Lviv Favorite Tips by HORSCHECK Top 5 Page for this destination

Churches of Lviv

Favorite thing: Lviv is home to many churches of various denominations. On our two trips we have probably seen the most popular ones. I have listed them under "Things to do" tips.

Apart from these, we still came across quite a few other interesting churches. Among them were:

The Baroque bell tower of the Church of the Holy Spirit was erected at the Kopernika Street 40 in 1729. At present it houses a museum about Rusalka Dnistrova, which was the first collection of Ukrainian literature.

The Church of the order of poor Clares is nowadays home to a museum about sacral sculptures. The history of the building dates back to the 17th century. It is located at the beginning of Lychakivska Street.

The Roman-Catholic St. Anthony Church got its present appearance in the early 18th century. It can be found at Lychakivska street 49a, just east of the city centre.

Another Roman-Catholic church is situated just west of the city centre at Bandery Street 8. It is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene which was completed in the early 17th century.

Svobody Prospekt

Favorite thing: Svobody Prospekt (Freedom Avenue) is Lviv's main boulevard in the city centre. It leads from the Opera House in the north to the Mickiewicz Square in the south.

The avenue consists of a wide tree lined pedestrianised area in the middle and one way streets on each side. Near the southern end of the avenue, the Virgin Mary Fountain can be found. Virgin Mary is said to be Lviv's city patroness.

The monument to the famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko and the so called Wave of National revival are situated in the middle of the avenue. They were erected in the 1990s and are a popular meeting point.

Market Square

Favorite thing: The history of Lviv's Market Square (Ploshcha Rynok) dates back to the 14th century.

The town hall stands in the middle of the square and it is surrounded by about 44 burgher houses of various architectural styles, each of them has its own story.

Please read my "Things to do" tips for more information about some of the buildings.

The Market Square was always the centre of the town, therefore it has seen many historic events from arrivals of dukes and kings to executions of thieves and adulterers.

Four fountains with statues of Greek gods were erected in the corners of the square in the late 18th century.

Nowadays the Market Square is pedestrianised; only old trams rattle down the southern side.