Romance and Ruins: A Journey Through the Palaces of Rozdil.
A new tourist route has been established in Lviv region, encompassing the palaces, estates, and manors of Rozdillya. Some of these sites are in a state of disrepair, while others have been lost, yet they possess fascinating stories and romantic adventures from the past. ZAXID.NET highlights intriguing and lesser-known palaces in the Lviv region.
This tourist guide was developed by the "Palace of Rozdil" team as part of the "Rozdil Travels" project with an ambitious goal: to create an alternative route to the "Golden Horseshoe of Lviv region" featuring palaces.
“Even in their ruined state, these once-luxurious cultural heritage sites are visually stunning and belong to the category of 'picturesque ruins.' The areas surrounding the existing sites, which once formed cohesive palace and park complexes, are now examples of historical parks that captivate travelers,” the organizers of the route note.
The route includes more than 10 sites, among them:
Palace of Stanislav Mytselsky in Borynychy. The manor in this village dates back to the 16th century. In 1873, Stanislav Mytselsky expanded the palace into a two-story building with two towers featuring elements of Venetian Gothic. It contained 49 rooms, a hall, a large reception room, and cellars. The building was adorned with works of art, exquisite furniture, a collection of weapons, coins, and rare books, a large library, and a palace chapel. In 1914, the Russian army looted and burned the palace. During Soviet times, the ruins were dismantled, and a "collective farm yard" was established on the site.
5 Manor of Witold Stefanus in Chernitsa. The defensive courtyard was founded by the Ukrainian landowner Maciej Cherniowski in the 17th century. The ownership changed hands, with the last owner being engineer Witold Stefanus, who expanded the estate into a large manor complex. From 1935, a state agricultural school with Ukrainian as the language of instruction operated in the Chernitsa manor. In the 1990s, it was the filming location for one of the first Ukrainian series "Crime with Many Unknowns," based on the story by Ivan Franko.
Palace of Stanislav Skarbek in Zaklad. This neo-Gothic complex was built by the architect of the Zankovetska Theatre in Lviv, Stanislav Skarbek, based on his Austrian residence. It served as a charitable institution for orphans, the treatment of the poor, and a shelter for the elderly and infirm. Nearby, a chapel-tomb of Stanislav Skarbek has been preserved in the forest.
Palace of Yazvinsky in Bortnyky. The palace and park complex was constructed in the mid-19th century and later rebuilt according to the designs of Julian Zakharievich. After World War I, the building was restored, and the coat of arms "Leliwa" is still visible on the pediment.
Palace of Lubomirskys in Khodoriv. The estate was inherited by a Frenchman, General Karl de Vo, through marriage to Countess Lantskoronska. His palace was burned by Russian troops in 1915. In 1933, a new Art Deco palace was built by the descendants of General Lubomirskys. In the 20th century, it served as a hospital, and now the building is being adapted for housing displaced persons.
Palace in Livchytsi. There is no precise information about the owners and builders of the estate on the banks of the Berezhnitsa River. According to one version, the palace was rebuilt by the envoy of the Galician Sejm, Bronislaw Los, based on European hunting lodge designs and the project of Ukrainian architect Ivan Dolynsky. A park with a pond and rare imported trees and flowers was laid out around the estate.
0 Palace of Zhevuzhsky-Lantskoronsky in Rozdol. It was founded in the 17th century as a defensive courtyard by the Galician nobleman Maciej Cherniowski and later expanded by the Zhevuzhskys and Lantskoronskys. The palace was referred to as the "Ukrainian Louvre" due to its large collection of artworks. This palace has been the luckiest: it was purchased for private ownership and is gradually being restored.
Overall, Rozdol is developing its hospitality sector. The revitalized facility "Old School" operates as a hostel, café, and tourism center.
An additional highlight on the route will be the monastery and temple in Hnizdychiv – an example of neo-Gothic architecture. In the summer, one can search for the ruins of the Abrahamevich estate in the forests of Krasiv or take a quest through the city of Derzhiv in search of the Kshyshton estate.
Nearby locations in the Stryi region include the estate of Brunitsky in Pidhirtsi, the palace of Hrydli in Skole, and the fortress of Tustan in Urych.
Photos from the "Rozdil Travels" project