From Private to Public: The Evolution of Petrushevycha Square

At first, there was a park and a private estate here. Over time, the space became a crowded and noisy part of the city. Now it is one of the most important transport interchanges and a square that is confident in its name, but not sure of its purpose.

The purpose of a space is determined by time, architecture, and people. Throughout its history, the modern Petrushevycha Square has been a fairground and a theater, a place of military training and parades, a battlefield and a testing ground for various ideological competitions. People worked, built, studied, traveled, rested, created, and ultimately lived here. However, what is inspiring this square now and what it will be like in the future are open questions for today's Lviv residents and future residents.

This space is created by buildings of different eras, designed by people of different generations for residents of different national and social groups. During the walk, we will talk about those who lived here, who created this space and the surrounding neighborhoods, about those whose names were given to the square, and about what this area may become in the future.

To participate, please register here.

The walk is part of the European Heritage Days 2025 program.

In 1991, the Council of Europe launched European Heritage Days. Every year, about 50 countries that have joined the European Cultural Convention celebrate European Heritage Days. This tradition is intended to draw public attention to cultural heritage and its role in the development of modern society.

"Architectural heritage: windows to the past, doors to the future" will be the central theme of the European Heritage Days in 2025. It aims to draw attention to the artistic, technical and cultural value of architecture, which is an integral part of European identity. All European Heritage Days events are free of charge and are based on the initiative of people who care about the history of their city.

Credits

Cover Image: Former palace of culture named after Gagarin, Petrushevycha square, 1964 / Myhailo Cimerman Collection / Urban Media Archive of the Center for Urban History