Historic and Architectural Lviv

Architectural monuments of Lviv, their peculiar beauty are not only special in our art, but also in world art. This intertwining of eastern, western cultures and Ukrainian folk art, the artistic ensemble testifying to high and noble soul of the nation, exquisiteness of its tastes and customs. Unique character of the city stays in congruence with variety of cultural traditions, styles of different epochs ranging from the 13th to the 20th centuries Renaissance, Roman style, Gothicism, Baroque, Rococo, Empire, Classicism, Constructivism, and Secession.

The age imparts beauty to Lviv. Along with a new constructive building you can see an ancient tower or the remnants of a medieval wall. Next to the constructions dating back to the Old Rus period (St. Nicholas Church and John the Baptist Church) you will hardly leave unnoticed the masterpiece of the Renaissance architecture the Assumption Church complex and the Ensemble of the Rynok Square, Gothic Arches of Ensemble the Latin Cathedral, the exquisite Baroque of St. George Cathedral and the world-known building of the 20th century Lviv Opera House.

Lviv is one of the richest Ukrainian cities in terms of a number and significance of historical, architectural, and cultural monuments their number reaches over 2000. On December 2, 1998 at the sitting of UNESCO 22nd session in Kyoto the Ensemble of Lviv Historic Center was included in the World culture heritage list.

To tackle the problems of the ancient city the Government of Ukraine adopted a Complex project of preservation of Lviv historical buildings in 1997 which presumes a special status of Lviv as a monument city. In order to engage the public and donators in preservation and restoration of architectural monuments a Charitable Fund of Lviv Historical and Architectural Heritage preservation was founded in 2000.

We have not enough information on what the city looked like at the dawn of its foundation, but it probably must have looked like other fortified settlements in Rus. Researchers believe, the lower hill must have been occupied by a fortress with a prince palace. At the foot of the mountain, in the Poltva river valley (today Pidzamche district) a city spread with craftsmens, merchants houses, trace and public council squares, and churches. This oldest part of the city many times used to serve the scene of fierce fights, it was destroyed with fires, especially after the city center was moved to a new place, todays Rynok Square, and Pidzamche became a suburb almost devoid of any protection against hostile attacks.

Almost no buildings dating back to the Princedom epoch have preserved intact. Apart from the fragments of the High Castle fortifications, St. Nicholas Church is the oldest stone construction which used to stand on the Volynskyi way. The reference of it is mentioned in Prince Levs deed in 1292. The church would belong to the Levs family. Its structure resembles a public cathedral: small entrance door and windows, thick walls which enabled the building to serve as a protection against the enemy. Its modern look the church acquired in the first half of the 17th century.

In the vicinity of the church you will find John the Baptist Church which was built in 1260 for Constance, Prince Levs wife, daughter of Bela IV, Hungarian King. Several times the building was destroyed, then recovered, and in 1886 it was reconstructed in the Roman style. Both sanctuaries were built in the Old Rus style with regard to the peculiarities of Byzantine architecture.
Late in the 13th century the Armenians built St. Ann Church (it hasnt preserved till today), while the German community of the city constructed the Roman Catholic Maria Snizhna Church, which is considered the oldest church in Lviv. Its modern look the church acquired due to the restoration in the 19th century.

The history of the church and the monastery of St. Onufriy dates from the Princedom times. They take a meaningful place in the history of the Ukrainian culture. The icon wall is the most outstanding church decoration. Ivan Fedorov founded a printing house in this monastery in 1573. In 1564 he published "Apostol" - the first printed book in Ukraine.