THE CITY OF SLEEPING LIONS
Welcome to the city of Lviv! Unforgettable vistas of our city, its architecture and European traditions have created a legend and today modern Lviv is characterized by exquisite art, rich folk traditions, a mixture of many nations, warm hospitality, thriving business activity and, of course, a warm welcome for tourists. The central part of the city is now designated as a historic architectural reservation and over half of all architectural monuments within Ukraine is located here. The grey stones of Lviv reflect a diversity of styles and beginning in the 13th century, you may rapidly journey through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Classicism and Secession.
Our historic Lviv, known as the city of sleeping lions, went through numerous battles, invasions, fires and floods, but finally it has been rebuilt with a new attractiveness.
People who have visited Lviv often find themselves drawn back again, almost as though by some magic power.
But Lviv speaks for itself better than anything that has been written about it. This is a museum-town in the open air, where dreams can come true and it creates an unforgettable impression on all its visitors. And not just because of its grand 'age of 750, but because it has a soul…
Throughout its long history the city has been known by many different names in various times and in different languages. In Ukrainian it is "Lviv", in Latin — “Leopolis” in Greek — "Leontopolis", in German -"Lowenburg" and in Polish — "Lwow". All these words have the same root meaning "lion", the king of the animal world, and the image of the lion has always formed an important part of the city's coat of arms Danylo, King of Halychyna (Galicia) and the founder of the city, inspired Lviv with his royal leadership, being at the same time merciful and generous, severe and stern, and he named it after his son Lev (Leo). Since the very first days of its existence the city with its sincere and kind-hearted Slavonic Ukrainian inhabitants has attracted merchants and craftsmen from all over Europe, many of whom, enchanted by the beauty of the city, decided to settle here permanently. In medieval times one could hear almost any language of the world in Lviv. Many Armenian merchants settled in Lviv in medieval times, trading in jewelery with the East and Tatar craftsmen, Jews and Karaites traded here too. Talented Master Builders soon followed the merchants and brought with them some new creative ideas in architecture and the arts. Getting to know local culture and co-operating with Ukrainian architects, they created some unique architectural combinations. Hand-in-hand with a Ukrainian master, an Italian architect worked devotedly on building up the town and embodied Renaissance and Baroque traditions from his motherland into Lviv architecture. Due to his profitable trading business a Greek from Cyprus not only built himself a magnificent mansion in the central city square, but also financed the construction of the largest tower in Lviv, which nowadays is called Korniakt's Tower. Martin Grueneweg from Germany lived in Lviv for only 20 years from 1582, but he left a valuable source of historic facts in a book titled "Description of the city of Lviv", in which he called the city a 'summerhouse in the middle of Paradise'.
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Over the centuries Lviv has always provided a warm welcome for all its guests, each of them bringing various products of their civilizations to the city, as well as their national characteristics: German deal, Italian vigour, English merchant's wisdom, Polish humour. They all brought a piece of their motherland and left it here for future generations. So today's international tourists can enjoy unique Ukrainian culture in the city, yet probably find some aspect of that, what will remind them home. And that is part of the secret of why visitors feel as comfortable here as they do in their home countries. So Lviv is not only well worth visiting - it is worth coming back to see it again and again.
Modern Lviv, occupying an area of 171 sq. km. with a population of 760 thousand, is an important political, cultural and scientific centre of Ukraine. It is situated close to the northwestern border of the country in the foothills of the Carpathians, where the main European watershed, dividing the rivers of Baltic and Black Sea basins, passes. Vysokyi Zamok (High Castle) is the highest point of the city (413 m. above sea level) and The Poltva River (a tributary of the Western Boog), on the banks of which the city was originally built, now actually runs underground through the centre of the city.
The climate of Lviv was best described in the 17th century by a Turkish traveller saying: "With such a local salubrity of climate, ladies are so beautiful that while seeing them so cheerful wearing silky colourful clothes, with eyes of a doe, any man could loose his head". And so it is today!
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Welcome to Ukraine
We invite you to visit Lviv (“The city of Lions”), the heart and soul of the Western Ukraine.
It was built by Prince Danylo in 1256.He named the city after his son Lev (“lion”).The Renaissance architecture of the city of 15th-16th c.c. abounds in lion adornments.
Lviv is one of the most charming and mysterious beauties in Europe.It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
5 days to explore Lviv (we offer you an excursion programme, which takes 5 days and 4 nights)
Day 1
Arrival at a hotel. Checking in a hotel. Breakfast. City tour «Across the streets of medieval city”».You are going to visit Opera House, Drama Theatre, Freedom avenue , some monuments, Potockyi Palace.
Time for dinner. Free time. You may have a walk in the city center, visit numerous cafes, taste some sweets at the local shops, etc.
Time for supper. Free time. We offer you to visit unusual action – nightly excursion-mystery under the vault of the Dominican Cathedral. It is really worth seeing. Entering the darkness of the corridors, the guide tells you the history of Christianity in Ukraine. You will be fascinated by such a magic and enchanting excursion and will never forget it!!!
Day 2
Breakfast. Excursion “Defensive buildings and temples in Lviv”. You are going to visit
the Cathedral of Rome-Catholic church (XIV-XVIII), the Chapel of Boims, Armenian Cathedral, Bernardyny church (XVII).
Time for dinner. Visit to the historical-architectural memorial complex “Lychakiv Cemetry”, where a lot of famous Ukrainians are buried. The mystery of death of some of them will be revealed to you.
Time for supper.
Day 3
Breakfast. Excursion to Shevchenkivs'kyi Hai ( The museum of folk life and architecture).
This scansen represents an open-air museum of the Ukrainian wooden architecture and different utilities of village life. It is situated in Shevchenkivs'kyi Hai (forest) – one of the most
picturesque sites of Lviv. More than 20 thousand of craft items from various ethnographical regions of the Western Ukraine can be found in this museum. The visitors can feel the unique
atmosphere of picturesque Ukrainian village. The gems of this museum are the wooden churches from the Carpathian region – the most exquisite examples of the Ukrainian wooden architecture. On entering this museum we “plunge” into the magic world of old Ukrainian traditions, into the world of Ukrainian village. In winter huts, covered with snow, impress
by their beauty. Each one is a masterpiece.
Not depending on the season, Shevchenkivs'kyi Hai is always wonderful and unique.
Time for supper. Free time.
Day 4
Breakfast. Special guided tour to the medieval castles of Lviv region: Oleskyi , Pidhoretskyi and Zolochivskyi castle.
Oleskyi castle is located in the village of Olesk, 75 km from Lviv. It is the monument of the 14th-17thcc.
architecture and contains a rich collection of paintings, sculpture and furniture ftom 16th- 19thcc.
Once it used to be a defensive fortress.
Pidhoretskyi castle dates back to 17thcentury. It is built in the style of the late Renaissance and once it was called a little Versailles. There is a picturesque park near the castle.
Zolochivskyi castle (1630-es) is a construction that reflects military architecture. In the castle's courtyard there is the Great Palace built in the late Renaissance style and the Chinese Palace built by Jan III, the king of Poland, for his wife Maria Kasimira de Arcunion.
This tour will make you feel like a real medieval knight.
Day 5
Breakfast. Free programme for the whole day. You may have a walk, visit “Vernisage” ( the market of people's crafts) and buy some souvenirs as a memory about your visit to Lviv.
Departure.
Price in EURO per person:
|
A number of people |
15 + 1 |
20+2 |
|
Hotel “Vienna” 3* |
198 |
179 |
|
Hotel “Dnister” 4* |
235 |
221 |
|
Hotel “Opera” 4* |
325 |
298 |
|
Hotel “Dnister” 4* |
448 |
423 |
Including:
Staying at a hotel of the chosen category ( BB, double rooms with bathroom);
Excursion services of the agency and a qualified guide;
Bus services according to the program;
Meeting and transferring of the group to a hotel;
Interpreter services.
Not including:
Entrance museum tickets;
Travelling by public transport;
Dinners, suppers.
Fortresses of Western Ukraine
4days to explore Lviv + 2 day excursion to the fortresses of Western Ukraine
Day 1
Arrival at a hotel. Checking in a hotel. Breakfast. City tour «Across the streets of medieval city”».You are going to visit Opera House, Drama Theatre, Freedom avenue , some monuments, Potockyi Palace.
Time for dinner. Free time. You may have a walk in the city center, visit numerous cafes, taste some sweets at the local shops, etc.
Time for supper. Free time. We offer you to visit unusual action – nightly excursion-mystery under the vault of the Dominican Cathedral. It is really worth seeing. Entering the darkness of the corridors, the guide tells you the history of Christianity in Ukraine. You will be fascinated by such a magic and enchanting excursion and will never forget it!!!
Day 2
Breakfast. Excursion “Defensive buildings and temples in Lviv”. You are going to visit
the Cathedral of Rome-Catholic church (XIV-XVIII), the Chapel of Boims, Armenian Cathedral, Bernardyny church (XVII).
Time for dinner. Visit to the historical-architectural memorial complex “Lychakiv Cemetry”, where a lot of famous Ukrainians are buried. The mystery of death of some of them will be revealed to you.
Time for supper.
Day 3
Breakfast. Excursion to Shevchenkivs'kyi Hai ( The museum of folk life and architecture).
This scansen represents an open-air museum of the Ukrainian wooden architecture and different utilities of village life. It is situated in Shevchenkivs'kyi Hai (forest) – one of the most
picturesque sites of Lviv. More than 20 thousand of craft items from various ethnographical regions of the Western Ukraine can be found in this museum. The visitors can feel the unique
atmosphere of picturesque Ukrainian village. The gems of this museum are the wooden churches from the Carpathian region – the most exquisite examples of the Ukrainian wooden architecture. On entering this museum we “plunge” into the magic world of old Ukrainian traditions, into the world of Ukrainian village. In winter huts, covered with snow, impress
by their beauty. Each one is a masterpiece.
Not depending on the season, Shevchenkivs'kyi Hai is always wonderful and unique.
Time for supper. Free time.
Day 4
Breakfast. Special guided tour to the medieval city of Kamianets- Podilskyi ( Khmelnytskyi region) and its fortress .The city of Kamianets-Podilskyi, one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine. Many historical and architectural monuments have been preserved in this town-museum. Since 1997 it is included in the UNESCO Heritage List.
A breathtaking panorama of fortress will bring you back to the medieval times. It resembles a rocky island, around which a small river Smotrych curls like a snake.
It took centuries to create this stony wander. Now the fortress is the place for annual ethnic-historical festivals.
You may have a dinner in the national-style restaurant.
Day 5
Breakfast. Excursion to the Khotyn fortress (Chernivtsi region).
Khotynska fortress is a pearl on the river Dnister, which played a considerable role in the history of Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Russia and Turkey. A lot of decisive battles took place here. Khotyn's moment of glory was during the military campaign of 1621, when 100-thousand Turkish army attacked the united troops of Poland and Ukrainian Cossacks near the walls of the fortress. After eight days of fierce fight the Polish and Ukrainians were victorious, which prevented Western Europe from enslavement.
Nowadays Khotyn attracts a lot of tourists. From a high rampart one can enjoy the view of the green bank vaults of the blue Dnister and feel a fresh breeze.
Day 6
Breakfast. Free programme for the whole day. You may have a walk, visit “Vernisage” ( the market of people's crafts) and buy some souvenirs as a memory about your visit to Lviv.
Departure.Price in
EURO - from 290E per person –
Including:
Staying at a hotel of the chosen category ( BB, double rooms with bathroom);
Excursion services of the agency and a qualified guide;
Bus services according to the program;
Meeting and transferring of the group to a hotel;
Interpreter services.
Not including:
Entrance museum tickets;
Travelling by public transport;
Dinners, suppers.
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