Lviv (other spellings: L'viv, Lvov, Lwiw, Lwow, Lemberg) is one of the most beautiful cities of Ukraine, and a true pearl of European architecture. Its architectural landscape joins the monuments of numerous styles and different epochs. From the gothic 14^th century Latin Cathedral to the baroque of St. George (Sviatoho Yura) Cathedral. Renaissance-style Bernardine Monastery and Chapel of Bohemes coexist with the strict simplicity of the Armenian Church. Lviv city has a rich and impressive history. Numerous historical events took place in the city. The walls of old Lviv's buildings still keep the spirit of past centuries. Cozy streets and fascinating monuments make it a unique tourist attraction among all Ukrainian and Eastern European cities. Lviv, with its number and beauty of its sights is said to be one of the most wonderful cities in the world, and is a UNESCO heritage site.
* Lviv was founded as a fort in the mid-13^th century by Prince Danylo Halitski of Galicia, a former principality of Kyivan Rus. The first mention of Lviv in early chronicles is from 1256, although archeological excavation in 1993 revealed that the first settlements appeared in the 6^th century. Galicia, with Lviv as its chief city, has kept its identity despite many boundary changes and centuries of rule by outside powers.
* Lviv quickly became the center of trade and commerce for the region. The city's favorable location on the crossroads of trade routes led to its rapid economic development.
* Galicia was taken over by Poland in the 14^th century. Its nobility eventually adopted the Polish language and religion - Roman Catholicism but the vast majority of people remained Ukrainian Orthodox and later joined the Greek Catholic Church which acknowledged the Pope's spiritual supremacy but adhered to the area's Orthodox forms of worship. From 1356 the burghers had the right of self-government, which implied that all city issues were to be solved by a city council, elected by wealthy citizens.
* The first half of the 17th century appeared to be the most active period in the city's development, by that time there where 25-30 thousand people. About 30 craft organizations were active by that time, involving 133 different specialities. Starting in the second half of the 17^th century there was a decline in Lviv's development.
* In the First Partition of Poland (1772), Galicia became part of the Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire but remained dominated by Poles.
* In 1784, the first university was opened. Lectures were held in Latin, German, Polish and Ukrainian.
* In the second half of the nineteenth century, construction, trade, transport and industry started to develop rapidly until the first world war started. Towards the end of the 19^th century, Lviv became the center of a new Ukrainian national movement. Many prominent cultural and political leaders lived in Lviv, among them Ivan Franko, Mykhailo Hrushevsky; it was a meeting place of Ukrainian, Polish, and Jewish cultures.
* With the collapse of the Hapsburg Empire at the end of World War I, Lviv was proclaimed capital of the independent Republic of West Ukraine. But the troops of the re-emergent Poland seized the city, and Lviv returned to Polish rule until the Red Army took control in September, 1939. L'viv was occupied by Germany from 1941 to 1944. In 1944, Lviv again went under Soviet rule.
* L'viv was an important center of activities of Ukrainian dissidents. Since the late 1980s, the city became a leading force in Ukraine's movement towards sovereignty and democracy.
* The activity of the Greek Catholic Church, prohibited in 1946, started again, the Rukh movement won the elections. On August 24, 1991 Lviv began a new era as the Supreme Council of Ukraine adopted a declaration of independence.
* Nowadays, L'viv is a major economic and cultural center on the Western region of the independent Ukrainian state. Economic reforms (among them privatization of enterprises and land) proceeded in L'viv more rapidly than in many other Ukrainian economic centres, despite tremendous difficulties.
It is located in the heart of Europe, on the Poltva River, and is world-wide known specially for its historical and architectural wonders. The history of Lviv has been interwoven with that of Europe for eleven centuries. With some 800,000 inhabitants, it is the social, cultural and business centre of Western Ukraine.

Lviv's prime attraction is its architectural heritage. Despite its cosmopolitan character, which can be seen in the broad range of architectural styles, the city has maintained its Ukrainian nature. The city centre is a real museum of 900 years of architecture – you can find here all possible architectural styles, amazingly undisturbed by the 20^th century. Since the early 19^th century, Lviv has been called the "City of a Hundred Spires". The city's "Austrian Baroque" architecture remains intact, dominated by 800-year-old Visokiy Zamok ("Castle on the Hill") overlooking the Poltva River.

The historic core of the city - Hradcany (the Castle District) and Mala Strana (the Small Quarter) west of the river, Stare Mesto (the Old Town) and Vaclavske namesti (Wenceslas Square) to the east, and Charles Bridge in between - covers about 3 sq. km., and you can go on foot to discover all its most famous attractions without need to use any means of transport.

Here you can visit St. Vitus' Cathedral where the tomb of Danylo Halytskiy lies, founder of the Ukrainian lands of Galicia and Volyn'. The centerpiece of the Old Town is the Old Town Square and the original Old Town Hall, which has burned down and been restored three times over the centuries. Across the square stands the monumental Church of St. Yura. From the Old Town Square, wind numerous narrow streets and alleys full of remarkable sights, including churches, cathedrals, galleries and museums, antique shops, and centuries-old wine and beer cellars. You can also visit Nove Mesto (New Town), with its shops, cafés, museums and theatres. If you like history, go to Vysehrad, where mythical Lviv was born. Or travel further out of Lviv - at least a dozen medieval chateaux and castles are only a day-trip away from the town, for example Konopiste, Karlstejn, Krivoklat, Orlik, Cesky Sternberk, Hluboka, Cesky Krumlov, Kutna Hora.

Also entertainment is placed high on Lviv's attractions list. Whole families - every generation - will find here something worthy of their interest. You can enjoy all sorts of music here (from classical to modern jazz); there are excellent museums here; cinemas and theatres and dozens of art galleries. You can visit Lviv's Botanical Garden or Circus. There are hundreds of restaurants providing both national and international cuisine and even more pubs and bars where you can taste world famous "Lvivske Pyvo" beer. Young people will appreciate a rich night life in Lviv's numerous clubs, discos and night-bars.

Due to its beauty and vitality, Lviv has become a magnet for millions of tourists from all over the world. Be sure there is no time for boredom in Lviv. Whether you come here just for a few days, or a few weeks, you will always find and discover something new and interesting.

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