Travels Along the Edge:
40 Ultimate Adventures for the Modern Nomad
From Crossing the Sahara to Bicycling Through Vietnam
by David Noland

Lviv is a major city in western Ukraine. In 1772, following the First Partition of Poland, the city, known in German as Lemberg, became the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. After Poland was reconstituted following World War I, Lviv was the centre of ethnic-political controversy and tension between nationalistic Austro-Germans, Poles, Jews, and Ukranians, and was returned to the newly resurrected Poland.

After World War II Poland's borders were relocated generally towards the west and the city fell to the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the U.S.S.R. it became part of the newly independent Ukraine—for which it currently serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast, and designated as its own district within that oblast.

It is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine. The city has many industries and institutions of higher education such as Lviv University and the Lviv Polytechnic. It has a philharmonic orchestra and The Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The historic city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lviv celebrated its 750th anniversary with a son et lumière in the city centre in September 2006.

Lviv is on the edge of the Roztochia Upland, about 70 km from the Polish border and about 160 km (100 miles) from the eastern Carpathian Mountains. The average altitude of Lviv is 296 m above sea level, although it has many hills. Its highest point is the Vysokyi Zamok (High Castle), 409 m above sea level. This has a commanding view of the historic city centre with its distinctive green-domed churches and intricate architecture.

The old walled city was at the foothills of the High Castle on the banks of the river Poltva. In the 13th century, the river was used to transport goods. In the early 20th century, it was covered over in areas where it flows through the city. The river flows directly beneath the central street of Lviv, Freedom Avenue (Prospect Svobody) and the famous Opera House.

Lviv's climate is moderate continental. The average temperatures are -4°C (27°F) in January and +18°C (65 °F) in June. Average annual rainfall is 660 mm (26 inches), with a notable deficit in summer. Cloud coverage averages 66 days per year.

Lviv has a modest international airport with connections to Warsaw, Toronto, Manchester, Frankfurt, Moscow, and several other airports in the former USSR. At the airport, which is several kilometers away from the city. Lviv is very well connected with Kiev and other cities by railway. Buses connect Lviv with surrounding countries but are invariably uncomfortable for longer trips.

Lviv’s remarkable Itailian influenced architecture has not suffered from calamities of the Soviet Era and the central part of the city has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

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