Vault Lights in Lviv

Many years ago in Lviv I came across what looked like a metal door matt. I had no idea what it was until I saw similar panels in Edinburgh and Tallinn and turned to the Internet for help. Turns out it is a vault light to illuminate the basement. It […]

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Cultural Confluence: Exploring Shared Songs Across Ukrainian and Polish Traditions

During a visit to Kraków the week before Christmas, I attended a small gathering at an acquaintance’s apartment. While they sang Polish Christmas carols, one particular melody stood out to me — it was remarkably similar to a Ukrainian Christmas carol, with lyrics that resembled those of its Ukrainian counterpart. […]

Emperor Franz Joseph I’s 1880 Tour of Galicia: In Paintings

In 1880, the then 50-year-old Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph I, undertook a journey during which he visited the area of two crown lands: Galicia (including the Grand Duchy of Kraków) and Bukovina. The emperor traveled by train, mainly on the lines of the Karl Ludwig Railway and the Galician […]

Long Live Skrypnykivka: How the Galician Diaspora Preserved the Ukrainian Orthography of 1928

The old Ukrainian diaspora, primarily originating from Galicia, has been instrumental in preserving linguistic elements predating the 1933 orthography, which marked the onset of russification in Ukrainian orthographic tradition. Alongside, this community has safeguarded distinctive Galician linguistic and orthographic customs, which have gradually faded within Galicia itself. This article has […]

Ferrum Lwów Sidewalk Stamps

Ferrum-Lwów Machine Factory and Iron and Metal Foundry was part of a large company that had factories in several cities including Łódź, Poznań, Kraków, and Sosnowiec near Katowice. In Lviv, the factory was located in the Pidzamche neighborhood and in addition to various iron and metal works such as manhole covers and […]

Waterworks Plates of Lviv

Before World War II, companies that installed plumbing and sewers in Lviv (Lwów/Lemberg) attached plates on building where such services were provided. A few of these plates, which state in Polish that “wodociąg w tym domu” (water supply in this house) was installed by such and such company, can still […]

Lviv Dining Guide

Food & Drink in Lviv In the years leading up to the full-scale invasion, Lviv witnessed a surge in its restaurant, cafe, and bar industry. New establishments seemed to pop up every few days, making it a challenge to keep track of them all. Despite the initial disruptions caused by […]

Made in Ukraine: Lviv Shopping Guide

An Alternative Shopping Guide to Lviv’s City Center A list of the best places to find all things made in Ukraine, clothing, local artwork, infused vodka and craft beer, as well as antiques. Clothing & Accessories & Home Decor Ukraine’s craft industry has really taken off in the last few […]

Shund on Shellac or Gimpel’s Theatre, Lemberg: The Sounds of a Popular Yiddish Theatre Preserved on Gramophone Records 1904–1913

This version of Michael Aylward’s article “Shund on Shellac or Gimpel’s Theatre, Lemberg” is based on a much longer version with various appendices. The complete version is posted in PDF format at the bottom of this article and may be downloaded. If you wish to quote from either of these […]

ychakivgravevandalism

Headless Statues and Etched-Out Faces: Vandalism and Ruin in Lychakiv Cemetery

The beautiful Lychakiv Cemetery greets visitors with its winding paths adorned by exquisite artistic statues and grave vaults, evoking a nostalgic journey through time. However, amidst its splendor, one can’t help but notice the destroyed headstones and vaults. This made me wonder why so much damage can be found in […]

Lviv at the Turn of the Century as Depicted through the Watercolors of Alfred Kamienobrodzki

Discover Lviv (Lemberg / Lwów) at the turn of the 19th-20th century through the watercolors of Alfred Kamienobrodzki (1844-1922), a talented architect and painter. His art beautifully captures the city’s architecture and landscapes, providing a nostalgic glimpse of Lviv’s past. Some of his watercolors can be found in the Historical […]