Lviv

Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine

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Lviv is a historic city in western Ukraine and the capital of Lviv Oblast, located on the Roztochchya Upland in the country’s far west.

It is the largest city in western Ukraine and one of the main cultural, educational, and historical centers of the country, with a population of around 720,000. Founded in the mid‑13th century by Prince Daniel Romanovich of Galicia, it has long been the chief city of the Galicia region, which today is split between Ukraine and Poland.

Its central old town, with narrow cobbled streets, colorful facades, churches, and a large central square (Rynok), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains thousands of preserved historic and architectural monuments. The city has a rich, multi‑ethnic past, once under Polish, Austrian, and Soviet rule, and today functions as an important hub for universities, publishing, arts, and festivals, including major events like the city‑wide “City Day” and the Leopolis Jazz Festival.