| Page Views: 1,868 Last Visit to Ivano-Frankivs'k: March, 2004 | A City in the Shadow of L'viv by lotharlerch - last update: May 1, 2006 |
The most Ukrainian city in Ukraine Ivano-Frankivs'k is a bit in the shadow of L'viv, the most important city in Western Ukraine.
The name of the city (after the prominent Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko) was given to it at its 600 years jubilee in 1965, the former name was Stanislaviv. Nowhere else in Ukrainian cities the percentage of ethnic Ukrainians who also speak Ukrainian is higher than here (many ethnic Ukrainians in other regions, in particular in Eastern Ukraine, do not and even can not speak Ukrainian, the country's official language - the most prominent of these is maybe known to you - Nicolai Gogol). The other remarkable characteristics of I.-F. is the fact that its architectural heritage is better and more completely renovated than elsewhere in Ukraine - it is really pleasant to stroll around among these buildings. But it feels often more Austrian or Polish than Ukrainian. Sometiimes you are persuaded to think that Vienna can not be too far. (it could in fact be reached from here on train much faster before 1918 than today). But only a few steps from the "Habsburgian" centre, at the market, you know exactly that you can not be anywhere else in the world than in the most authentic Ukraine. |
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| Pros: | "Clean, well kept and nicely renovated" | | Cons: | "Slightly underrated - in the shadow of L'viv" | | In A Nutshell: | "The most Ukrainian city in Ukraine" |
lotharlerch's Ivano-Frankivs'k Travel Tips
 Comments for lotharlerch about Ivano-Frankivs'k | | | | |
HORSCHECK Mon Aug 25, 2008 17:07 UTC
Lothar, lovely little page about this Ukrainian gem. A pity I missed a visit of Ivano-Frankivs'k on my last two visits of the Ukraine. | yumyum Mon Mar 24, 2008 22:06 UTC
So, this is the hard to reach base for the mountains. | catnl Sun Aug 31, 2003 01:32 UTC
its great to see those "pommidores"on the markets, they are so tastefull:-) nice page | globetrott Thu Jul 31, 2003 22:36 UTC
an interesting location and a great opening-pic ! |
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