Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Regions at a Glance
Lviv & Western Ukraine
Architectural Style
From the handsome austerity of Gothic churches to box-ugly Soviet apartment blocks,
Lviv is a textbook of European architectural styles from the last seven centuries. Echoes
of the past can be found in towns and villages across the region.
Cafe Culture
Lviv has a distinct Central European coffeehouse tradition that sets it firmly apart from
the rest of Ukraine. One of the city's delights is visiting its many intimate, bean-per-
fumed coffeehouses, sampling the country's best doses of Arabica.
Castles & Fortresses
No other region of Ukraine possesses such a large number of castles, fortresses, chateaux
and mansions. When they ruled the roost, the Polish nobility converted many crumbling
medieval castles into noble baroque residences. In a strange way their current shabby
state just adds to the magic.
