Western Ukraine

Ukraine

View of Carpathian National Park from Hoverla. Carpathian National Park, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Western Ukraine (Ukrainian: Західна Україна) makes up about a quarter of Ukraine, is the wealthiest and most developed region and has the closest affinities with Central Europe of all Ukraine's regions.

  • Lviv. (Львів) – the undisputed centre of Western Ukraine
  • Chernivtsi. (Чернівці́, Černivci)
  • Lutsk. (Луцьк)
  • Ivano-Frankivsk. (Іва́но-Франкі́вськ)
  • Khmelnytskyi. (Хмельни́цький, Chmel'nyc'kyj)
  • Kolomyia. (Коломия, Kolomyja)
  • Rivne. (Рівне)
  • Ternopil. (Тернопіль)
  • Uzhhorod. (Ужгород)

Lviv. (Львів) – the undisputed centre of Western Ukraine

Chernivtsi. (Чернівці́, Černivci)

Lutsk. (Луцьк)

Ivano-Frankivsk. (Іва́но-Франкі́вськ)

Khmelnytskyi. (Хмельни́цький, Chmel'nyc'kyj)

Kolomyia. (Коломия, Kolomyja)

Rivne. (Рівне)

Ternopil. (Тернопіль)

Uzhhorod. (Ужгород)

  • The Carpathians of Zakarpatska Oblast
  • Kamianets-Podilskyi. — the historic Capital of Podolia, very picturesque medieval castle.
  • Podilski Tovtry National Park. — there are 2977 kinds of plants from different climatic zones, including 521 kinds of trees and bushes, 395 kinds of fruit plants, 620 kinds of tropic plants, 111 kinds of health-giving herbaceous plants of local and wild flora, 19 archaeological sights, more than 302 historical-architectural sights.

Kamianets-Podilskyi. — the historic Capital of Podolia, very picturesque medieval castle.

Podilski Tovtry National Park. — there are 2977 kinds of plants from different climatic zones, including 521 kinds of trees and bushes, 395 kinds of fruit plants, 620 kinds of tropic plants, 111 kinds of health-giving herbaceous plants of local and wild flora, 19 archaeological sights, more than 302 historical-architectural sights.

Western Ukraine was under the reign of different, mostly European, countries throughout history and only relatively recently (mostly after WWII) got merged into the Russian circle of influence. Therefore, there are considerable minorities still living in the area as well as many remnants of the Central European/Turkish past of this region still to be seen in architecture, religious practices, languages cuisine and politics.

As of 2014, it was by far the safest region in Ukraine and has been spared from the ongoing conflict in the South and East.

Unlike in Southern Ukraine and Eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian language is more predominant in this region, although everyone can also speak and write in Russian very well and are not very prickly about it. Nevertheless, learning a few basic phrases in Ukrainian will endear the locals. Most signs are only Ukrainian, and only a few also include Russian, something prevalent even as a Soviet province. Minority languages include Romanian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak and German. Foreign languages (apart from Russian) are mainly English and German. Polish is spoken well among people with mature memories of the interwar era.

  • Belz. day trip. Sights: Arian Tower (1606) only survived part of a medieval fort; the Dominican Sisters Monastery, (1647, rebuilt 1743, 1861); St. Paraskeva Church, with a bell tower, built in 18th century; Ancient Settlement Archeological Site of Belz (old city, probably founded in 1088); Nicholas Cathedral (1926), Church of St. Valentine, (built in 1907-11, neo-gothic style); Jewish cemetery; Bandery villa.
  • Chervonograd. Good day trip. Sights: A branch of the Lviv Museum of the History of Religion (Potocki Palace), the St. Dukha Church (the St. Vladimir church), the St. Yury Basilian monastery (1771-76); Bernardines monastery (1692-1767) 21 B.Khmel'nyts'kogo st.; Potocki's palace (1736-57), 10 Shashkevycha st. built in baroque and classicism style
  • Brody. Good day trip. St. Yuriya Church (Церковь св. Юрия), built at the beginning of the 17th century, restored in 1867; Palace of Pototskyi Count (1630-1635), History Museum, Ruined Big Synagogue (1742), Palace of Tyshkevich is built in 1909, in English style.
  • Drohobych. Good day trip. St. Apostles Peter and Paul Monastery), Vultsa Stryiska, 1; St. Bartholomew Catholic Church with the former defence tower now the bell tower of the St. Bartholomew church; Palace of Arts Local Museum, Bruno Shults (Polish Writer) Museum, Vultsa I. Franka, 24; Picture gallery, Sichovykh Striltsiv, 16; Church of Holy Exaltation Cross (Церква Воздвиження Чесного Хреста), 1661, Vulitsa Zvarits'ka, 9
  • Horodok, Horodok Raion, Lviv Oblast (West 25 km. A good day trip. Visit: John the Baptist Church (1755)
  • Krekhiv monastery, Kozulka settlement (25 km NW at northern rim of the Yavorivskyi National Park. day trip.
  • Olesko. Good day trip. See here: St. Joseph Church and monastic cells of the monastery of capuchins (1838); the Castle, Vulitsa Zamkova, 34 (14-17th centuries); take a walk in the Castle Park (13 ha); right the next is the Capuchin Monastery (1700s); visit the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Vulitsa T. Shevchenka, 59
  • Pidhirtsi. A good day trip to see the Konietspolskikh Castle (замок Конецпольських), 1635-1640; Pidhoretskyi Landscape Park (17 ha); St. Joseph Catholic Church (Костел св. Иосифа), 1765; Plisnesk Archeological Site, 7-13th сenturies; Cells of monastery (Келії Підгорецького монастиря) 18th century, Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos? (Церковь Рождества Богородицы), part of the former Vasylyi Monastery (1180)
  • Rava-Rus'ka, Lviv Oblast (~50 km NE of Lviv. St. Michael Church and monastic cells of the Franciscan Abbey (Костел Св. Михайла та монастирськi келiї монастиря ордену Реформаторiв), the first wooden chapel, built here in 1725. St. Joseph Catholic Church from 1843 with the miraculous icon of Mother of God (1670s). French Second World War soldiers' cemetery.
  • Sambir. Good day trip. Sights: Town hall (Самбірська ратуша), Square Rynok, 1; St. Ivan Church, Street Pushkina, 7; Bernardine monastery (Монастир бернардинців), Street A. Mitskevycha, 5-A; Nativity Church (Церква Різдва Пресвятої Богородиці), built in 1738.
  • Slavske. Good day trip. Take a chair lift on Trostyan mountain for a good walk; Visit the Cave of Painted Draw-well. Cheap accommodations: Al'piis'kyi dvir Guesthouse (Пансионат "Альпийский двор") Tel +380 67 6727230; Rozhanka Resting house (База відпочинку "Рожанка") north-east 2 km. Tel. +380 32 298-5331. Lys Mykyta Cottages Resting house (Котеджі "Лис Микита"), Franka str., 59А Tel. +380 50 334-8295. U Lili ta Yaroslava B&B (Приватна садиба "У Лілі та Ярослава") Tel.+380 67 977-3598; Cottage Zyhva (Котедж "Зигва"), +380 32 514-2578. U Tetiany Hotel (Мини-отель "У Татьяны") Tel.+380 32 514-2332. Sights: Carpathian Museum of the liberation struggle (Карпатський музей визвольної боротьби), Sichovykh Striltsiv Street, 2. Tel.+380 97 333-4630; Assumption of the Virgin Mary church Church (Церква Успіння Пресвятої Богородиці), T. Shevchenka street., built in 1901.
  • Stare Selo, Pustomyty Raion (25 km SE. Castle (Старе Село замок), 1584-1654
  • Svirzh, Peremyshliany Raion (40 km SW - Direct public transport almost (nonexistent) take any minibus or bus toward Rohatyn and get off at Bibrka on H09 hwy or at Peremyshlyany on T1414 further eight km from both. Sights: Assumption of the Virgin Mary church (костел Успіння Богородиці), 1546, early 17th century. 1770s; Defense tower (ruins), grotto (оборонна башта, грот), 1484, Svirzh castle (Свірж замок), 1484-1660s.
  • Zhovkva, Zhovkva Raion (25 km North. A good day trip from Lviv. Visit the Monastery
  • Zolochiv. Good day trip for visiting: Ascension of Virgin Mary church + cells (костел Вознесіння Діви Марії + келії), 1731-1763; Castle (Золочів замок), 1634-1686; Arsenal (арсенал), 15th century.; Polish cemetery (польський цвинтар).
  • Trukhaniv, Skolivskyi Raion (108km S of Lvov. Good day trip. Rocks and cave of Dovbush (six km from here), The bottom edge of the village is a picturesque waterfalls cascade, the Sukilski waterfalls, also in the village is a St. Michael Church built in 1840.
  • Truskavets, Lviv Oblast (70 km SW - take a train to here. Good for a day trip from Lviv
  • Univ monastery, Peremyshlians'kyi Raion, Lviv Oblast (40 km east - take a bus or minibus to here. Founded in 1390s. It consists of church, partly saved fortress walls with two north and south-west towers (15th century), building of monastic cells (17th-19th centuries) and house of metropolitan (19th century). Good for a day trip from Lviv.

Belz. day trip. Sights: Arian Tower (1606) only survived part of a medieval fort; the Dominican Sisters Monastery, (1647, rebuilt 1743, 1861); St. Paraskeva Church, with a bell tower, built in 18th century; Ancient Settlement Archeological Site of Belz (old city, probably founded in 1088); Nicholas Cathedral (1926), Church of St. Valentine, (built in 1907-11, neo-gothic style); Jewish cemetery; Bandery villa.

Chervonograd. Good day trip. Sights: A branch of the Lviv Museum of the History of Religion (Potocki Palace), the St. Dukha Church (the St. Vladimir church), the St. Yury Basilian monastery (1771-76); Bernardines monastery (1692-1767) 21 B.Khmel'nyts'kogo st.; Potocki's palace (1736-57), 10 Shashkevycha st. built in baroque and classicism style

Brody. Good day trip. St. Yuriya Church (Церковь св. Юрия), built at the beginning of the 17th century, restored in 1867; Palace of Pototskyi Count (1630-1635), History Museum, Ruined Big Synagogue (1742), Palace of Tyshkevich is built in 1909, in English style.

Drohobych. Good day trip. St. Apostles Peter and Paul Monastery), Vultsa Stryiska, 1; St. Bartholomew Catholic Church with the former defence tower now the bell tower of the St. Bartholomew church; Palace of Arts Local Museum, Bruno Shults (Polish Writer) Museum, Vultsa I. Franka, 24; Picture gallery, Sichovykh Striltsiv, 16; Church of Holy Exaltation Cross (Церква Воздвиження Чесного Хреста), 1661, Vulitsa Zvarits'ka, 9

Horodok, Horodok Raion, Lviv Oblast (West 25 km. A good day trip. Visit: John the Baptist Church (1755)

Krekhiv monastery, Kozulka settlement (25 km NW at northern rim of the Yavorivskyi National Park. day trip.

Olesko. Good day trip. See here: St. Joseph Church and monastic cells of the monastery of capuchins (1838); the Castle, Vulitsa Zamkova, 34 (14-17th centuries); take a walk in the Castle Park (13 ha); right the next is the Capuchin Monastery (1700s); visit the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Vulitsa T. Shevchenka, 59

Pidhirtsi. A good day trip to see the Konietspolskikh Castle (замок Конецпольських), 1635-1640; Pidhoretskyi Landscape Park (17 ha); St. Joseph Catholic Church (Костел св. Иосифа), 1765; Plisnesk Archeological Site, 7-13th сenturies; Cells of monastery (Келії Підгорецького монастиря) 18th century, Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos? (Церковь Рождества Богородицы), part of the former Vasylyi Monastery (1180)

Rava-Rus'ka, Lviv Oblast (~50 km NE of Lviv. St. Michael Church and monastic cells of the Franciscan Abbey (Костел Св. Михайла та монастирськi келiї монастиря ордену Реформаторiв), the first wooden chapel, built here in 1725. St. Joseph Catholic Church from 1843 with the miraculous icon of Mother of God (1670s). French Second World War soldiers' cemetery.

Sambir. Good day trip. Sights: Town hall (Самбірська ратуша), Square Rynok, 1; St. Ivan Church, Street Pushkina, 7; Bernardine monastery (Монастир бернардинців), Street A. Mitskevycha, 5-A; Nativity Church (Церква Різдва Пресвятої Богородиці), built in 1738.

Slavske. Good day trip. Take a chair lift on Trostyan mountain for a good walk; Visit the Cave of Painted Draw-well. Cheap accommodations: Al'piis'kyi dvir Guesthouse (Пансионат "Альпийский двор") Tel +380 67 6727230; Rozhanka Resting house (База відпочинку "Рожанка") north-east 2 km. Tel. +380 32 298-5331. Lys Mykyta Cottages Resting house (Котеджі "Лис Микита"), Franka str., 59А Tel. +380 50 334-8295. U Lili ta Yaroslava B&B (Приватна садиба "У Лілі та Ярослава") Tel.+380 67 977-3598; Cottage Zyhva (Котедж "Зигва"), +380 32 514-2578. U Tetiany Hotel (Мини-отель "У Татьяны") Tel.+380 32 514-2332. Sights: Carpathian Museum of the liberation struggle (Карпатський музей визвольної боротьби), Sichovykh Striltsiv Street, 2. Tel.+380 97 333-4630; Assumption of the Virgin Mary church Church (Церква Успіння Пресвятої Богородиці), T. Shevchenka street., built in 1901.

Stare Selo, Pustomyty Raion (25 km SE. Castle (Старе Село замок), 1584-1654

Svirzh, Peremyshliany Raion (40 km SW - Direct public transport almost (nonexistent) take any minibus or bus toward Rohatyn and get off at Bibrka on H09 hwy or at Peremyshlyany on T1414 further eight km from both. Sights: Assumption of the Virgin Mary church (костел Успіння Богородиці), 1546, early 17th century. 1770s; Defense tower (ruins), grotto (оборонна башта, грот), 1484, Svirzh castle (Свірж замок), 1484-1660s.

Zhovkva, Zhovkva Raion (25 km North. A good day trip from Lviv. Visit the Monastery

Zolochiv. Good day trip for visiting: Ascension of Virgin Mary church + cells (костел Вознесіння Діви Марії + келії), 1731-1763; Castle (Золочів замок), 1634-1686; Arsenal (арсенал), 15th century.; Polish cemetery (польський цвинтар).

Trukhaniv, Skolivskyi Raion (108km S of Lvov. Good day trip. Rocks and cave of Dovbush (six km from here), The bottom edge of the village is a picturesque waterfalls cascade, the Sukilski waterfalls, also in the village is a St. Michael Church built in 1840.

Truskavets, Lviv Oblast (70 km SW - take a train to here. Good for a day trip from Lviv

Univ monastery, Peremyshlians'kyi Raion, Lviv Oblast (40 km east - take a bus or minibus to here. Founded in 1390s. It consists of church, partly saved fortress walls with two north and south-west towers (15th century), building of monastic cells (17th-19th centuries) and house of metropolitan (19th century). Good for a day trip from Lviv.

Two world heritages made up of several components have a sizable number of their sites in western Ukraine; the Beech Forests of Europe and the Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpatian Region.

  • Verhovinsky, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Verhovinsky district, +380 3432 53720. Founded: 2010. Area: 12023 hectares. The main highlights are Chyvchyn and Hryniava forested mountains, just for skilled trekkers or with guided tours. River Cheremosh offer some watersports options. Park Office in Verkhnii Yaseniv villege 5 km east from the park.
  • Vizhnitsky, Chernivtsi Oblast. Founded: 1995. Area: 7928 hectares. Ecological trails for walkers 3-15 km 1-8 hours and an eco-tourist route 164 km by car one day long start from Chernivtsi. For campers there are two simple recreation points in the park area, with limited facilities.

Verhovinsky, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Verhovinsky district, +380 3432 53720. Founded: 2010. Area: 12023 hectares. The main highlights are Chyvchyn and Hryniava forested mountains, just for skilled trekkers or with guided tours. River Cheremosh offer some watersports options. Park Office in Verkhnii Yaseniv villege 5 km east from the park.

Vizhnitsky, Chernivtsi Oblast. Founded: 1995. Area: 7928 hectares. Ecological trails for walkers 3-15 km 1-8 hours and an eco-tourist route 164 km by car one day long start from Chernivtsi. For campers there are two simple recreation points in the park area, with limited facilities.

  • Karpatskі Meadows Mountain Hotel and Sportcomplex, Drohobytska raion, Lviv Oblast (on the Hill of Tsyuhiv - from Lviv 123 km SW (buses to Oriv 6 km W daily four. Horse riding and riding in a carriage, mountain biking, archery, paintball, rope town, mountain and cross country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice hockey.
  • Volovets Skiarea, Volovets Raion, Zakarpattia Oblast (take a train from Lviv 160 km SW, +380 3136 22972. Play Eco Tourism Complex (База відпочинку Плай), +Tel.+380 3136 22585, +380 3136 23399.
  • Volosyanka Winter Resort, Skolivskyi raion, Lviv Oblast (take a Mukacheve direction train from Lviv to Slavske further 10 km by bus or taxi. Zahar Berkut Complex. Excursions to Lake. Synevyr, High Verkh Mount, Kamyanka falls, Dead Lake.
  • Pylypets Mountain Resort Area, Mizhhiria Raion, Lviv Oblast (20 km east from Volovets. Magura Mountain hotel complex (База відпочинку "Магура") Tel.+380 67 3441217, +380 95 6007715, +380 67 3127223 and Zatyshok Resort (База отдыха "Затышок") Tel.+380 3146 25135, +380 50 4639171, +380 44 2276133.

Karpatskі Meadows Mountain Hotel and Sportcomplex, Drohobytska raion, Lviv Oblast (on the Hill of Tsyuhiv - from Lviv 123 km SW (buses to Oriv 6 km W daily four. Horse riding and riding in a carriage, mountain biking, archery, paintball, rope town, mountain and cross country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice hockey.

Volovets Skiarea, Volovets Raion, Zakarpattia Oblast (take a train from Lviv 160 km SW, +380 3136 22972. Play Eco Tourism Complex (База відпочинку Плай), +Tel.+380 3136 22585, +380 3136 23399.

Volosyanka Winter Resort, Skolivskyi raion, Lviv Oblast (take a Mukacheve direction train from Lviv to Slavske further 10 km by bus or taxi. Zahar Berkut Complex. Excursions to Lake. Synevyr, High Verkh Mount, Kamyanka falls, Dead Lake.

Pylypets Mountain Resort Area, Mizhhiria Raion, Lviv Oblast (20 km east from Volovets. Magura Mountain hotel complex (База відпочинку "Магура") Tel.+380 67 3441217, +380 95 6007715, +380 67 3127223 and Zatyshok Resort (База отдыха "Затышок") Tel.+380 3146 25135, +380 50 4639171, +380 44 2276133.

Smuggling is a fact of life between Eastern Poland and Western Ukraine. The harsh economic situation in these two respective regions forces many into the trade, involving people of all ages. You may witness individuals unscrewing panels and pulling out plastic-wrapped cigarette cartons, and may even be asked to politely move to enable access to a hidden cavity. Similarly if you decide to use the toilet you may find it blocked with cartons of cigarettes and your seat may feel uncomfortable if someone's removed the soft filling and replaced it with cigarettes. The key here is to exercise your common sense. These people are only doing their 'job' and thus should be treated with respect. There is no need for alarm! In fact it can be fascinating watching just how many cigarettes a single train carriage can hold and later watching as everything is removed on arrival in the EU. Border guards may ask you if anyone has been smuggling but the best response is to claim that you were sleeping or pretend not to understand.

You are legally allowed to bring through the EU border 40 cigarettes (two packs) or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 g of smoking tobacco and 1 l of spirits (above 22% alcohol) or 2 l of alcohol (e.g. sparkling wine below 22% alcohol) and 4 l of non-sparkling wine and 16 l of beer. If you are below 17 years old it's half of these amounts.