Things to do

At the time of Austrian rule in Lviv, the city has achived the look that we know it now. Dismantling of the city walls which had played their historical role long ago was started in 1777. The city was expanding, new buildings were being erected, new streets and squares were appearing. In the late 18^th – first half of 19^th century the architectural style of Classicism became predominant in residential and civil construction.

Cultural life flourished in Lviv under the Austrian rule. Two theatres of European importance were built here: Skarbkivski (M. Zankovetska) Theatre and Grand City (Opera and Ballet) Theatre. The University was reorganized, and publishing business was developing in Lviv. In 1870 Lviv was granted the right of local self-government. It became a truly European city. An Austrian journalist who paid a visit to Lviv could not find any differences between our city and the major cities of Europe: the buildings were the same, the stores and coffee-houses were the same, the way of life and traditions were the same. In Austrian Lviv technical and scientific inventions were born, and the most advanced technologies of the time were implemented. It was one of the first cities in the Empire to see gas (and later electrical) street lighting, motor transport, and telephone communications. In 1894 the first electrical tram was launched in Lviv, long before this happened in Vienna. Later the best railway station in the Empire was constructed here. All of that was achived because of Lviv's status as the capital of Galicia and the money flow from sellg oil which was extracted near the city.