The largest city in the historical province of Galicia, Lviv boasts a rich history, culture, and architectural heritage.
For centuries, Lviv has been an important political, cultural, and scientific center. Throughout its history, the city has belonged to Poland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Soviet Union. Today, Lviv is one of Ukraine’s most significant cultural hubs.
Lviv is renowned for its beautiful architecture, including numerous Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic landmarks such as the Latin Cathedral, the Jesuit Church, St. Anne’s Church, the City Hall, and many 18th- and 19th-century townhouses. The city is also home to a variety of museums, including the Andrzej Potocki National Museum, the Museum of Art and Jewish Culture, and the Lviv History Museum.
The city is famous for its café and literary culture, the well-known Lychakiv Cemetery, and the annual East-West Ukrainian Cultural Festival. Visitors to Lviv can enjoy traditional Ukrainian cuisine as well as coffee and pastries in the city’s numerous cafés.
Lviv Brewery
The Lviv Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in Ukraine, founded in 1715. It was one of the largest breweries in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and became famous for its beers, which were exported to many European countries.
At its peak, the brewery produced around 500,000 hectoliters of beer annually and employed over a thousand workers. During the interwar period, when Lviv belonged to Poland, the brewery was one of the country’s most important beer producers.
After World War II, the brewery was nationalized and came under Soviet control, which affected its quality and reputation. Following Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the brewery was privatized again and underwent reconstruction. Today, Lviv Brewery is one of Ukraine’s leading beer producers, offering a variety of beers, including traditional lagers as well as modern craft styles. The brewery also operates its own restaurant, where visitors can enjoy local dishes and beers.
Lychakiv Cemetery
Lychakiv Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe and one of Lviv’s most important cultural landmarks.
Founded in 1786, it was originally a burial place for people of various faiths. In the 19th century, the cemetery was divided into religious sectors, where representatives of different religions and nationalities were buried. It contains graves of notable figures, including politicians, artists, writers, scientists, as well as war and repression victims.
The cemetery is known for its beautiful tomb architecture and rich history. It features many historic tombs and chapels, including the Boim Chapel, the Blue Chapel, the Janowski Chapel, the Tadeusz Hołówka Chapel, and a historic war necropolis, where soldiers who died in World War I and the Polish-Ukrainian War are buried.
Armenian Restaurant Mons Pius
"Mons Pius" means “Mountain of Grace” in Latin, named after the former Armenian bank where the restaurant was established. The bank existed for 300 years until 1939, and the restaurant preserves some of its original features, including beams, epitaphs, and the Rosen stained glass, almost in its original state.
Lviv Railway Station
The station building is one of Lviv’s most important architectural landmarks, with a history dating back to the early 20th century.
The original station, built between 1861 and 1862, was wooden and served as the terminus of the railway line from Kraków. In 1904, construction began on a new masonry station, designed by architect Artur Schmidt. The construction continued until 1925, during which several design changes were made, giving the building a mixed architectural style.
The Lviv station is notable for its volume and decorative plant motifs. Its interiors are equally impressive, adorned with frescoes, sculptures, and mosaics. At its height, Lviv’s Main Railway Station was one of the most important stations in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.
Lviv Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Latin Cathedral, is one of Lviv’s most important churches and one of the largest Baroque architectural monuments in present-day Ukraine.
The cathedral’s origins date back to the 15th century, when a Catholic church was built on the site of an earlier Orthodox church. Between 1630 and 1635, the church was expanded and rebuilt in the Baroque style by Italian architect Andrea del Aqua. Further expansion and reconstruction took place between 1740 and 1761, resulting in the current monumental cathedral.
The Latin Cathedral impresses with its architecture: a three-nave basilica with a transept, presbytery, and side chapels, covered with barrel vaults. The interior is richly decorated with sculptures, frescoes, paintings, and stained glass, and contains valuable artifacts such as the main altar by Lviv sculptor Jan Jerzy Plersch and the Neo-Baroque organ built between 1902 and 1904 by the Austrian firm Rieger.
Throughout its history, the Latin Cathedral has witnessed many significant events, including the coronations of Polish kings, funerals of prominent figures, and religious ceremonies. After World War II, the church was closed for many years and suffered considerable damage, but it was restored in the 1990s and returned to its former glory.
Lviv Opera House
The opera house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style between 1897 and 1900, based on a design by architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski.
Lviv Opera is renowned for its outstanding opera and ballet performances, as well as classical music concerts. Over its long history, it has hosted many distinguished performers and artists, including such legends as Enrico Caruso, Solomiya Krushelnytska, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
During World War II, the Opera House was severely damaged but was rebuilt in the 1960s and renovated in the 1990s.
Lviv Arsenal
The Arms Museum opened in 1981 in the recently restored City Arsenal.
The exhibition is organized by type, place, and period of production, showcasing samples of cold and firearms, armor, and military uniforms.
Lviv University
Originally the Jesuit College founded by Polish King John II Casimir in 1661 as the Lviv Academy.
During the interwar period, it operated under the name Jan Kazimierz University.
Lwów Eaglets Cemetery
Occupying the slopes of the Pohulanka hills within Lychakiv Cemetery, it is the burial site of nearly 3,000 soldiers, including the Lwów Eaglets—youth from secondary schools and universities.
The cemetery was devastated by Soviet authorities in 1971, who destroyed the colonnade and much of the remaining graves using tanks and construction machinery.
It was rebuilt after the collapse of the Soviet Union and is designed in the Art Deco style.
Monument to Soldiers of the Ukrainian Galician Army
Dedicated to the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The top of the column is crowned with a bronze sculpture of Archangel Michael, holding an oak branch in his left hand and a sword in his right, symbolizing glory and courage, respectively.
Adam Mickiewicz Monument in Lviv
Opened on October 30, 1904, it is considered one of the most beautiful monuments to Mickiewicz in the world. The poet never visited Lviv during his lifetime, but in 1897 the Lviv Adam Mickiewicz Literary Society initiated the monument to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Lviv Market Square
The central square of Lviv, founded in 1356 by Casimir III the Great, follows the Magdeburg Law, which was common in historic Poland, giving the square its characteristic and orderly layout.
The Market Square hosted many important ceremonies: in 1387, Władysław II Jagiełło received the fealty of Wallachian hospodar Alexander, and in 1436, Władysław III of Varna received the fealty of Wallachian hospodar Eliasz.
Ivano-Frankivsk
The city was founded in the 17th century and named in honor of the Polish hetman Stanisław Rewera Potocki.