Lviv

Lviv is a major city in western Ukraine, the administrative center of Lviv Oblast, and it is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine. The historic city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lviv celebrated its 750th anniversary in September 2006.

The city of Lviv, founded in the late Middle Ages, was a flourishing administrative, religious and commercial centre for several centuries. The medieval urban topography has been preserved virtually intact (in particular, there is evidence of the different ethnic communities who lived there), along with many fine Baroque and later buildings.

Main square, Lviv

In its urban fabric and its architecture, Lviv is an outstanding example of the fusion of the architectural and artistic traditions of eastern Europe with those of Italy and Germany.

The political and commercial role of Lviv attracted to it a number of ethnic groups with different cultural and religious traditions, who established separate yet interdependent communities within the city, evidence for which is still discernible in the modern townscape.

Lviv's historic churches, buildings and relics date from the 13th century. In recent centuries, it was spared some of the invasions and wars that destroyed other Ukrainian cities. Its architecture reflects various European styles and periods.

After the fires of 1527 and 1556, Lviv lost most of its gothic-style buildings, but it retains many buildings in renaissance, baroque, and classic styles. There are works by artists of the Vienna Secession, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco styles.

Ancient Armenian church in Lviv

The buildings have many stone sculptures and carvings, particularly on large doors, hundreds of years old. The remains of old churches dot the central cityscape. Some 3-5 story buildings have hidden inner courtyards and grottos in various states of repair.

Some cemeteries are of interest, for example the Lychakivskiy Cemetery. Leaving the central area, the architectural style changes radically as Soviet-era high rises dominate. In the centre, the Soviet era is reflected mainly in a few modern-style national monuments and sculptures.

Accommodation in Lviv

Hotels, hostels, pensions in Lviv

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Prestige Apartments Lviv Lviv, Ukraine

Ratusha Apartment Lviv, Ukraine

Retro Hostel Shevchenko Lviv, Ukraine

Rynok Square Apartment Lviv, Ukraine

The Kosmonaut Hostel Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

(Sources: Wikipedia, UNESCO World Heritage, MarvaoGuide, Lviv)