Lviv

The city has multicultural history. The first mention of the areas where Lviv was founded was found in the oldest chronicle of the Russian chronicler Nestor in 981. In 1256 Prince Daniel I Halicki of the Rurykowitcz dynasty founded a defensive stronghold, which he called Lviv, in honor of his son Leo. In 1339, after the childless death of the last ruler Boleslaw Trojdenowicz of the Mazovian Piast dynasty, Lviv was inherited by his uncle Casimir III the Great. In 1356, Lviv was located under Magdeburg Law and in 1658 it received nobility rights. For centuries the city was inhabited by the Polish, Jewish community and in smaller numbers by the Ukrainian and German. Due to the favorable geographical location - a place connecting trade routes from the Black Sea, Kiev, eastern and western Europe, Byzantium and ports of the Baltic Sea - Lviv began to develop very quickly.

On April 1, 1656, King John II Casimir, returning from Silesia to the country, in front of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Grace, made his famous Lviv vows, in which he undertook, inter alia, to improve the livelihood of the village people heroically fighting with the Swedish army. The city survived many invasions, among others Turks and Tatars (the battle of Lviv took place in 1675. John III Sobieski defeated the overwhelming Tatar forces), but in 1704 it was occupied and looted by the Swedes. The myth of the impregnable fortress has fallen. From 1772 until 1918 Lviv was the administrative center of the Austrian Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, fighting to defend Lviv began. In the interwar period, Lviv was the seat of the provincial authorities, while also constituting an extremely important economic, scientific and cultural center of the Republic of Poland.

November 22, 1920 – the city was awarded by the Virtuti Militari Order by the Chief of State Jozef Pisłudski. On the basis of the treacherous Ribbentrop-Molotov pact (1939), Lviv found itself within the borders of the Soviet Union. From August 1991 Lviv is a city of the Independent State of Ukraine. In 1998 historical city center and the cathedral of Saint Jura was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Lviv was and still is the city of many cultures. In the 19^th century Lviv was, next to Cracow, a Polish intellectual center enjoying since 1870 freedom to develop Polish and Ukrainian culture and science in the quite liberal Austrian partition. The following well-known writers and poets lived here: Alexander Fredro, Seweryn Goszczyński, Leopold Staff, Jan Kasprowicz, Jan Zahradnik, Gabriela Zapolska, Maria Konopnicka, Maryla Wolska, Beata Obertyńska and many others. The thriving scientific institution operated in Lviv – the National Institute of Ossolinski, which in addition to the library rich in collections also had its own publishing house. Many local newspapers and magazines were printed here, published not only in Polish, but also in German, Ukrainian or Yiddish. After the displacement of Polish people from Lviv and the city's separation from Poland in 1945, Ossolineum was transferred to Wroclaw. To respect the city’s literary past, a Book Fair is held every year. In 1929, the youth “Artes Group”, known for its shows in Paris and throughout Europe, was founded in Lviv. Its works represented trends such as futurism, cubism, new objectivity and surrealism. They collaborated with many avant-garde artists and musicians. “Artes Group” gave thirteen shows, including in Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz and Lviv. The World War II put an end to the group's activities.

In 1842, The Skarbkowski Theater was opened (the third largest building in Central Europe at that time). In 1903, the magnificent opera house, modeled on the Vienna one, was opened. The most notable galleries and museums are the Lviv Art Gallery, the Museum of Religion (formerly the Museum of Atheism) and the National Museum (formerly the Museum of Industry). Lviv in the only one place in the world, where Catholic archbishops belonging to the Latin, Armenian and Greek Catholic rite can be found. The city has 19 churches, 12 orthodox churches and 2 monasteries. The city is a pearl of national culture, it has over 2,000 different monuments. In the city's architecture you can find many European styles - there are buildings from the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism periods. Being in Lviv it is necessary to visit the Cemetery of the Defenders of Lviv (Lviv Eaglets) - especially important for Poles. In this city there is also the famous promenade called Alley of Freedom (Prospekt Swobody) at the end of which is the famous Lviv Opera House. The curiosities include that the image of the building appears on the Ukrainian banknote of 20 hryvnia. In addition, there is the Armenian Cathedral – the most important and oldest building in Lviv, inside which are beautiful paintings and frescoes. There will also be something for fans of luxury, the Potocki Palace exactly, in which the abovementioned Lviv Art Gallery is located. What else is worth seeing? For example, the Main Station built in the Art Nouveau style.

An inseparable element of Lviv is the Coffee Festival. Lviv began its history with coffee
at the end of the 17^th century. As time passed, more and more cafes were created in the city, where both residents and tourists can breathe a cup of coffee. It can be said that Lviv is the Capital of Coffee, and for all coffee lovers, a festival is organized every year entitled “Drink coffee in Lviv”. During the festival, everyone can try coffee according to the traditional recipe of Lviv inhabitants.

Lviv is a great academic and cultural centre, as evidenced by the number universities (8), institutes (3), higher schools (11) and academic and research units (over 40). It is the most important academic centre of Ukraine. It is a seat of the Lviv University of Technology (founded in 1843), and the Lviv National University (founded in 1661). Its academic tradition date back to the 16^th century. It had a significant position in Central Europe in the field of humanities and mathematics.

Lviv University of Technology has modern scientific and computer laboratories with Internet access, which enable teaching with the high standard. The university also has a long tradition in educating foreign students.

The University of Lviv is the oldest academic center in the city. It offers its students nearly
20 faculties, including faculty of geology, faculty of international relations, department
of pedagogy and department of law. It is a center that educated many great people, like: Ivan Frank (poet and linguist, reformer of Ukrainian language), Jan Parandowski (writer, essayist, creator of “Mythology”), Bruno Schulz (novelist and painter), Rudolf Weigl (biologist, inventor of the typhus vaccine) and many others. Outstanding Polish mathematicians such as Stefan Banach, Juliusz Schauder and Stanislaw Ulam were connected with the University. Lviv’s universities are famous all over Ukraine for their high level of education.

The International Waterpolo Tournament of Partner Cities took place in Łódź from 13 to 15 April 2018.
The tournament was attended by teams from Stuttgart (Bad - Cannstadt), Lviv, Minsk and Łódź (Ocmer Lodz University of Technology). The matches were played in the Zatoka Sportu Centre (Sports Bay).

The Cup of the Mayor of the City of Łódż was won by a team from the partner city of Lviv. The next places were taken by Łódź, Stuttgart and Minsk.

The teams also had the opportunity to visit Łódź - Piotrkowska Street, EC1, Manufaktura, Priests Mill. Łódź made a huge impression on athletes, many of them announced their quick return to Łódź.

Exchange of experience in the area of international projects implemented with partner cities, mainly from Ukraine - Lviv, Odessa and Germany - Chemnitz and Stuttgart. Presentation of awards and distinctions for completed partner projects - including the Council of Europe Honor Plaque.

In July 2016, the project “Understanding both sides – supporting the third sector and local government in Lviv” began. It is also implemented in Łódź. The project received funding under the RITA Program - Transformations in the regions of the Education for Democracy Foundation. Its purpose is support for the third sector and local government authorities in Lviv in the field of mutual cooperation and increasing social activity of residents and increasing the level of awareness of school youth and city residents about the benefits of cycling.

As a part of the project, we wanted to share our experience with the Ukrainian partner in the field of cooperation between NGOs and local authorities regarding cycling policy and sustainable transport.

The project includes the following activities:

- workshops for Ukrainian councilors and NGO representatives on the subject of cooperation and communication with city authorities, ways and methods to increase civic activity of city residents; raising awareness of the impact on city infrastructure and cycling safety in the city (students); engaging volunteers (21-24 July 2016)

- a visit to Poland of Ukrainian councilors and NGO representatives to transfer knowledge and share good practices in the sphere of NGO cooperation with the authorities and to engage residents to participate in public consultations (22-25 August 2016)

- development and sharing: a model of NGO cooperation - city authorities, school scenarios, a compendium of knowledge on methods and ways to increase the involvement of city residents) and organization of workshops in Lviv schools (September 2016-March 2017)

- organization of a picnic summarizing the project in Lviv (April 2017)

Councilors of the Lodz’s City Council and the City Council of Lviv are also involved in the project. Councilors Małgorzata Moskwa-Wodnicka and Urszula Niziołek-Janiak held meetings in Lviv. - These were interesting discussions and exchange of experiences with representatives of Ukrainian NGOs and the city hall. We also discussed the civic budget. - reports Małgorzata Moskwa-Wodnicka.

- Do you know that every councilor in Lviv has a pot of money to spend it on supporting citiznes in need? And this year for the first time thanks to the councilman from NGOs there will be a civic budget here? And about the fact that the office hangs signs “City Council. Department of Spatial Planning”? - asked Urszula Niziołek-Janiak.

The project is implemented by the Normal City Foundation and the Lviv Bicycle Association.

Spurce: http://fundacjafenomen.pl/aktualnosci/zrozumiec-obie-strony-we-lwowie
photo. Małgorzata Moskwa-Wodnicka, Urszula Niziołek-Janiak

Source: www.youtube.com/watch

On 6th May Olga Churilova and Alexandra Pronyutkina - winners of the SABOTAGE competition of the 12^th edition of Fashion Week Lviv presented their collection. Organized in Lviv Fashion Week Lviv is one of the largest and most important international fashion events of Eastern Europe. Each season, the Ukrainian festival is visited by 12,000 guests from Europe and the world. As part of cooperation between Fashion Philosophy Fashion Week Poland and Fashion Week Lviv, the winner of the main prize organized during the SABOTAGE competition in Lviv receives an invitation to present their collection on the catwalk of the Polish Fashion Week.

“Culture unites nations, ecology helps to live” - this slogan organized a meeting of representatives of the City Council of Lodz, including the deputy chairman Krzysztof Stasiak, councilors Joanna Kopcińska and Piotr Adamczyk with the youth of the St. Mary Magdalene Polish School no.10 in Lviv. This is the first arrival students from this school to Łódź. Students from the Public Inclusive Junior High School no. 47 in Lodz named after Janusz Korczak, who first hosted Ukrainian youth at their school, also took part in the meeting at the headquarters of the Łódź’s City Council. Councilor of the Lodz Region Iwona Koperska and former deputy mayor of Łódź Mr. W. Tomaszewski. Lviv has been a partner city of Łódź since 2003, and most students of this Lviv school have Polish roots.
Councilor Joanna Kopcińska briefly presented the principles of the functioning of the Polish local government and the history of the multicultural factory in Lodz; she mentioned 25 years of free democratic Poland and the conflict in Ukraine.
- I hope you will communicate in Lviv that you have friends here in Łódź - said councilor P. Adamczyk. The delegation from Lviv will spend two days in Lodz, then go to Germany, where students will present an artistic program to their peers from the music school. In Łódź, they will visit Wytwórnia Music Club, Radio Łódź, EC-1, Manufaktura, and Łódź’s Archcathedral.

Embroidered paintings, photos and even dolls or bedding inspired by folklore - such works of young people fascinated by tradition and folk could be admired at Galeria 86, at the Promotion Office of the City of Łódź at 86 Piotrkowska St. The Exhibition of Golden Boats of Fine Arts accompanied the Folk Inspirations festival.

At the opening, there were also guests from Ukraine - the Fashion Theater Group from Krivoj Rog. Its members cultivate national traditions by mixing interest in fashion and music - they design the costumes in which they later appear, drawing inspiration from folk traditions.

Several dozen youth bands from 13 countries who came to Łódź at the invitation of the Julian Tuwim Youth Palace in Łódź and the CONVIVO Foundation for the Promotion and Support of Creativity.

The ceremonial inauguration of the event took place on Friday, 17 October at 20.30 on Piotrkowska Street in the Schiller Passage. The FOLK, LIGHT AND SOUND - INAUGURATION concert, was both a musical and a visual experience - it was accompanied by a light laser show.

Festival programme is available on the website: http://www.folkoweinspiracje.pl/

The conference was focused on the topic of the Eastern Partnership initiative, and its main goal was
to exchange good practices of cooperation between Polish municipalities and partners from the territorial administration of the Eastern Neighborhood countries of the European Union. The conference was attended by representatives of Lviv.

The representatives of the Łódź University of Technology took part in the 2^nd Festival
of Polish Partners of Lviv. In addition to the visit of the university authorities, establishing contacts with the city authorities of Lviv, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv, the university presented its educational offer and information about Lodz at a promotional stall on the Main Square. Moreover, on 15 September at 22.00, as part of the “ART-NASTUP” artistic project, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv hosted a concert of the Łódź Dance Theater “Physics Laboratory” with SZAZA participation. “Events – improvisation”.

The 2^nd Festival of the contemporary Polish cinema – was graced by the performance of “Apertus Quartet” group. The repertoire includes a selection of works by Łódź’s composers for films created by filmmakers from Łódź as well as those produced in Łódź.

The participation of the quartet from Łódź in the festival was the result of a successful presentation of Łódź during the 1st Festival of Polish Partners of Lviv.

https://youtu.be/xu7EjO_0Sjo

Representatives of Łódź took part in the Festival of Polish Partners of Lviv organized by the Polish Consulate in Lviv and Lviv City Hall. At the Old Market Square in Lviv, Łódź presented itself with publications promoting tourist attractions of the city and voivodships, Łódź’s universities, events and cultural institutions. “Apertus Quartet” the music group from Łódź, composed of musicians of the Łódź Philharmonic appeared on the music festival stage: Joanna Łuczak - violin, Marta Kalińska - violin, Joanna Krysińska-Gwarda - viola, Maria Katarzyna Filipiak - cello with film music repertoire from Łódź film productions such well-known titles as “Promised Land”, “VaBank”, “Teddy Floppy Ear” and others. The festival was also an opportunity to meet with the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Lviv Jarosław Drozd and Oleg Synuytka – the first deputy mayor of Lviv. Elżbieta Królikowska-Kińska, the vice-chairman of the City Council, officially representing the city, emphasized the need for greater recognition of the possibility of implementing joint Polish-Ukrainian projects with the financial participation of the European Union – with the involvement of schools, the business community, youth and artists.

A two-day workshop for partner cities in Łódź was held at the Committee of the Regions headquarters in Brussels. Delegations from Odessa, Lviv, Kaliningrad and Ivanov took part in the workshops. The delegates took part in seminars on the idea of the activities of individual European institutions and the possibilities of obtaining funding for EU initiatives. Representatives of the partner cities also met with the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium, Igor Dolhov, the Ambassador of Poland to the Kingdom of Belgium, Sławomir Czarlewski and Minister Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, a member of the Euronest Eastern Partnership Parliamentary Assembly in the European Parliament. At the end of the visit, the guests participated in the Lodz Club, a meeting of Lodz citizens working in European institutions in Brussels.

Presentation of the City of Lviv (Presentation>>>)

Participants: 4 groups from Ukraine; group from Russia; group from Lithuania; group from Turkey; group from Serbia; 2 groups from Poland.

Programme:
02.11.2011- around 18.00 arrival and accommodation in families
03.11.2011 - guided tour of Lviv. Parade with the laying of flowers
04.11.2011 - Concert. Tram ride along the streets of Lviv. Entrance to the Aquapark. Free time in the shopping center.
05.11.2011 - Guided tour - castle routes. Concert at the Culture Center
06.11.2011 - Closing of the festival at the Dramatic Theater. Farewell and departure

A group of 6 dancers participated in the 3rd International Dance Festival in Łódź, at the invitation of the City of Łódź Office, organized by the Impresario Agency IGO-ART and City of Łódź Office.

Within the framework of the educational project between Łódź and Lviv, the youth of the 4^th High School in Łódź visited Lviv again.

 Football tournament for the mayor cup was organised in Łódź.

Participation of Lviv’s delegation in the 15^th International “At the Crossroads of Cultures” Fair in Łódź.

A group of 16 young people from the Ivan Franko Junior High School of the Lviv State University participated in the Scientific and Cultural Session entitled “Portraits of Juliusz Slowacki” organized at the 4^th  High School in Łódź.

Director of the Museum of Victims of Communism in Lviv Taras Cholina and his wife participated in the solemn celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Liquidation of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto.

Youth teams from partner cities were invited to participate in the 3^rd International Review of Musical Theaters of People with Disabilities Łódź 2009, organized by the Society for Musical and Theater Activation of People with disabilities in cooperation with the City of Łódź Office. The group from Lviv took part as well.

Łódź supported Lviv in the fight against A/H1N1 virus. Pulse oximeters and infusion pumps were funded by Lodz. Support was also given to the city of Chernivtsi - the capital of the partner district for our province. With the approval of city councilors, 6 pulse oximeters and 18 infusion pumps were purchased from the city budget - for a total of over 56,000 Polish zlotys. The donated equipment is used to treat viral complications. The pumps are used to thoroughly transfer intravenous fluids, including antibiotics. In contrast, pulse oximeters help in the early detection of respiratory failure.

Łódź’s delegation of local government officials, journalists and entrepreneurs, headed by the mayor Jerzy Kropiwnicki, visited Lviv. The representatives of Łódź met with mayor of Lviv Mr. Syryk, deputies of the Lviv City Council and the Polish diaspora. The Łódź’s delegation also took part in an unusual Mass in the Lviv cathedral. It was led by Cardinal Marian Jaworski on the 15^th anniversary of the restoration of Catholic church structures in Ukraine. Delegation of Łódź also visited the Lychakiv Cemetery laid flowers on the Lviv Eaglets' monument.

Participation of the deputy mayor, Mr. Włodzimierz Tomaszewski in celebration of the 350^th anniversary of the vow of King John Cisimir in front of the altar of Our Lady of Grace in the Lviv Cathedral.

Participation of the chairman of the City Council, Mrs. Iwona Barosiak, Mr. Libera and the deputy mayor of Łódź, Mr. Marek Michalik in the 750^th anniversary of the establishment of the city of Lviv.

Participation of the "Woskresenje" Theater from Lviv in the 2^nd meeting of the Partner City Theaters. At the New Theater in Lodz, he presented the spectacle “Hiob” - a play written by Karol Wojtyla in 1940. (it was created under the influence of the experience of September 1939, it refers to the Old Testament in its content).

Participation of Lviv’s delegation in “At the Crossroads of Cultures” International Fair.

Official delegation of the City of Łódź Office in the Day of Lviv

Participation of Lviv’s delegation in International “At the Crossroads of Cultures” Fair

17-20.10.2004 - Promotional project aimed at organizing an economic mission to Lviv and presentations of cultural achievements: Polish Film Festival - Łódź Film School (realized in Łódź or realized by artists linked with Łódź), exhibition of Polish Film Posters, presentations of Łódź -related photography and an artistic group performance.

Participation of Lviv’s delegation in International “At the Crossroads of Cultures” Fair

27-28.11.2003 The visit of the mayor of Lodz, Mr. Jerzy Kropiwnicki in Lviv; signing the partnership cooperation agreement between Łódź and Lviv

Organization of the economic mission to Lviv on the initiative of the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Łódź

Participation of the delegation from Lviv in the “At the Crossroads of Cultures” International Fair

In 2001 the letter of intent was signed on the partnership cooperation. In addition, the City Council adopted a resolution on the signing of a partnership agreement between Łódź and Lviv. Economic missions and meetings were organized in cooperation with the Lviv Academy of Culture.

September 2001  - visit of the delegation from Lviv to Łódź.