Lviv facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lviv Львів
City
From top, left to right: Historic Centre of Lviv Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet Dormition Church Church of Sts. Olha and Elizabeth Market Square Potocki Palace
Flag Coat of arms Logo
Nicknames:  Ukrainian Piedmont
Motto(s):  "Lviv is open to the world" "Semper fidelis" (historical)
Lviv Location in Lviv Oblast Show map of Lviv Oblast Lviv Location in Ukraine Show map of Ukraine Lviv Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Lviv Oblast
Raion	Lviv Raion
Hromada	Lviv urban hromada
Founded	1256
Magdeburg law	1356
Area
• City	148.9 km2 (57.5 sq mi)
• Metro	4,975 km2 (1,921 sq mi)
Elevation	296 m (971 ft)
Population  (2022)
• City	717,273
• Rank	6th in Ukraine
• Density	4,817.1/km2 (12,476/sq mi)
• Metro	1,141,119
• Demonym	Leopolitan
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Area code(s)	+380 32(2)
Licence plate	BC, HC (before 2004: ТА, ТВ, ТН, ТС)
Website
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	L'viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre
Criteria	Cultural: ii, v
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)
Area	2,441 ha

Lviv (pronounced luh-VEEV) is a large and historic city in western Ukraine. It's the sixth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of about 717,500 people. Lviv is the main city of the Lviv Oblast region and is known as one of Ukraine's most important cultural centers. The city was named after Leo I of Galicia, the son of Daniel of Galicia, who was a king.

Lviv became a major city in the 14th century. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia from 1272 to 1349. After that, it was taken over by King Casimir III the Great of Poland. For many years, it was an important city in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. In 1772, it became the capital of the Habsburg Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria.

In 1918, Lviv was briefly the capital of the West Ukrainian People's Republic. Between World War I and World War II, it was part of the Second Polish Republic. In 1939, after the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, Lviv was taken by the Soviet Union.

During World War II, many Jewish people in Lviv were tragically killed by the Nazis and their helpers. After the war, most of the Polish population moved to Poland.

Lviv's old city center is famous for its beautiful buildings from different time periods, like Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau. It survived World War II mostly unharmed. This historic area is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Because of its beautiful look, many old movies set in places like Venice or Rome were actually filmed in Lviv. In 1991, Lviv became part of independent Ukraine.

Today, Lviv has many businesses and important schools, including Lviv University and Lviv Polytechnic. It's also home to many cultural places, like a symphony orchestra and the famous Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet.

City Names and Symbols

Lviv has been known by different names throughout history, depending on who ruled the city. Some of these names include Lwów (Polish), Lemberg (German), and Lvov (Russian).

The city's official symbols are its coat of arms, flag, and logo. The coat of arms shows a stone gate with three towers and a golden lion walking through the opening. This design comes from a city seal from the 14th century.

Lviv's flag is a blue square with the city's emblem on it, and yellow and blue triangles on the sides.

The city's logo shows five colorful towers and the slogan "Lviv — open to the world." A historical motto, Semper fidelis (meaning 'Always faithful'), was used in the past but is not used anymore.

City Location and Landscape

Lviv is located on the edge of the Roztochia Upland, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of the Polish border. It's also about 160 kilometers (99 miles) north of the eastern Carpathian Mountains.

The city is about 296 meters (971 feet) above sea level. The highest point in Lviv is Vysokyi Zamok (the High Castle), which is 409 meters (1,342 feet) above sea level. From this castle, you can see amazing views of the old city center with its unique churches and detailed buildings.

The old walled city was built at the base of the High Castle, next to the Poltva River. In the 13th century, this river was used to move goods. By the early 20th century, parts of the Poltva River flowing through the city were covered up. Today, the river runs directly under Lviv's main street, Liberty Avenue, and the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet.

Lviv's Weather

Lviv has a humid continental climate, which means it has cold winters and warm summers. In January, the average temperature is about -3°C (27°F), and in July, it's around 18°C (64°F). The city gets about 745 millimeters (29 inches) of rain each year, with most of it falling in the summer. Lviv gets about 1,804 hours of sunshine every year.

Lviv's Long History

People have lived in the Lviv area since the fifth century. The city of Lviv was officially founded in 1250 by King Daniel of Galicia. He named it Lvihorod in honor of his son, Lev I of Galicia.

In 1261, Lviv was attacked by the Mongols. The city's defenses were ordered to be destroyed. After Daniel's death, King Lev rebuilt the city around 1270 and made it his capital. In the 13th and early 14th centuries, Lviv was mostly made of wood, except for a few stone churches.

Wars and Changes in Control

In 1340, King Casimir III the Great of Poland took over Lviv. He built a new city center with walls and a stone castle. The old settlement became known as the Krakovian Suburb. In 1356, Lviv was given Magdeburg rights, which meant citizens could elect a council to manage city matters.

Lviv became a very important trading city between Central Europe and the Black Sea region. It also became a strong fortress. By the 17th century, it was the second-largest city in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The 17th century was a time of many invasions. Armies from Sweden, Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and the Cossacks attacked Lviv. In 1648, Cossacks and Tatars besieged the city. They captured the High Castle but did not sack the city itself because their leader, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, accepted a large payment. Lviv was one of only two major Polish cities not captured during this period.

In 1656, King John II Casimir made a famous promise in Lviv's Cathedral, dedicating the country to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Two years later, he called Lviv equal to the historic capitals of Kraków and Vilnius because of its bravery. In 1658, Pope Alexander VII called the city Semper fidelis ('Always faithful') for its role in defending Europe.

In 1672, the Ottomans tried to conquer Lviv but failed. In 1704, Swedish troops under King Charles XII captured the city after a short siege. A terrible plague in the early 18th century killed about 40% of the city's people.

Habsburg Rule

In 1772, Lviv became part of the Habsburg monarchy (Austrian Empire) and was known as Lemberg. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. Lemberg grew a lot in the 19th century, from about 30,000 people in 1772 to 212,000 by 1913. Many Austrians and German-speaking people moved to the city, giving it an Austrian feel.

During Austrian rule, Lviv became an important cultural center for Polish, Ukrainian, and Jewish people. By 1910, about 51% of the city's population was Roman Catholic, 28% Jewish, and 19% Ukrainian Greek Catholic. Most people (86%) spoke Polish, and 11% spoke Ukrainian.

In 1784, a university was opened in Lemberg. At first, it taught in Latin, German, Polish, and Ukrainian. By 1825, German became the main language. After the revolutions of 1848, Ukrainian and Polish were also used for teaching.

From 1873, Galicia (the region Lviv was in) became an independent province of Austria-Hungary. Polish and Ukrainian became official languages. Lviv grew quickly and became the fourth-largest city in Austria-Hungary by 1910. Many beautiful buildings were built during this time, like the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet.

Lviv was home to many famous Polish institutions, like the Ossolineum library and Lviv University. It was also a center for Polish independence groups. At the same time, Lviv was important for Ukrainian culture, with writers like Ivan Franko publishing their work there. It also had the largest Ukrainian organizations, like the Prosvita society. Lviv was also a major center for Jewish culture and the Yiddish language.

World War I and Its Aftermath

During World War I, Lviv was captured by the Russian army in September 1914. It was taken back by Austria-Hungary in June 1915. The city and its people suffered a lot during the war.

After the war, in 1918, Lviv became a battleground between Polish and Ukrainian groups, both wanting the city for their new countries. The West Ukrainian People's Republic was declared with Lviv as its capital. Polish people in the city fought against Ukrainian troops. Young Polish defenders, called the Lwów Eaglets, played an important role.

The Ukrainian forces left Lviv in November 1918, and Polish soldiers entered the city. The retreating Ukrainian forces then surrounded Lviv. Polish forces from central Poland helped relieve the city in May 1919. The Polish–Ukrainian War continued until July 1919.

In August 1920, Lviv was attacked by the Red Army during the Polish–Soviet War, but the city successfully defended itself. For their bravery, the people of Lviv were awarded the Virtuti Militari cross. In 1923, Lviv was officially recognized as part of Poland.

Between the World Wars

Between World War I and World War II, Lviv was Poland's third-largest city and a major cultural and academic center. For example, in 1920, Professor Rudolf Weigl developed a vaccine against typhus fever at Lviv University. The city also hosted a big trade fair called Targi Wschodnie starting in 1921.

Even though Lviv was mostly Polish, the surrounding areas had many Ukrainians. The Polish government did not fully grant the promised autonomy to Eastern Galicia. Many Ukrainian schools were closed, and Ukrainian departments at the university were limited. Lviv also had a large and active Jewish community, making up about a quarter of the population.

World War II and Soviet Rule

In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and Lviv was surrounded by German forces. Soon after, the Soviet Union also invaded Poland. On September 22, 1939, Lviv surrendered to the Red Army. The Soviets took over the eastern part of Poland, and Lviv became the capital of the new Lviv Oblast.

On June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and Lviv was taken by the Germans. During their occupation, the Nazis committed terrible acts. The large Jewish community of Lviv, which had grown to about 240,000 people by 1940 due to refugees, was almost completely wiped out. Most Jewish people were killed in the city or sent to Belzec extermination camp. By the end of the war, only a few hundred Jewish survivors remained.

In July 1944, the Soviet army recaptured Lviv. After the war, in 1945, it was decided that Lviv would remain part of the Soviet Union. Many Poles who lived in Lviv were moved to Poland, and people from other parts of the Soviet Union moved into the city. This changed the ethnic makeup of Lviv.

During the Soviet era, Lviv grew rapidly. It became a center for those who disagreed with Soviet rule and played a big part in Ukraine's independence movement. In the 1980s, Lviv became a hub for political groups pushing for Ukraine to be free from the USSR. On September 17, 1989, Lviv held a huge rally with about 100,000 people supporting Ukraine's independence.

Independent Ukraine

In 1991, Lviv became part of independent Ukraine. The city's citizens strongly supported Viktor Yushchenko during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election, playing a key role in the Orange Revolution. Lviv is still a major center of Ukrainian culture and politics.

In 2014, Lviv's local government declared itself independent of President Viktor Yanukovych during the Euromaidan movement. In 2019, Lviv citizens strongly supported Petro Poroshenko in the presidential election, with over 90% of votes.

Since February 2022, Lviv has become a very important city for Ukraine. Some embassies, government offices, and media groups moved there from Kyiv because of the war, making Lviv the country's de facto (in practice) western capital.

City Districts

Lviv is divided into six main areas called urban districts (raions). Each district has its own local government. These districts are:

• Halytskyi District
• Zaliznychnyi District (meaning "railway neighborhood")
• Lychakivskyi District
• Sykhivskyi District
• Frankivskyi District (named after Ivan Franko)
• Shevchenkivskyi District (named after Taras Shevchenko)

Some notable areas outside the main city include Vynnyky, Briukhovychi, and Rudne.

Lviv's People

Lviv residents live longer than the average for Ukraine. In 2010, men lived to about 71 years old, and women to about 79.5 years. The number of births has been increasing, but there are fewer young people under 25.

Historical Population Changes

Lviv's population has changed a lot over time due to historical events.

Population structure by religion 1869–1931
Community	1869	1890	1900	1910	1921	1931
Roman Catholic	53.1%	52.6%	51.7%	51%	51%	50.4%
Jewish	30.6%	28.2%	27.7%	28%	35%	31.9%
Greek Catholic	14.2%	17.1%	18.3%	19%	12%	15.9%

Population makeup by ethnicity 1900–2001
Ethnicity	1900	1931	1944	1950	1959	1979	1989	2001
Ukrainians	19.9%	15.9%	26.4%	49.9%	60.0%	74.0%	79.1%	88.1%
Russians	0.0%	0.2%	5.5%	31.2%	27.0%	19.3%	16.1%	8.9%
Jews	26.5%	31.9%		6.4%	6.0%	2.7%	1.6%	0.3%
Poles	49.4%	50.4%	63%	10.3%	4.0%	1.8%	1.2%	0.9%

• In 1939, Lviv had 340,000 people.
• By July 1944, the population dropped to 149,000 due to war and changes.
• In 2001, Lviv had 725,000 people. About 88% were Ukrainians, 9% Russians, and 1% Poles.

Languages Spoken

Language use throughout 20th century
Language	1931	1970	1979	1989
Ukrainian	11.3%	65.2%	71.3%	77.2%
Russian	0.1%	31.1%	25.7%	19.9%
Yiddish	24.1%
Polish	63.5%
Other	1.0%	3.7%	3.0%	2.9%

Most people in Lviv speak Ukrainian. The use of Ukrainian has grown a lot since the 1970s, while Russian has become less common. In 2000, it was estimated that 80% of Lviv residents spoke Ukrainian. A 2023 survey found that 96% of people in Lviv spoke Ukrainian at home.

Polish Population

Historical Polish population

Year	Poles	%
1921	112,000	51
1989	9,500	1.2
2001	6,400	0.9

Polish people started settling in Lviv in large numbers after 1349. Lviv was a major Polish cultural and economic center for centuries. After World War II, many Poles were moved from Lviv to Poland. By 1959, Poles made up only 4% of the population. Today, the Polish community in Lviv is small, but they still use a special dialect of Polish called Lwów dialect.

Jewish Population

The first known Jewish people in Lviv arrived in the tenth century. Lviv had two separate Jewish areas, one inside the city walls and one outside. Before 1939, there were 97 synagogues (Jewish places of worship).

Before the Holocaust, about one-third of the city's population was Jewish, over 140,000 people. This number grew to about 240,000 by 1940 as many Jews fled from Nazi-occupied Poland. However, most of the Jewish population was killed during the Holocaust. The Nazis also destroyed the Jewish cemetery.

After the war, the Jewish community was almost gone. A new Jewish population formed from people who moved to the city. Today, the Jewish population is much smaller, with only a few thousand people, mostly due to emigration. A memorial to the victims of the Lwów ghetto was opened in 1992.

Lviv's Economy

Lviv is the most important business center in Western Ukraine. In 2015, companies in Lviv received $14.3 million in foreign investment. By 2017, this amount grew to $52.4 million. The city's budget for 2015 was about UAH 3.81 billion (Ukrainian hryvnia), and by 2017, it was UAH 5.4 billion ($204 million).

The average salary in Lviv in 2015 was about 14,041 UAH in business. In June 2019, the average salary was 23,000 UAH ($920). Lviv is considered a middle-income city.

Lviv has many businesses, including 218 large industrial companies and over 40 banks. For many years, making machinery and electronics were the main industries. The company Electron makes TV sets, and Electrontrans makes modern electric transport like trams and trolleybuses. LAZ is a famous bus manufacturing company in Lviv.

The city has seen a lot of new building construction recently. Lviv is a major business hub between Warsaw and Kyiv. The city plans to focus on tourism and information technologies (IT) as main parts of its economy by 2025. Many restaurants, shops, and street vendors also contribute to the economy.

Information Technology

Lviv is a leader in software export in Eastern Europe. Over 15% of all IT specialists in Ukraine work in Lviv, and more than 4,100 new IT graduates come from local universities each year. In 2019, over 24,000 IT specialists worked in Lviv.

In 2009, KPMG, a well-known company, listed Lviv among the top 30 cities with the most potential for IT development. By December 2015, there were 192 IT companies in the city. The IT industry in Lviv had a turnover of $300 million in 2015. About 50% of IT services are sent to the US, and 37% to Europe.

Lviv has 15 top universities, with 5 of them training skilled computer and IT specialists. Many IT companies in Lviv offer software services to international companies.

Lviv's Culture

L'viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Town view from High Castle
Criteria	Cultural: ii, v
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)
Area	120 ha
Buffer zone	2,441 ha

Lviv is one of Ukraine's most important cultural centers. It's famous for its art, literature, music, and theater. The city has many theaters, concert halls, and hosts over 100 festivals each year, along with 60 museums and 10 theaters.

Lviv's historic center has been on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list since 1998. UNESCO recognized Lviv for blending European architectural styles and for its history of different cultural and religious groups living together.

Architecture and Buildings

Lviv's historic churches and buildings date from the 13th century to the early 20th century. The city was lucky to avoid much destruction during wars, so its architecture shows many European styles like Renaissance, Baroque, and Classic. You can also see buildings in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles.

The buildings often have beautiful stone sculptures and carvings. Many old churches are still standing in the city center. Some old cemeteries, like the Lychakivskiy Cemetery, are also interesting to visit. Outside the city center, you'll see more modern, Soviet-era buildings.

• 

  Saints Peter and Paul Garrison Church – An example of baroque style in Lviv

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  Bernardine church and monastery in the style of Italian mannerism

• 

  Early 20th century architecture in Lviv

• 

  Architecture of Shevchenko Avenue

• 

  The Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church was constructed in 1995–2001 in Sykhiv district

• 

  The mixture of modern and Soviet-era architecture in the northern part of the city

Monuments and Statues

Lviv has many outdoor sculptures and monuments that remember important people and events from its history. You can find statues of famous figures like Adam Mickiewicz, Ivan Franko, Taras Shevchenko, and Pope John Paul II.

Some monuments that honored Polish history were moved to Poland after World War II, like the Monument to Aleksander Fredro (now in Wrocław) and the Monument of King John III Sobieski (now in Gdańsk).

The city also has many publishing houses and newspapers. The Ossolineum was one of the most important Polish scientific libraries. Today, the Lviv National Art Gallery is the largest art museum in Ukraine, with about 50,000 artworks.

Theatre and Opera

The Skarbek Theatre opened in 1842, becoming the third-largest theater in Central Europe. In 1903, the Lviv National Opera house opened, designed to look like the Vienna State Opera. It offered a variety of shows, including dramas, operas, and comedies. The opera house is named after the famous Ukrainian opera singer Salomea Krushelnytska.

Today, the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet performs many Ukrainian and foreign operas. Many foreign operas are sung in their original languages, like Italian or French.

Museums and Art Galleries

The Museum Pharmacy "Pid Chornym Orlom" (Beneath the Black Eagle) is the oldest pharmacy in Lviv, founded in 1735. A museum about pharmacy history opened there in 1966. It's the only working Museum Pharmacy in Ukraine and Europe, with over 3,000 exhibits.

The Lviv National Museum is a very important museum. It has over 140,000 unique items, including a large collection of medieval sacred art from the 12th to 18th centuries.

Music Scene

Lviv has a lively music scene. Besides the Lviv Opera, it has symphony orchestras and a famous music academy, the Lviv Conservatory. Many famous composers and musicians have come from Lviv, including Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (Mozart's son) and the classical pianist Mieczysław Horszowski.

"Polish Radio Lwów" was a popular Polish radio station that started in 1930, playing classical music, entertainment, and news. The "Comic Lwów Wave" was a famous cabaret show with music.

The Lviv Philharmonic is a major cultural center that hosts international festivals and concerts. The Chamber Orchestra "Lviv virtuosos" is also well-known. Lviv is the hometown of the vocal group "Pikkardiyska Tertsiya" and Eurovision Song Contest 2004 winner Ruslana. It's also home to the popular Ukrainian rock band, Okean Elzy.

Universities and Learning

Lviv is a very important education center in Ukraine. It has 12 universities, 8 academies, and many other schools. There are also many research institutes, including those for space research and cell biology.

Lviv University is one of the oldest universities in Central Europe, founded in 1608. Its reputation grew thanks to thinkers like Kazimierz Twardowski. In 1873, the Shevchenko Scientific Society was founded, becoming a major academy of sciences focused on Ukrainian studies.

Lviv was also home to the Scottish Café, where famous Polish mathematicians like Stefan Banach and Stanislaw Ulam met in the 1930s to discuss math problems. This group made Lviv a "World Centre of Functional Analysis."

Today, over 100,000 students study in Lviv's more than 50 higher education schools. About 51% of Lviv residents have a higher education degree.

Here are some of the main universities:

• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
• Lviv Polytechnic
• Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
• Ukrainian Catholic University
• The Lviv National Academy of Arts
• Lviv National Music Academy

Print and Media

Lviv has been a key center for Ukrainian-language publishing since the 1990s. The Lviv Book Forum is the biggest book fair in Ukraine.

Popular newspapers in Lviv include "Vysoky Zamok" and "Ekspres". "Lviv Today" is an English-language magazine about business and entertainment in the city. There are also 17 regional and national radio stations.

Lviv is home to one of the oldest Polish-language newspapers, Gazeta Lwowska, first published in 1811.

Lviv in Movies and Books

Lviv has been featured in many books and films:

• The book Tango of Death tells the true story of Jacob Mund's orchestra and Jewish people in Lviv during World War II.
• The 2011 film In Darkness is based on a true story from Nazi-occupied Lviv.
• Parts of the film and novel Everything Is Illuminated take place in Lviv.
• The book The Girl in the Green Sweater: A Life in Holocaust's Shadow by Krystyna Chiger is set in Lviv.
• The 2015 film Varta 1 was shot in Lviv and explores the EuroMaidan revolution.
• The book East West Street by Philippe Sands discusses the lives of Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin, who studied in Lviv and developed important concepts in international law.

Parks and Green Spaces

Lviv has many beautiful parks and gardens, offering great places to relax. There are over 20 main parks, three botanical gardens, and 16 natural monuments.

• Ivan Franko Park is the oldest park in the city, with trees over three hundred years old.
• Bohdan Khmelnytsky Culture and Recreation Park is a modern park with a concert hall, stadium, and a Ferris wheel.
• Stryiskyi Park is one of the most beautiful parks, with over 200 types of trees and plants. It has a pond with swans.

• Znesinnia Park is great for cycling, skiing, and hiking.
• Shevchenkivskyi Hai is an open-air museum of Ukrainian wooden architecture.
• High Castle Park is on the highest hill in the city, offering commanding views.
• Lychakivskyi Park was founded in 1892 and includes a botanical garden.

Sports in Lviv

Lviv is known as the birthplace of Polish football and other sports. In 1905, the first Polish ice-hockey match took place here. The first Polish ski-jumping competition was held nearby in 1907.

Football History

The first official goal in a Polish football match was scored in Lviv in 1894. The first Polish professional football club, Czarni Lwów, opened in 1903. Another club, Pogoń Lwów, won the Polish football championship four times.

Today, Lviv has several professional football clubs. FC Rukh Lviv and FC Lviv play in the top Ukrainian league. FC Karpaty Lviv, founded in 1963, has been a very important club for the city.

Stadiums

• Ukraina Stadium
• Arena Lviv is a modern football stadium built for the Euro 2012 Championship. It is the home ground of FC Lviv.
• SKA Stadium is used for football and motorcycle speedway.

Other Sports

Lviv has a strong chess tradition, with many famous grandmasters like Vasyl Ivanchuk and Anna Muzychuk living there. Lviv also has a motorcycle speedway team. The city was considered to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and might bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Exploring Lviv: Tourism

Lviv is one of Ukraine's top tourist spots. It has many hotels, cafes, and restaurants, and free Wi-Fi in the city center. The number of tourists visiting Lviv increased by 40% in the early 2010s, which was the highest rate in Europe!

Popular places to visit include:

• The Old Town and Market Square (Ploshcha Rynok), where the City Hall is located.
• The Black House and Armenian Cathedral.
• The complex of the Dormition Church, the main Orthodox church.
• The St. Peter and Paul Church of the Jesuit Order, one of the largest churches.
• The Korniakt Palace, part of the Lviv History Museum.
• The Latin Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary.
• St. George's Cathedral of the Greek-Catholic Church.
• The Dominican Church of Corpus Christi.
• Chapel of the Boim family.
• The Lviv High Castle (Vysokyi Zamok) on a hill with great views.
• The Lychakivskiy Cemetery, where many famous people are buried.
• Svobody Prospekt, Lviv's central street.
• The Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Potocki Palace, and Bernardine Church.

• Landmarks and points of interest
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  Bernardine Church

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  Dominican Church

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  Potocki Palace

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  St. George's Cathedral, Lviv

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  View on Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Getting Around: Public Transport

Lviv had its first horse-drawn tram lines in 1880. Electric trams were introduced in 1894. The Lviv tramway system now has about 220 cars and 75 kilometers (47 miles) of track. The tracks are narrow, which is unusual for the region, but it helps them fit through the old, narrow streets in the city center. A tram or trolleybus ticket costs 5 UAH.

Trolleybuses were introduced in 1952. The network now has about 100 trolleybuses. The public bus network uses mini-buses and larger buses. There are 52 public bus routes, and a ticket costs 7.00 UAH.

Railways

Lviv is a major railway hub with nine railway lines connecting it to local and international places. The first train arrived in Lviv on November 4, 1861. The main Lviv Railway Station, built in 1904, was considered one of the best in Europe.

Today, trains from Lviv cross the border to Poland and connect to Slovakia and Hungary. Many routes have overnight trains with sleeping cars.

Air Transport

Aviation in Lviv started in 1884. In 1909, the Awiata Society was founded, which focused on aviation. The first Polish-made airplane was built by the Floriański brothers in Lviv in 1913–1914.

Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport (LWO) is located 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the city center. It was renovated for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. You can get to the city center from the airport by bus.

Bicycle Lanes

Cycling is becoming more popular in Lviv. The city plans to build 270 kilometers (168 miles) of cycle lanes and tracks by 2019. In 2015, Lviv launched its first bike-sharing system, Nextbike. The city aims to be the most bike-friendly city in Ukraine.

Notable People from Lviv

Many famous people have come from Lviv, including artists, scientists, and political figures. You can find a full list of notable people from Lviv in the List of Leopolitans article.

International Connections

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

Lviv is connected with many cities around the world as twin towns or sister cities. This means they share cultural and economic ties.

Here are some of Lviv's twin towns:

City	State	Year
Winnipeg	Canada	1973
Corning	United States	1987
Freiburg im Breisgau	Germany	1989
Rzeszów	Poland	1992
Rochdale	United Kingdom	1992
Budapest	Hungary	1993
Rishon LeZion	Israel	1993
Przemyśl	Poland	1995
Kraków	Poland	1995
Novi Sad	Serbia	1999
Kutaisi	Georgia	2002
Wrocław	Poland	2003
Łódź	Poland	2003
Banja Luka	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2004
Lublin	Poland	2004
Tbilisi	Georgia	2013
Parma	United States	2013
Vilnius	Lithuania	2014
Chengdu	China	2014
Cannes	France	2022
Würzburg	Germany	2023
Katowice	Poland	2023
Reykjavík	Iceland	2023
Pula	Croatia	2023
Aarhus	Denmark	2023

Partner Cities

Lviv also has partner city agreements, like the one signed with Kobe, Japan, in 2023.

City	State	Year
Kobe	Japan	2023

Images for kids

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  View on the Opera Theatre and Hotel Lviv in the late 1960s

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  The Galician Sejm (until 1918), since 1920 the Jan Kazimierz University

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  Lviv National Stepan Gzhytsky University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology

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  Anatomy Department Building of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University – one of the oldest and prime medical institutes of Ukraine

See also

In Spanish: Leópolis para niños