Lviv is one of the most beautiful cities in Ukraine, which, in addition to having the status of the cultural capital of the country, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This unique city is a real cultural treasure. A truly priceless pearl of this national cultural heritage is the Lychakiv Cemetery - one of the few ancient burials that have survived in Europe.
Historical origin details
In the middle of the 14th century, the city of Lvov was in the power of the Polish king Casimir III. This affected the appearance of the city, which began to change rapidly. Urban infrastructure is expanding: taverns, prisons and, of course, cemeteries appear.
In the Middle Ages, it was considered the norm to bury the dead on consecrated ground - near temples. However, over time it became clear that such a neighborhood causes many problems. Cemeteries located in close proximity to residential areas created many threats to people's lives. Therefore, the then emperorJoseph II in 1783 decided to remove all temple burials outside the city.
The city of Lviv was divided into several parts and four cemeteries were created. Residents of the fourth section and the center got one of the old cemeteries in Lychakiv.
The cemetery received its official status in 1786, but burials were made there before. According to historians, back in the thirteenth century, people who died during the plague were buried there.
Since the inhabitants of the center were mostly urban nobility, it is not surprising that after some time the Lychakiv cemetery became the main necropolis of Lviv.
Origin of the name
Lychakiv cemetery was named so because of the area in which it was located. This part of Lviv was inhabited in the fifteenth century and was considered a suburb. In those distant times, caravans passed through these places, heading to Constantinople. The road was called Glinyanskaya, because it led to the town of Glinyany. It took its beginning from the gates of the monastery located here. However, part of the road was called Lychakovskaya due to the name of the local settlement.
Commenting on the origin of the name "Lychakov", historians still do not have a common opinion. Some believe that this is a distorted version of the German Lutzenhof, derived from the name of the German colonist Lutz, who once lived in these parts. Others adhere to the version that the word "lychaks" served as the basis for such a name. In those days, this was the name given to the poorest inhabitants who wore wickerwork from bast (barkany wood) shoes.
The ancient name stuck, and now, in addition to the cemetery, this is the name of the Lviv district, the park, the station and one of the streets.
Lychakiv cemetery in the pre-revolutionary period
Since its official opening, this place has been given an unspoken elite status. The most famous people of Lviv sought to find their last home here: politicians, musicians, poets, representatives of the clergy, military leaders and simply rich people. Actually, it was thanks to their efforts that the Lychakiv cemetery began to look more like a museum.
In 1856, local authorities decided to ennoble the area. For this, the well-known masters of garden art at that time were invited: K. Bauer and T. Tkhuzevsky. Masters have transformed the cemetery, creating paths, alleys and many green spaces here. Now it has become more like a beautiful park, emphasizing the uniqueness of these places with its natural beauty.
The peculiar popularity of the Lychakiv necropolis became so huge that it had to be expanded several times until it reached its current area of 42 hectares, covering 86 fields.
Later, from the gloomy realm of death, the renewed park was transformed into a blooming and luxurious garden, where you could walk and enjoy the beautiful creations of the masters Tadeusz Baroncz and Leonard Marconi. A special place in the design of the necropolis belongs to the Shimzer family, which gave Lvov two generations of sculptors: Anton and Johann, as well as their descendant Julian Markovsky, the author of the famous"Sleeping on the couch", which has already become the hallmark of the cemetery. There you can also admire the famous mourners from Hartmann Witwer, thanks to whose talent this image of tomb sculpture was established. Some of the sculptors are buried here.
Lychakiv cemetery: legends
Crypts and graves, headstones, tombs that are located here are not only a kind of reminders of the life of different people or entire families, but also tell many stories.
One of them is the legend of Józef Baczewski, who took care of his last refuge during his lifetime. His family was engaged in strong drinks and became famous thanks to them all over the world. Józef Adam, whose name is well known in this business area, was especially enterprising. He also approached his funeral in an original way, building a chapel in advance on the territory of the Lychakiv cemetery and ordering an interesting device. The mechanical robot-burialer not only delivered Jozef to the cemetery, but also placed him in the coffin on his own.
Another story is connected with an unusual tombstone. Here, on both sides of the bust of the wonderful doctor Jozef Ivanovich, there are two of his dogs - Pluto and Nero. Loyal to their master even after his death, they remained with him in the cemetery. There are also monuments with an interesting history that are invisible in their modest design. For example, about the brave army soldier Franciszek Zaremba, who, having escaped death in the war, lived a long life of 112 years.
A kind of calling cardLychakiv cemetery became a sculpture of a sleeping girl. A mysterious story is connected with this poetic gravestone. Jozefa Markowska pictured here died in 1877.
Mysterious and sudden death caused a lot of talk. There are several versions. One of them says that Jozefa was an actress and, having got used to the role, died right during the premiere. The second is about the unhappy love of a girl who, having learned about the infidelity of her beloved, poisoned herself. The third version is connected with the deceased children of Józefa. The source of the fourth is a Polish source, which claims that a man is buried here - Stanislav Zborowski.
Famous historical figures buried here
Many stories and legends today are associated with such a mysterious place as the Lychakiv cemetery. Which famous people are buried here? Of course, among them are the most famous figures of culture, science, art of Ukraine: the famous composer, author of "Vodogray" and "Chervona Ruta" - Volodymyr Ivasyuk; poet, public figure Ivan Franko; writers Osip Turyansky and Mikhail Rudnitsky; scientists Vasily Levitsky and Maxim Muzyka; historian Isidor Sharanevich and others.
Also, in addition to compatriots, here you can also find the graves of famous Poles who lived in Lviv: the author of wonderful children's fairy tales Maria Konopnitskaya, the mathematician Stefan Banach, the artist Arthur Grottger, the world-famous surgeon Ludovik Riediger, Zygmund Gorgolevsky, the author of the building of the Lviv Operatheatre, and many other figures of science and art.
Memorial Cemetery Complexes
Especially impressive are the vast areas of mass graves. Lychakiv Cemetery (Lviv) contains several well-known memorial complexes that are known throughout the world. There are several here:
- memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Ukrainian National Army;
- Field of Mars, where the graves of almost four thousand Soviet soldiers who died here during the Great Patriotic War are buried;
- Lviv "eagles", a memorial dedicated to the young Poles who died here during the Ukrainian-Polish war;
- Insurgent Hill - people who took part in the Polish uprising in 1863 are buried in this place;
- tombs where the sisters of the monastic order are buried.
Cemetery of Lvov "eagles"
The problem of restoring this burial was discussed for a long time, because during the Soviet period (in 1971) it was practically destroyed. After Ukraine gained independence, the Polish authorities proposed to create a memorial complex here, restoring the barbarically destroyed burial place of the legendary Polish "eagles". This was the name given to young Poles who took part in the defense of Lviv and fought here during the Polish-Ukrainian war. Another name for this burial is the cemetery of the defenders of Lviv.
In 2005, the memorial complex was finally restored, thegrand opening with the participation of the heads of state of Ukraine and Poland.
Planning of the cemetery
The territory of the modern Lychakiv cemetery is huge, however, despite this, everything here is arranged competently and harmoniously. Visitors are greeted by a stone fence with spire gates, which are connected by a wrought iron lattice. Bypassing the fence, you can see nearby monuments and chapels, which are located on the territory surrounding the entrance square and side alleys. The latter take guests into the deep greenery of the parks, which hides tomb masterpieces. Further, having risen to a small elevation, they connect into a large ring road, from which numerous alleys branch off in different directions, penetrating into all corners of the cemetery.
Visiting a cemetery
Not being here is missing one of the city's stunning sights. Moreover, since 1990, the Lychakiv cemetery (Lviv) has received the status of a historical and cultural museum. As you know, it is better to visit such places accompanied by a guide. The need for the presence of the latter is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, the huge territory of the cemetery, which is difficult to get around in one day. Secondly, there will be an opportunity to hear interesting life stories of people buried here.
Time to visit the cemetery - from nine to seventeen. For thrill-seekers, the museum administration offers excursions at night.
Today, travel companies provide short tours to Lviv as part of their services. Acquaintance withits attractions include visits to theaters, museums, temples, as well as tours of the Lychakiv cemetery.
How to get there
Today the area of the Lychakiv cemetery covers 42 hectares of land, so it is not surprising that it is easy to get lost here. And even the inhabitants of Lviv cannot boast that they are well versed in 86 fields, on which the Lychakiv cemetery is now located. How to get to this interesting place, residents of the city can tell, who willingly answer such questions from guests. You can get here by tram number 7 or 2, having reached Mechnikova Street. Next, you should go through the gate, erected here in 1875, and several alleys will open in front of you. Here, the tourist makes the choice himself: either seek help from the administration and book an excursion, or cope on his own with the help of the Internet, a map and personal preferences.
Lychakiv cemetery is a kind of city of the dead that lives its own life. Like people, such places are born, grow and die. It is rare to find such an exception as this necropolis. Its history spans more than two centuries, and the concentration of stories of destinies, legends and miracles sometimes seems simply incredible.
