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Old Lviv starts from the Rynok Square, the center of public, economic and cultural life. Six centuries of Lviv History are connected closely with this little square. Magistrate, palaces, buildings of rich citizens were placed here. It was a place for the trade and justice.
 The Chapel of Boimes was built in the renaissance style. The walls of the main facade are decorated with carvings from white stone. On the cupola there is the unique sculpture of sitting Jesus.
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Lviv is one of the most beautiful cities of Ukraine, the real pearl of European architecture. It was founded in the middle of XIII century (1256) by Danylo Halytskyi and named on the honor of his son Lev. |
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Its architectural landscape is alike to the Museum under sky, which includes about 2000 historical, architectural and cultural memorial places. It joins the monuments of numerous styles and different epochs, from the gothic XIV century Latin Cathedral to the baroque of St. George (Sviatoho Yura) Cathedral. Renaissance-style Bernardine Monastery and Chapel of Boimes coexist with the strict simplicity of Armenian Church.
Lviv city has a rich and impressive history. Numerous historical events are connected with the city.
The walls of old Lviv buildings still keep the spirit of past centuries. Old streets and fascinating monuments make it an unique for tourists among the Ukrainian and Eastern European cities. |
Sviatoho Yura Cathedral - main Greek-Catholic church - is the best Lviv baroque edifice, dominating in the city. It was built at the old cathedral's place in 1744-1761 by Bernard Meretin Project and after Meretin's death in 1759 finished by Clemens Fesinger. |
 General information
Lviv region as an administrative unit was founded in December 4th 1939. Square area is 21,8 thousand square km (3,6% from the general area of Ukraine ). Population of the region is 2 728,6 thousand (5,4% from whole population of Ukraine ), inclusive population of cities - 1 658,50 thousand (60,8%), population of rural areas - 1 070,1 thousand (39,2%). Population density - 125,2 person per square km.
The region is situated at the west of Ukraine. It has the following boarders: at the North - with Volyn region, at the East and at the East-North - with Ternopil region, Ivano-Frankivsk and Rivne regions, at South - with Zakarpatsky (Transkarpatian) region. There is a state Ukrainian-Polish frontier at the West. The length of region from north to south 240 km, from West to East - 210 km.
Lviv region is divided for 20 areas, in which 43 cities are situated, inclusive 7 cities of regional importance ( Lviv, Boryslav, Drohobych, Sambir, Stryj, Truskavetz, Chervonograd ), 34 towns and 1 854 villages.
Positive moment of Lviv region disposition that fact that there are many international routes in the region connecting Ukraine with Poland, Hungary, Romania and others countries of the Western Europe.
Administrative center - Lviv city - was founded in 1256. About 800 thousand people live in town at present.
Environment
Geological structure on the region is very complicated because the region is situated at the boarders of three big tectonic structures - Eastern-European platform, Western-European platform and Carpathian collective system.
The region is situated between Volyn and Podil hights, which is crossing three nature zones: forest, forest-steppe and zone of Carpathian mountains. Within the useful resources the most importance has the energy resources. These are the resources of gas, petrol, coal, which is developing in the part of Lviv-Volyn coal area at the north of region. The region is rich for its resources of sault, sulphur, gypsum, etc.
Climate is mild continental. It is forming under the influence of Atlantic Ocean ( the most rains, quick changes of the weather, etc ). The winter is rather warm, summer is not cold, not hot, but cool ( especially in Carpathian mountains ), with the big amount of rainy days. The biggest river of the region is Dnister river, belongs to Black sea.
Bug river, Vishnia river, and Shklo river - the rivers in the western part of the region has the connection to Baltic sea.
History
The territory of Lviv region historically were among geopolytical interests of different countries. In X - X11 centuries this areas were included in Kiyv Rus., from the 1199 they belonged to Galich-Volyn State. In 1349 they were occupied by Poland. In 1672 Lviv region were joined to Austria and then to Austria-Hungarian Empire in 1867.
From the 1848-1849 Lviv Region became the center of national development of Ukrainian people of Eastern Halychyna.
Since 1918 after decay of Austria-Hungarian Empire Lviv region joined the Western Ukrainian Republic (WUR). There was the strike against the government of WUR in April 1919. Then since June 1919 the Polish troops occupied Lviv region. On June 15th 1920 the Red Army troops invaded the part of Eastern Galicia , after what there were the Soviet Socialist Republic announced, which existed until September 23nd 1920. In Autumn of 1920 the Power was taken by Poland and remaining until September 1939. On December 4 1939 Lviv region was created and joined the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Population
Lviv region is one of the biggest region in Ukraine by the native population. The concentration of ethnic Ukrainians in region is more then 90 %. In mountains (north part of territory) there are specific groups of Ukrainians, who call themself Boyki and Lemki. Practically the concentration of ethnic Ukrainians in all areas on the region more then 90-95 %. The second by quantity ethnic group is Russians, they formed about 7% of population. Mainly Russians are living in cities, especially in Lviv region center - Lviv. Polish people are about 1% of population. There are not very big concentration of Belorussians, Moldova, Jewish, Armenian people and other nationalities.
Lviv region is important center of Religious activity in Ukraine. The main group of religious people is Greece-Catholics, they accompanied by three orthodox confession: Ukrainian separate orthodox church, Ukrainian orthodox church - Kiyv Patriarhat, Ukrainian orthodox church - Moscow Patriorhat and Rome-Catholic church.
The Lviv region can be considered as a middle urbanized area of Ukraine but still the highest urbanized territory in the west of Ukraine. The interesting fact is that Lviv region is the first by rural population in Ukraine.
The density of population is quite high in spite of the difficulties of developing the territory. The most high density of population is in cities in central areas. The lowest density of the population is in mountain areas of Carpathians.
Last ten years there were the decrease of population in Lviv region, which was rather not very substantial in comparison with other regions of Ukraine.
The main city of the region is Lviv - which make a citycenter conglomerate of the region. There are the following towns in this conglomerate: Vinniki, Pustomuty, and others. The quantity of population is 35% of all population of the region.
Besides the Lviv conglomerate there are another two conglomerate of people: Drogobych and Borislav city conglomerate with the center cities of Drogobych, Borislav, Truskavez, and Stebnik. These are the towns of recreation zone where many people are employed by service companies which is still operating.
At the north of the region in Sokal area where there is the functional group of towns oriented for coal mining such Chervonograd, Sokal, Sosnovka, Veliki Mosty, Belz and two villages.
Economics
The main enterprises in the region are the machine building: construction of devices (Lviv Mill Machine Plant), oil equipment production (Drohobych Drilling Plant), agriculture machines (Lvivsilhospmash), busses (Lviv Buss Plant), truck loader and crane truck (Drohobych Crane Truck Plant), printing equipment (Hodoriv Printing Machine Plant), conveyor production (Conveyor Plant), insulators production (Lviv Insulator Company), communication equipment production (Lviv FTA Plant). The very important company in the region is the Refine Oil Process Company "Halychyna" (Drohobych RPC).
Lviv region Agriculture is specialized on production of meat, sugar, potatoes, vegetables and fruits. |
