As is true of Ukraine in many ways, now is the time to visit Lviv – before the whole world knows its wonders

“If a person came to Lviv without knowing which city they were in, after opening their eyes, they’d guess they were in Prague, Vienna, Paris or another great European city,” says Oleh Synyutka, governor of Lviv region. Indeed, the largest city in western Ukraine had its historic center listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1998 as an “outstanding example of the fusion of the architectural and artistic traditions of central and eastern Europe with those of Italy and Germany.”

It’s hardly surprising. Lviv has been at the center of a series of kingdoms, territories and states, as the fortunes of European history have ebbed and flowed around it. What remains today is something akin to a jewel box of assorted architectural gems, from the dominant market square to the vast array of churches and cathedrals including Orthodox, Armenian and even Greek Catholic. With an increasing number of direct flights from Germany to Lviv, now is the time to explore the city at its most authentic.