Exhibit 1
History of L’viv from ancient times.
L’viv is located in the area where the first human settlements emerged back in the Stone Age, about 20 000 years ago. Then it was inhabited by hunters, and later — by agrarian tribes. Trade routes to Volhynia and the Dniester ran through these lands, which stimulated the development of trade and played an important role in the future history of the city.
In the late 10th century the land was colonized by the White Croats, who were conquered by the Kyiv Prince Volodymyr. And in the 11th century, several Ruthenian settlements emerged on the territory of the modern L’viv. During archeological excavation works dishware and weapons of the Ancient Rus time were found here.
So, the city of L’viv, founded by Prince Lev Danylovych, did not arise from nothing. It was a place where old traditions of trade and peaceful coexistence of different peoples and groups were carried on.
In the 16th century, the poet, historian and Burgomaster of L’viv Bartlomiej Zymorowich described the “three L’vivs” as following:
- The first L’viv is the Ruthenian city, founded in 1270 by the Rus Prince Lev. It is crude and shapeless, resembling a fortification rather than a city, known as L’vyhorod — the City of Lev.
- The second L’viv is German, received by Cazimir the Great from the Ruthenians in 1340. It has been cleared by the Polish flame, changed for the better by stone walls and Saxon laws, and is known as Lemburg.
- The third L’viv became Polish. The culture and language of its people had changed, foreign traditions disappeared. Different peoples dwelled in the city, who mastered various crafts and trades.
Beginning from 1287 the city was ruled by the Advocati (Vogte), the elected leaders of the local government. The Vogt had his own regalia and a seal, as well as a sword as a symbol of power that hung behind his back in the meeting room of the City Hall.
From our information boards you can find out about the sequence of events in the history of L’viv from the ancient time till the 14th century. More detailed information about this period is available on the monitors and touchscreens.