Vynnyky is a city within a city. Neat squares and streets are arranged here, comfortable buses run, an interactive museum operates, and FC "Rukh" is building a state-of-the-art football academy. This city smells of sweet-scented tobacco from a famous factory, and its name preserves memories of the times when it was a wine-making centre.
Together with Natalia Pylypchuk, a local guide, we will go on a one-day route; we invite everyone who wants to look for interesting places near Lviv.
How to get there?
From the city centre by bus:
- № 29 (Vynnуkу - Railway station)
- № 40 ("King Cross Leopolis" - Vуnnyky)
Time - 20 min.
The city panorama
From the site where we start, there is a view of Vynnyky and the Marunka River valley. Once, in ancient times, there was a settlement of winegrowers who, of course, were engaged in growing grapes.
On old maps of Lviv, it can be seen that Lychakivska street was surrounded by vineyards. That is why grapes are depicted on the coat of arms of Vynnyky. Vynnyky has long had the status of a city. It is evidenced by a document confirming the grant of Magdeburg law to the city by the Polish king Sigismund on May 17, 1666.
Vynnyky was a state city in Austrian times, 1940 - it received confirmation of city status. During the German occupation, the city was part of Lviv, and during the Soviet period - it was the district centre, and later Vynnyky became part of the Lychakivskyi district.
Interestingly, the schools in Vynnyky have always been Lviv schools.
The oldest tobacco company in Ukraine and the third of its kind in Europe operates in Vynnyky. The factory gave impetus to the development of the city.
The path of Metropolitan Andreі Sheptytskyi
Andreі Sheptytskyi once liked Vinniki for walks. The path was prepared by the monks in 1934 specifically for the walking needs of the metropolitan, who at that time could only travel in a wheelchair due to illness.
The object structure includes the observation platform from which we started the route and the path along which the sculptural complexes were placed. Its length is 500 meters.
The trail has three stops and a prayer field. All the stops reveal the figure of Andrei Sheptytskyi from different angles – churchman, statesman, philanthropist – and popularize the life wisdom of the metropolitan. The route ends with the Tsar's well. Those who wish can still drink water from this well. In terms of properties, the water here is useful and rich in minerals.
Church of Saints Volodymyr and Olga
The Orthodox church was consecrated on July 29, 2001. Almost the entire parish was involved in the construction of the church. Students and teachers of the Academy of Arts and Trush College took an active part in the interior design work. Interestingly, you can see Catholic saints in the church's paintings. In the church, there is a copy of the miraculous icon of the Pochaiv Virgin.
Saving Chоrnobyl
Stusa Street is known for the fact that Orest Vlokh, a world-renowned scientist and author of 50 works on linear physics, lived here with his family. When Chоrnobyl exploded, he was summoned to a secret meeting in Moscow for a meeting. His idea helped extinguish Chоrnobyl.
During the explosion, the chemical reaction of uranium decay began, and all toxic compounds were released into the air. Scientists did not know how to extinguish the fire; they resorted to lead. This method was not effective because lead reacted with uranium, which provoked even greater emissions into the air. The flames were getting bigger. Orest Vloh's idea saved this situation. He suggested quenching uranium with cadmium carbide. It is how the disaster was eliminated.
Ivan Paul II Square and the Church of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary
There is a square in Vynnyky named after Ivan Paul II. There is a monument to the patron - Ivan Paul II. The area is modern, recently renovated. There is a lake here that has been cleaned and illuminated with lanterns. The Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on the square. The crowned icon of the Mother of God of Vynnykivska is kept in the church. The paintings date back to 1912, superimposed on the paintings of the 18th century. The restoration of the temple is currently underway.
Church of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
The first church was wooden, built-in 1515. A bell tower is located near the temple. In 1810, the reconstruction project of the temple was approved, the Napoleonic wars made their corrections, the construction was suspended, and work continued even after the war with Napoleon. In 1842, the temple was consecrated.
The temple architect was Yosyf Andrushko; his father at that timewas the director of a tobacco factory. Yosif Andrushko built about ten churches in Galicia. He was a co-author of the Lviv City Hall project. The iconostasis in the church dates back to 1903; its co-authors were three famous artists: Yulian Makarevych, Antin Monastyrskyi, and Modest Sosenko.
Childhood of Leopold von Sacher-MasochIn Vynnyky, they brought little Zakher-Masoch to a local housewife named Gadzunia. He spent his summers here as a child. The future writer was a rather frail and sickly child, but Vynnyky contributed to strengthening his health: fresh air, goat's milk, and nature helped the boy restore his health. Gadzunia lived on Ivan Franko street. She was who instilled in him a love for Ukrainian. Every day, the woman read Ukrainian fairy tales and retold traditions.
Historical and local history museum of Vynnyky
The historical and local history museum is in a cosy building in the centre of Vynnyky, next to the tobacco factory. The institution's history began more than thirty years ago, and its newest page started in 2019. Then a full re-exposition took place in the museum with the involvement of modern interactive technologies.
Read more about the museum in a separate article.
The publication was carried out within the project of research and development of the tourism potential of the Lviv territorial community by the Lviv Tourism Office team.
