Lviv (Lvov)Ukraine,

Lviv, Lvov, Lwów, Lemberg: what can I say? Lviv is one of the most unusual cities in the world. At times it has been German, Austrian, Hungarian, Polish, Soviet, and now Ukrainian. Standing in central Lviv you can quickly see the influence of all of these cultures. Besides the for mentioned state control Lviv has also been a major Jewish center. Look at the photos on our Lviv Photo Section and you will see buildings with Hebrew, Russian, Ukrainian Polish and many more languages.  

Lviv is an unbelievable mixture of cultures. If you walk the streets of Lvov you will think you are in the Czech republic, Germany, Poland, or Austrian but not Ukraine! Or are you REALLY in Ukraine and the rest of Ukraine is really not Ukraine? 

Look around at the wonderful fortresses, city walls, cobblestone streets, fantastic opera, and unique architecture of Lviv! As an example; look at the wonderful churches. They will be in Polish or Austrian Catholic style and not the Russian Orthodox style the is in Kiev or many of the other regions of the Ukraine.  

Lvov Ukraine is a city in Western Ukraine with many faces and names. Lviv is Ukrainian Ëüâ³â, Polish Lwów, Russian Ëüâîâ, German Lemberg, and in Latin Leopolis. 

Lviv was founded in 1256 in Red Ruthenia by King Danylo Halytskyi of the Ruthenian principality of Halych-Volhynia, and named in honor of his son Lev. Lvov has been fighting for it's life ever since. As an example: Before WWI Lviv was part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire. In 1919 Lvov was given to the new state of Poland but was fought over by the Ukrainians, Soviets and others until March 1923. Russian and Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and for the next two years Lvov was forced to be part of the Soviet Union. In 1941 Germany invaded the Soviet Union and Lvov became part of Poland again. In 1944 The Soviet army re-took Lvov and for the second time Lvov was forced to be part of the Soviet Union. Thankfully the city was not fought for and was not destroyed like Warsaw was. After WW II Lvov was given to Ukraine. It's interesting that Germany was blamed for invading Poland but the Soviet Union was not and effectively the Soviet Union got to keep 1/2 of Poland, now part of Belarus and Ukraine. 

You can obviously see where Lvov gets it's unique character. Also of note, Western Ukraine if fiercely independent and very pro Ukrainian. Unlike other regions where Russian is predominantly spoken Ukrainian is the language in Lvov.   

It is interesting to note that Lvov was the first European city to have street lights in 1853. In 1910 during the Austrian Hapsburg rule 28% of the population of Lvov were Jews while 86% spoke Polish and 11% Ukrainian.

The climate of Lviv is temperately continental, the average temperatures of January and July, the coldest and the warmest months of the year are accordingly: 19,2° F (-7,1°C) and 66,7° F (+18,7°Ñ).

Local time in Lviv is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time but please note that Ukraine observes Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time), so time difference is 3 hours starting with last Sunday of March through last Sunday of October. So at 12:noon in New York it is 8:00 pm in Lviv and 10:00 am in London.