Rynok Square has been the centre of political, public, cultural, and commercial life of the city for 500 years; it is the heart of Lviv, the setting of the historic beginning of the Europeanization

Top 10 Lviv attractions

1. RYNOK SQUARE

Rynok Square has been the centre of political, public, cultural, and commercial life of the city for 500 years; it is the heart of Lviv, the setting of the historic beginning of the Europeanization of Ukraine. Surrounding it are about fifty unique architectural monuments dating back to the 16-20th centuries

Rynok Square in Lviv has retained its name since the 14th century. It originates from the German “der Ring” (ring, circle), which had been the principle of construction of central squares in German medieval cities.

It was here, in valley of the Poltva River where, in the middle of the 14th century, German colonists commissioned by King Kazimierz III laid the foundations for a classical European town with a market (rynok) square. The Polish king desired to build a town according to the most innovative technologies of the time, and for this purpose he invited craftsmen and constructors from Germany. In the following centuries the architectural perfection of Rynok Square was completed by Italian and Austrian architects.

Rynok Square in its current appearance represents later developments of architectural ideas of many artists and of many centuries; all of these have one commonality – a permanent concordance and harmony. Here all the buildings convey the feeling of peace, confidence, optimism, and humanism of the European Renaissance. All the stone buildings of the square are different and unique, but at the same time as if affixed to each other by a single idea. Each house presents a separate and complete image. The size of the buildings is phenomenally proportionate with human height, and we feel ourselves in a cosy interior. The buildings are neither too high, nor too short; none stands out of the total ensemble with its size, height, or style. The Lviv Renaissance houses convey genuine music. Asymmetrically located windows – two alongside and the third, as if aloof – serve very practical purposes: two windows look into the main reception hall, and the third looks into a utility room. However, this asymmetry has its own rhythm – as though two half-notes sound first, and then the whole note does. This ‘sound’ of Rynok Square is unique.

Lviv medieval patricians would usually commission Italian architects from North Lombardy and southern Switzerland to design their houses. However, the Italian Renaissance could not preserve its stylistic purity and integrity in Lviv; it was complemented and enriched with local traditions, including features of Ukrainian architecture. This way, over a period of five centuries, a unique ensemble of dwelling houses was created in Rynok Square, the only one of its kind in Ukraine. Almost all of the buildings in the square have always been used according to their original purpose – as residences of Lvivites.

2. LVIV OPERA HOUSE

The Lviv Opera House (28 Svobody Square) is an architectural gem of Lviv, built in the Neo-Renaissance style in 1901, and one of the most beautiful theatres in Europe...

Constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, designed by architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski, the Grand Theatre in Lviv has been compared to the Paris and Vienna opera houses. Standing in front of the magnificent façade of this marvellous building, one can feel the overwhelming power of art, its eternity in contrast with the transience of human life. This building comprises various European architectural styles fashioned in all their lavishness.

The façade forms are very complicated and diverse: columns, balustrades, and niches filled with allegorical sculptures. Statues of eight muses rise above the main cornice of the façade, and above them stands the grand ten-figure composition of The Joys and Miseries of Life. The fronton above is completed with a sculptural triad of the winged bronze figures of the genii of Drama, Comedy and Tragedy, and in the centre stands Glory with a gold palm branch in her hand. These sculptures were created by the hands of the outstanding Lviv artists Popiel, Baroncz, and Viytovych.

The interior of the Lviv Opera House is no less amazing than the exterior. The internal decoration is gilded (with a few kilograms of gold), adorned with different-coloured marble, decorative paintings, and sculptures. The four-circled lyre-shaped hall accommodates over a thousand people. Embellishing the stage, the decorative curtain Parnassus (1900), painted by Henryk Siemiradzki, represents an allegorical image of the meaning of life in the Parnassus figures. The hall of the Lviv Opera House is remarkable for its perfect acoustics. On offer are performances by celebrated opera and ballet troupes of Ukraine as well as distinguished guest performers from abroad. The Lviv Opera House is the host venue for the recently revived Vienna Balls.

3. VIRMENSKA STREET

The Armenian community, one of the oldest in Lviv, had formed over a period of many years a centre for its national life in Lviv. Its unique architecture portrays the original spirit of this Eastern Christian culture.

The Armenian community, one of the oldest in Lviv, had formed over a period of many years a centre for its national life in Lviv. Its unique architecture portrays the original spirit of this Eastern Christian culture.

Armenians, driven out of their motherland by the Mongol-Tatar invasion of the mid-13th century and having lost their sovereignty, found hospitable refuge in Halychyna. One of the most ancient Eastern Christian nations (Armenians had accepted Christianity several centuries earlier than European nations), the Armenians brought to Lviv a creative sense of search, their capital, and highly skilled jewellers, leather-dressers, and embroiderers. However, they were most proficient in the field of trading. Trade caravans from eastern countries to Europe were almost entirely under an Armenian monopoly. Armenians not only dealt in direct trade but also acted as interpreters through whom all foreign merchants in Lviv worked.

Each ethnic community occupied its own territory in ancient Lviv. Armenians settled outside the city walls in the northern part, near the central Rynok Square. Here was situated the seat of the Gregorian bishopric, which was subordinate only to the head of the Armenian Church, the Catholicos of all Armenians. The leader (viyt) and the board of elders governed secular life. To settle internal community problems Armenians used their own common law; for example, when an arsonist was caught red-handed, they had the right to throw him into the fire immediately. Armenians possessed their own school, hospitals, a library, and a theatre; the first Armenian printing shop was founded here in 1616. The architecture of the Armenian quarter is characteristic of the traditions of the time; for instance, many houses featured wide gates until the second half of the 18th century. Some of these have been preserved to the present day.

Due to its strong economic position the Armenian community maintained its confidence and managed to withstand the pressure and restrictions imposed by the municipal authorities for a long period of time. This city council, members of which were by-and-large wealthy Roman Catholic merchants, did not easily accept the Armenian competition, envied their wealth and connections with the East.

The Armenians in Lviv, cut off from their motherland, and being trade and business people, could not preserve their identity for long. Assimilation was the only way to retain their property and social status. In 1630 Armenian archbishop Mikolaj Torosowicz adopted Catholicism; however, the Armenian people would not benefit from this act: if in the middle of the 17th century over two thousand Armenians resided in Lviv, at the beginning of the 20th century there were only a few remained. Those who did, became Poles with polonized Armenian surnames. A new wave of Armenians came to Lviv after 1939, as the Russian totalitarian government came to power. Today, this community consists of Armenians who have come from various corners of the former Soviet Union.

4. THE PALACE OF COUNTS POTOCKIS

Palace of Counts Potockis is a majestic edifice in French Neorenaissance style of late 19th century.

Behind the fence with ornamental metal gate we see a majestic yet refined structure. The imposing palace is decorated with reliefs, mouldings, murals and stained-glass windows. The Palace of Potockis is a bright example of mature historicism architecture and one of the most interesting architectural landmarks of Lviv. It was designed by French architect Louis d’Overnu at the order of governor of Halychyna and Lodomeria Count Alfred II Joseph Potocki (1817-1889). The construction lasted from 1888 to 1890 under the supervision of Lviv architect Julian Tsybulski who also introduced some minor changes.

The style of King Louis XVI is predominant in the interiors of the palace’s first floor. The halls (the Red Hall, the Mirror Hall, the Blue Hall, and the Ordinat’s Office) are decorated with artificial marble, gilding, mouldings, and mirrors. Fireplaces cut from marble are adorned with gilded bronze.

There is a chapel with the miracle-working icon of Virgin Mary of Lviv (15^th century) on the first floor. The second floor is occupied by the exposition of Lviv Art Gallery, opened by Ancient Arts Hall. European art of 14^th-18^th centuries is represented by the best works from the Gallery’s collection: a 15^th-century Ukrainian icon of St. Paraskeva, paintings by M. Basaiti, J. Zucchi, S. Ricci, J.-E. Lyotard, J. Guerin, and F. Goya. The palace often hosts conferences, presentations, chamber concerts, and political meetings.

5. THE DOMINICAN CHURCH

The Dominican Church, now the Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Eucharist, is a magnificent monument of the late Baroque; it is adorned with original sculptures.

The Dominican Monastery was founded here in the 13th century upon the request of the wife of Ukrainian Prince Lev Danylovych - the Hungarian Princess Constance, a Catholic, who missed her religion being far from home. A Gothic church stood here from the 15th until the middle of the 18th century.

In 1559, a true war for the bride, using artillery and all the subtleties of military strategy, flared up in this church and on the opposite square. The magnate Lukasz Gurka sought the expulsion of his legitimate (as he believed) wife from the monastery. Halshka Ostrozka, the wealthiest heiress of Rzeczpospolita, had found asylum in the Dominican Monastery. During the military actions all trade in Lviv ceased for several weeks, so the exasperated king ordered a stop to the fighting. A water-pipe leading to the monastery was severed, and this put an end to the siege: Halshka was surrendered to Lukasz.

In 1748, the Gothic Dominican Church was dismantled because it was in bad disrepair. In 1748-1764, a new church resembling the Karlskirche in Viennawas built in the late Baroque style; it was designed by the military engineer and artillery general Jan de Witt. At the time tradition required that everything valuable from the previous church be preserved.. As a result, today we can view the alabaster gravestone dating back to the 16th century – a reminder of the old Gothic church that vanished 260 years ago.

6. THE BERNARDINE MONASTERY

The Bernardine Monastery (now the Greek Catholic Church of St. Andrew) is an impressive monument in the Renaissance, Mannerism, and Baroque styles dating to1600-1630s. This is a fortified medieval monastery.

Having walked from the direction of Mytna Square, through the fortified gate of the monastery, treading on original wooden cobbles past the Hlynyanska Tower, one will find oneself in the monastery courtyard. Here the spirit of antiquity fills every corner. The bustle of modern life comes to a standstill here as though the last four hundred years of world history have not transpired at all. The Monastery of the Bernardines (the Polish version of the Franciscan order) was built outside the city walls; that is why one sees solid, high fortifications well-preserved on the northern and eastern sides.

The monastery’s history goes back to the middle of the 15th century, although the present-day building was constructed in the beginning of the 17th century. This was an epoch of rapidly changing architectural styles. The most prominent builder of Lviv, Paul of Rome, commenced the construction of the church in 1600 in the Renaissance style which was familiar to him, but the artist died in 1618 leaving his work unfinished. Polish King Sigismund, who came to view the construction site, considered the original idea to be too modest, and commissioned the student and successor of Paul of Rome, Swiss Ambrosius Prykhylny, to create a more breathtaking building. The luxurious Mannerist sculptural décor, which does not disrupt the sense of proportion in the slightest way, is the most spectacular legacy of this monument: over twenty sculptures compose a live gallery of picturesque figures of the 17th century. Wroclaw architect Andrzej Bemer completed the monastery ensemble with a Baroque tower and façade decoration. The church interior is adorned with numerous carved altars of the 18th century, and its walls bear original frescos dating from the same period.

7. ITALIAN COURTYARD

The Kornyakt Palace (6 Rynok Square) represents an extremely valuable Renaissance monument dating to 1580; it was the palace of the wealthiest citizen in the whole history of Lviv - the merchant Constantine Kornyakt.

Later, it was a Royal Mansion: the property and residence of Polish King Jan Sobieski.

Greek by origin, originally from Crete, Constantine Kornyakt settled in Lviv in the 16th century. He controlled the wine trade along the entire Black Sea coast; he was a benefactor, an experienced and wise man who spoke many eastern languages. Thanks to Kornyakt we can take delight in many marvellous architectural gems of the Renaissance period in Lviv. This stone house was built for him by Italian architect Peter of Barbone in the place of two former houses. According to the laws of the time, all houses situated in Rynok Square could have not more than three windows along the façade; this was a so-called rule of equal opportunity, as each window of the ground floor could be used to accommodate a workshop, a shop, a chemist’s, or for advertising purposes. The richest citizen in Lviv and a merchant, Constantine Kornyakt could not violate this rule; only later, for his services to Polish kings, did he acquire the title of nobleman and a permit to construct a palace with six windows.

Inside the building at the second floor works an exhibition of Lviv History Museum.

8. THE HIGH CASTLE PARK

The highest hill in Lviv (413 meters above the sea level and approximately 130 meters above the level of suburbs) was built artificially in the end of the 19^th century in honour of the Union of Lublin. And so Lviv obtained a viewing platform the likes of which can not be found elsewhere in Europe. The views from this platform will not leave anyone who dared go up there indifferent.

The stone lion which used to stand near the City Hall is now on guard at the foot of the artificial barrow. This lion is more than 400 years old. A fragment of the wall of the castle which stood on the hill since the 14^th century can be found nearby.

A huge alley of age-old chestnut trees runs along the lower terrace of the High Castle Park. A memorial stone has been placed here in honour of the victory of Polish King Jan III Sobieski over the Turkish army in 1675 on Lysenytsky Fields which can be seen from this place.

The chestnut alley ends with a small gardener’s house (1892) surrounded by many exotic plants. An artificial cave with the inscription reading “August 15, 1841” was placed here as a decoration for the park in mid-19^th century. The cave’s entrance is guarded by two 17^th-century stone lions from the old City Hall. They hold shields with the coats of arms of Lviv patrician families. This cave was once called “The Suicidal Cave” because people who fell in love but could not be together due to circumstances of life committed suicides here.

The High Castle Park is also unique due to its location on a high wooded mountain right in the centre of the large city, and so there’s only a 10-15-minute walk from the noisy streets to the coolness and cosiness of age-old trees where nothing reminds of the bustling urban life.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04