 

Side Trips
Olesko and Pidlissya.

Pochaiv and Pidkamin

Hrushiv

Hoshiv

Berestechko

Brody

Univ

Cultural Events 
Opera, especially folklore-based, is not bad. Even if the performance is not very good, a look at the interior of the Opera House building is worth the ticket.

In May a high-class classical music festival "Ukrainian Virtuosi" takes place, some concerts, esp. of chamber music, are arranged in romantic environment of medieval castles, Renaissance palazzos and cathedrals or in the open air.

Hotels
GRAND HOTEL **** -

DNISTER HOTEL deluxe floors **** --, regular floors *** +

THE LION'S CASTLE HOTEL **** - (only for F.I.T.)

GEORGE HOTEL (former INTOURIST HOTEL) ***

SPUTNIK HOTEL *** --

Restaurants
At the hotels.

There are also several downtown restaurants offering a choice of more exotic dishes. During the last several years the number of restaurants grew dramatically. Restaurants "Khutir" or "Vepr" may be a good choice.