L'VIV AND CASTLES
HIGHLIGHTS
Market Square.
A few years ago the central part of Lviv including Market Square was included on the UNESCO Heritage List. This is the heart of Lviv. In the middle of the square there is the town hall. The existing building presents for me personally no interest, but I love climbing the many steps (there is no elevator!!!) of its tower and enjoying a magnificent view of the central part of Lviv from above.
The buildings on the Market Square have been built by merchants in order to impress each other, and the architecture is really impressive. Besides, every house has its own history, sometimes romantic, sometimes tragic. For example, there is a tragicomic story associated with house No. 9. It stands on a land plot which was the property of the church from 1376 to 1939. However, the city was reluctant to agree on transfer of ownership, and Archbishop Bernard excommunicated Lviv for such disobedience. The city, for its part, complained to the Pope of Rome, who excommunicated the Archbishop.
The buildings on the Market Square have been built by merchants in order to impress each other, and the architecture is really impressive. Besides, every house has its own history, sometimes romantic, sometimes tragic. For example, there is a tragicomic story associated with house No. 9. It stands on a land plot which was the property of the church from 1376 to 1939. However, the city was reluctant to agree on transfer of ownership, and Archbishop Bernard excommunicated Lviv for such disobedience. The city, for its part, complained to the Pope of Rome, who excommunicated the Archbishop.
Panoramic Tour
Unlike many other cities in Ukraine, Lviv was lucky enough to escape the terrible destruction in World War Two, and its absolutely fascinating streets and numerous museums make it one of the most exciting places in Ukraine to explore. During the tour you will explore the historic center of our fantastically eclectic city, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will stroll down Lviv's main avenues, squares, narrow cobbled streets. The city tour starts at the Opera House, which is the first building in Europe built on a solid concrete base for the first time, then you will walk down Svoboda Avenue, which is laid out above the enclosed underground Poltva River. On your way You will have a look at historic building housing The Maria Zankovetska Drama Theatre that was once the biggest in Europe and is the oldest in Ukraine. The medieval atmosphere of Lviv will hark you back to days when Lviv was at the forefront of regional events, and it was once a wealthy trading center. You will see the oldest and most gorgeous churches and cathedrals in the Old Town including Baroque style Jesuit Cahedral, the Virgin Mary's Assumption church, the Armenian Cathedral with 16-17th century tombstones, Church of the Blessed Eucharist (former Dominican Church), the Latin Cathedral and the Transfiguration Church. Do you know that the famous writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who paved a road to the term "masochism", was born in Lviv? During the tour you will see both the place where he was born and the Masoch Cafe. You will get to know more about the gas lamp invention and see the statues of the lamp invention as the first gas lamp in the world was invented in Lviv. The guide will take you to the world-renown 18th century Lvivian sculptor Johann Georg Pinzel museum. Often referred to as Ukrainian’s Michelangelo the beauty and mastery of his work justifies this distinction. Little is known about the sculptor’s life and controversy continues to hover around his identity, but doesn’t that make his art all the more alluring? You have also chance to attend Dzyga Gallery, which is said to be an ART-terra of contemporary art for artists. Those of you interested in defense will have a chance to learn about Medieval defensive system of the city, peep into the Gunpowder Tower and Arsenal buildings. Now former arsenal hosts the only museum of weapons in Ukraine with of the biggest collections of cold weapons in the county. Also there is a possibility of visiting the High Castle with a perfect view not only of the city but of its suburbs as well.
Castles
The most popular tourist itinerary is one, which leads to Olesko, Zolochiv and Pidhirci - these small villages are famous for their age-old majestic castles. From a distance we can see the powerful defensive building on the picturesque hill in Olesko, which walls are formed of the cutted stone blocks, they "remember" a lot of invasions of polyglot invaders. And within some kilometres there is one more castle, quite not like the previous. It's alike a fairy-tale palace with the slender towers, shining versatile mosaic tile and playful decoration.
There are hardly any castles in the world that went through such roller coaster transformations – from a royal residence to a hospital, vocational school for farming machinery mechanics, ghost-haunted ruins, museums, crumbling structures in perpetual state of restoration where cows and goats graze on once well-kept lawns.
These are different kind of castles. They are like a photograph of beautiful flowers represented by a crazy avant-garde genius - it is really worth seeing.
There are hardly any castles in the world that went through such roller coaster transformations – from a royal residence to a hospital, vocational school for farming machinery mechanics, ghost-haunted ruins, museums, crumbling structures in perpetual state of restoration where cows and goats graze on once well-kept lawns.
These are different kind of castles. They are like a photograph of beautiful flowers represented by a crazy avant-garde genius - it is really worth seeing.
I. G. Pinzel Sculpture Museum
Lviv collection of baroque sculpture was collected in Lviv Art Gallery as a result of the museum's staff expeditionary work in 1960-1970 years. At that time when this Ukrainian heritage of culture was doomed to a complete destruction, a small group of workers saved near two thousands of art works. I. G. Pinzel Museum of baroque sculpture was set up on a basis of a famous master's materials, which were lucky to be saved.
Johann Georg Pinzel is one of the most talented sculptors of the ХVIII century in Europe, his creative work gained its biggest scope and power in the second half of the XVIII century. He managed to reach the perfection in mysticism and dramatic effect portraying, it is obvious in those works which are exposed in the museum, among them — the Angel, the Crucifix, Abraham's Immolation, Samson killing the Lion and other worldwide known works.
Johann Georg Pinzel is one of the most talented sculptors of the ХVIII century in Europe, his creative work gained its biggest scope and power in the second half of the XVIII century. He managed to reach the perfection in mysticism and dramatic effect portraying, it is obvious in those works which are exposed in the museum, among them — the Angel, the Crucifix, Abraham's Immolation, Samson killing the Lion and other worldwide known works.