Culture of Lviv. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

» The Church of the Transfiguration grew from a cathedral where worshipers of the Holy Trinity held their services.
»  When Catholic monasteries were banned, the building was taken over by a university. The church was turned into a library.
»  During the rebellion of 1848, the church was destroyed. The only thing that managed to survive was its foundation.
»  30 years after, the construction of a Greek Catholic church began here, which dragged on for decades.
»  It took eight years to decorate the church outside and inside.
»  While being strict and having just a bit of stuccowork on the outside, the church is truly impressive inside. The interior is rich and has lots of thoroughly decorated elements.
»  12 huge windows under the dome let sunlight into the room illuminating the stucco on the walls and reflecting off the gilded details.
»  There are 12 statues of the followers of Jesus installed in the wall niches.
»  The Church of the Transfiguration stands on the foundation of a destroyed church.
»  The basement has underground passages and galleries. There used to be tombs in the crypt, which were reburied later.
»  The memorial plaque by the entrance says the church is named for the Transfiguration of Christ.

» The stone structure with an elongated ledge belongs to the Latin Cathedral.
»  The interior is spacious – 67x23 metres. The building resembles a cube from the outside. Several chapels were later built around the architectural figure.
»  Until the middle of the 18th century, family vaults were located in the crypt. Memorial inscriptions have the information about the people buried here. Some tombs have sculptures as a token of sorrow.
»  Inside, the openings are supported by numerous columns. The vault and wall panels are rich in frescoes with scenes from church life and the formation of the urban settlement, which lasted for over 700 years. The altar is framed by marble sculptures of saints.
»  In 1360, the house of God started to be built on the site of the former Orthodox Church. The work lasted for over a hundred years.
»  In 1672, the Turkish attack on the city was repulsed. The cores of cannons hung on the cathedral walls serve as a reminder of those times.
»  When Austria occupied Galicia in 1772, indignant citizens barricaded the main entrance. The mured arched passageways can still be seen.
»  The spire on the tower ends with a cross that was covered with gold leaf in 1844.

» In 1460, having the town headman’s consent, members of the monastic order built the monastery. It was located outside the defensive fortifications, so there arose a need to surround it with a defensive barrier.
»  Over time, the shrine became an independent fortress with stone walls, loopholes, and a tower with an entrance. The additionally fortified point was surrounded by moats with water.
»  In 1630, the ashlar church, outbuildings, a room with cells, and a stable were constructed.
»  The church was named for Andreas Bemer, the architect who worked on the facade decoration.
»  In front of the house of worship, there’s a decorative pillar where a statue of Lviv’s patron saint used to stand. The cylindrical gazebo with a dome was also built to commemorate him. John of Dukla is buried in the monastery. It is believed that soon there appeared a spring with healing water from the grave.
»  A bell dating from 1588 used to hang on the belfry. To save the item from remelting in 1917, it was brought to the historical museum.
»  In 1784, an archive of ancient documents was created in the church.
»  During the Second World War, Jews used to hide from the Nazis in the underground tunnels. They left the dungeon only when Soviet troops arrived.

» The St. George’s Archcathedral was completed in 1770.
»  The first wooden building was burnt by the king of Poland. However, the bell made in 1341 managed to survive.
»  After that, it was decided to erect a stone construction. It was designed by an Austrian architect. The building had been decorated for several decades.
»  First it was owned by the Basilian community. In 1816, it became the residence of a Greek Catholic senior priest. Then the temple belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church, but eventually turned into a Ukrainian Catholic cathedral in 1990.
»  To access the cathedral, you need to go through the entrance gate. The doors are decorated with symbolic images.
»  There are steps leading to the entrance. Above the door, there is a balcony with a decorative wall. A statue of St. George on a horse rises on the roof.
»  The St. George’s Cathedral has a worship copy of the Turin Shroud. According to legend, the body of Jesus was wrapped in the shroud after his demise.
»  The church holds regular services. The altar is adorned with faces of the righteous.
»  On behalf of the emperor of Austria, the Ukrainian artist Luka Dolinsky (18th century) was presented with a golden ring for his masterpieces.

» The railway station is considered the first major station in the country. It has 5 platforms.
»  In 1841, the Austrian government decided to reunite Vienna and Galicia through railway.
»  The start of construction was planned for 1858. 36 months after, the railway station was opened.
»  A train consisting of two passenger carriages and four platforms passed along the station.
»  Increasing passenger traffic led to the replacement of the old building with a new one. In 1904, the new construction was opened.
»  During the First World War, the facade was badly damaged by shells; canvases, statues, and the main entrance were completely destroyed.
»  The last reconstruction was done in 2003.
»  The building has distinctive architectural features. It is considered a local landmark for its stucco decoration and paintings.
»  There are forged seats installed on the platform and an arched canopy protecting from bad weather.
»  The inside rooms have modern infrastructure. Besides the required cash desks, waiting rooms, cafes, lounges, and retail outlets, there is a room where official delegations are received.