Where to go in Lviv: sights, interesting places, cafes and restaurants

Lviv is not in vain called the cultural capital of Ukraine. There are so many historical sights that there is not enough classic for a tourist three days to watch them all. Whenever you come to Lviv, you will find some interesting events - not a jazz festival, a chocolate festival, master classes of various crafts, a Christmas market.

The capital of the Galician land is worthy to see it, even if the purpose of your trip is Poland or the ski resorts of the Carpathians. And for such transit travelers, two tram routes have been developed. So, if you have two or three hours left, sit at the train station at No. 1 and 9. So you can quickly see the central part of the city for only two hryvnia.

In this article we will tell you where to go in Lviv, if you come here for a day or more. We will also pay attention to the issue of nutrition. After all, to food, the people of Lviv are treated with great piety. "Sacred cows" in the city are coffee, beer and chocolate. Without them, simply nowhere. Although all the rest of the Galician cuisine, generously implicated in Austrian and Jewish traditions, is very, very good.

City `s history

Lviv was founded on the slopes of the Castle Hill (Knyazhy) in 1256. The founder of the city is the prince of Galicia Danilo. The center of Lviv of the thirteenth century was located on the terraces of the mountain, now called the High Castle.

Of historical buildings of that time there were only two churches - Nicholas and Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa. When Lvov received the Magdeburg Law, his commercial and cultural center moved closer to the Poltva River.

The city lay at the crossroads of trade routes and was a tasty morsel for various kinds of conquerors.

Thinking about where to go in Lviv, you need to decide what period of its history you are more interested in. After all, the city until 1918 belonged to the Austrian crown, and then, until 1939 - Poland. In Lviv, there are thematic excursions dedicated to many such historical layers.

High Castle

By the way, in the described city there are some attractions that can disappoint an unprepared tourist. Many guidebooks in the section "where to go in Lviv?" Are advised to climb the top of the High Castle. But the place names of this place are deceptive.

This is really the highest hill that surrounds the hollow, in which the modern city center is located. And in 1869 the Lviv people also poured a 140-meter artificial hill with an observation platform on its top. Thanks to such works, the High Castle became the highest point between the foothills of the Carpathians and the Urals. But on the hill (its height is 413 meters above the sea level) there is already no castle. Only a small fragment of the defensive wall (and even then a later period) can still be seen at the foot of the artificial mound.

On High Castle it is worthwhile to climb in good weather (which happens rarely in the rainy climate of Lviv) and provided that you are in good physical shape. And excellent panoramic pictures of the city can be done from the southern terraces of the Princes Mountain.

Church of St. Elizabeth

Another attraction, which can disappoint tourists seeking to come to the "old times". The church, dedicated to St. Elizabeth, stands near the railway stations of Lviv. Its strict gothic profile and the height of the steeples amaze. In the Soviet period, the cathedral served as a warehouse, which caused significant damage to its facades, stained glass and vault and almost completely destroyed the interior. Then the church was restored. And now it is the first sight of Lviv, which welcomes the guests of the city, arrived by rail (except for the old and beautiful building of the station).

But tourists who are eager to touch history should know that the church of St. Elizabeth was built in the early twentieth century in the then fashionable neo-Gothic style. But the first stone was laid by the Kaiser Franz Joseph himself, and the church was named after his wife, Empress Sisi (Elizabeth of Bavaria). The church is the tallest building in Lviv - eighty eight meters from the foot to the top of the spire.

Ancient churches

The city is also called the spiritual center of Ukraine. There are a lot of churches of different Christian denominations here. If you are thinking about where to go in Lviv to touch the high, start with the Greek Catholic Church of St. Jura.

Its baroque chapters and golden domes are visible from the center of the city, as the temple is located on top of a hill. The church on the other side of Poltva already existed as a monastic monastery in the second half of the thirteenth century. Later it was completely rebuilt in a baroque style.

Another main temple of the city is the Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. It adjoins the Rynok Square. In the Middle Ages it was surrounded by a city cemetery, but after the plague epidemic they decided to remove the graves. Only the family crypt of the rich Boim family remained. Now it works like a museum.

Another sacral structure is the Armenian Church. It is worth to look there to admire the frescoes in the style of "secession". There are two other churches with which a scandalous story is connected. Within the walls of the city housed the Bernardine monastery, and behind the fortifications - women's, clarissa. When in the seventies of the last century they began to make an underground passage under the Mytnaya (Customs) Square, the builders came across a secret tunnel leading from one holy monastery to the other. By the way, in the monastery church of Klarisok is the museum of Jan Pinzel.

Market Square

This small square is the heart of an ancient city. In the middle of the Market Square stands the Town Hall. Lviv was a free city with Magdeburg right, and therefore this symbol of burgher freedoms was very important for its inhabitants.

The first town hall was established in 1381. And since the welfare of Lvov was based on glass making, soap and brewing, the city often visited fires. And the Town Hall burned. And every time she became more and more beautiful. The last one was built in 1835. It is interesting that the building still performs its functions - it houses the City Council.

At the top of the tower with a clock is an observation deck. It is worth going up there to look at the sea of roofs. The whole area The market is an open-air museum. At the corners of the square are placed fountains, crowned with sculptures of Neptune, Diana, Amphitrite and Adonis. Each house on the square is an art memorial and a historical landmark.

Do not rush to leave the Market - here are the main museums of the city - Historical, in the bowels of which is the famous Italian courtyard, Pharmacy, the Palace of Bandinelli. Near the Town Hall often there are festivals, concerts, Christmas and Easter markets, and in winter there is an ice rink.

Theaters

The guests of the city are impressed by the Opera of Lviv. The theater, in addition to the most beautiful facades and interiors, is also famous for being above the river. During the reign of Austria-Hungary, Poltava decided to hide the polluted order underground. So the former embankments turned into wide boulevards (Prospects of Liberty and T. Shevchenko).

The opera house rests on a drainage cushion above the water surface. Therefore, there is such a wonderful acoustics. Directly in front of it is housed a more modest in architectural performance theater named after Maria Zankovetska, in which classical plays play. On a rainy day or evening you can go to the performances at the People's Theater. Les Kurbas, in the innovative - "Voskresinnya" and others. And the Lviv Drama Theater. Lesya Ukrainka hosts many famous troupes, which give tours in western Ukraine.

Where to have a tasty snack

Stay in the Austro-Hungarian Empire did not pass for Lviv in vain. The local cuisine was enriched with strudels, Viennese pastries and similar delicacies. Look in the Italian courtyard of the Historical Museum to taste this bliss in the appropriate entourage.

In general, all questions Lviv people decide for "filiguan kava" (a cup of coffee). This drink is a cult in the city. Of course, the Lvovite Yuri Kulchytsky started drinking coffee in Vienna. This character and the monument is installed. Drink delicious coffee with deliciously delicious pastries can be practically at every step. Especially popular places among tourists and local population are: "Kavyarya on Virmensky" (Armani St.), "Veronika" (T.Shevchenko Ave.), "Zukernya at Staroyevreyskaya", and also a chain of confectionery "Bratvanka".

But tell about the history of coffee and show the whole process of processing grains can only museum-cafe "Lviv Cave Kava." In the city there is a network of shops where you can not only taste a fragrant drink, but also buy a mixture of grains, which, according to your desire, with you and will be divided.

Chocolate

Confectioneries in Lviv specialize not only in fine baking. Chocolate is also a cult. Even in Soviet times the confectionery factory "Svitoch" was famous for its sweets. And now the guests of the city are surprised by the Lviv workshop of chocolate. In the street Galitskaya can be seen through the glass, as magicians create from this sweet material sweets, figurines and entire palaces.

Where to eat tightly

Inexpensive, you can dine at Puzata Hut and other network cafes with self-service. But Lviv has honor and theme restaurants. Some of them are dedicated to some era. For example, "Dome" recreates the entourage "Belle Epoque". Restaurant "Salo" will surprise gourmets with the delights of Galician cuisine. Lviv people appreciate the eccentricity. So, in the "Kerosene Lamp", "Golden Rose", "Cryivka", "Masoch" and "Kumpel" you will have a special atmosphere.

Gastronomic tours

By the way, you can connect the survey of attractions with tasting. To do this, you need to join one of the gastronomic excursions. How do you like this - "Lions with drunk eyes"? This, incidentally, is a tour of pubs. There is also a museum of beer in the city. The Lviv chocolate workshop is obligatory for those who like sweets, and "Kavala Kava" is also known for jazz concerts.