The Market Square (Ukrainian: Площа Ринок, Ploscha Rynok) in Lviv, Ukraine is the city's main square.

A map of the Market Square

It was layed out in the 14th century, after king Casimir III of Poland granted the city Magdeburg law in 1356, rectangular in shape, 142 m by 129 m, with two mutually perpendicular streets coming out of every corner to the city walls and a town hall located in the middle.

The original Gothic surrounding of the Market Square was destroyed by a fire in 1527 and rebuilt in the style of the Renaissance. The 44 buildings standing around the square today represent architectural styles ranging from Renaissance to Modernism. The corners of the the square were in the late 18th century decorated by four fountains with Empire sculptures of Neptune, Diana, Adonis and Amphitrite.

A number of note worthy building stand along the square:

The Town Hall as seen from the High Castle

Town Hall edit

The classicist town hall, presently under № 1. Built in the years 1827-1853 after the previous building was destroyed under its collapsed tower. Rectangular in shape, takes up most of the Market Square. Its tower at 65 meters is the highest point in Lviv.

Eastern side edit

 
The eastern side of the Market Square, along with Dominican Church and the Valachian Church seen from the Town Hall

and the Valachian Church seen from the Town Hall]]

 
Eastern side of the Market Square starting with the Bandinelli Palace
 
Eastern side of the Market Square starting with the Lubomirski Palace
  • № 2 Bandinelli Palace, in the 17th century was owned by an Italian Robert Bandinelli who reorganized the first post office in Lviv. 16th century, rebuilt in the 18th century, Renaissance. Today used as a museum of mail.
  • № 3 Wilczków House, built by a local patrician family. 18th century, Roccoco
  • № 4 Black House. 16th century, Renaissance. Since 1927 used by the historical museum.
  • № 5 Łukasiewiczów House. 17th century, rebuilt in the 19th century. Used by the historical museum.
  • № 6 Royal House or Korntiak's House, built in 1580 by the wealthy Greek merchant Constantine Korntiak, later owned by the Sobieski familly and rebuilt by king John III Sobieski which earned it the nickname little Wawel. Used by the historical museum.
  • № 7 Szembekowski House,. 16th of 17th century.
  • № 8 Bernatowicz House, built by a family of Armenian merchants. 16th century, rebuilt in 1840.
  • № 9 Palace of the Latin archbishops. 14th century, rebuilt in 1634. In 1842 the bishop moved to a newly built residence, the then building served the seminary until 1845 and was sold of.
  • № 10 Lubomirski Palace, built by the voivode of Bratslav Stanisław Lubomirski according to a project by Jan de Witte by combining several existing buildings, in the years 1771-1821 used by the Austrians governors. In 1895 purchased by the Prosvita society. Presently used as a museum of ethnography.


South-Eastern corner edit

 
South-Eastern corner
  • Wojnarowskich house. 16th century, Renaissance and Baroque. Restored in 1998 presently holds a bank.


Southern side edit

 
Southern side of the Market Square with the Korntiak tower and the Church of Discalced Carmelites in the background
  • № 11, 19th century house.
  • № 12 Justglacowski House. 15th century combining two earlier houses, Renaissance, rebuilt in 1909 neo-Renaissance.
  • № 13 ?
  • № 14 Venetian or Massari House built in 1589 for the Venetian Consul Antonio Massari. The portal is decorated with St. Mark's Lion, a symbol of the Republic.
  • № 15 Mistrzymonwski House.
  • № 16 Mieszkowski House, 15th century, rebuilt during the 19th century