A delegation of journalists and tour operators from France visited the Lviv region. Among the participants was Benjamin Laurent from National Geographic, who is preparing a special report on the wooden churches of Lviv region.
To promote the tourism potential of the region internationally, the Department of Sports, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration organized a promotional tour for the guest. “Lviv region has a unique resource for the development of cultural tourism – wooden sacred architecture. It is very important that this heritage is being opened to the world by such authoritative publications. This allows us to popularize our region abroad and emphasize its place in the world cultural heritage,” said Director of the Department of Sports, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration Roman Khimiak.
As part of the promotional tour, the delegation visited a number of sacred sites selected by architect and local historian Ivan Shchurko: Church of the Holy Trinity (1780, village of Gamulec) – a monument currently under restoration. The guest was shown the process of restoring the temple, on the walls of which traces of bullets from the Polish-Ukrainian war in the early 20th century are still visible. Church of the Archangel Michael (village of Stara Skvarava) – one of the oldest or the oldest churches in the region. Research has shown that the sanctuary was built in 1508, making it a unique historical monument. Church of the Holy Trinity in Zhovkva (1720) – included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The church is famous for its five-tiered iconostasis with 50 icons by the masters of the Zhovkva painting school. Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (1502, village of Potelych) – also a UNESCO site. According to legend, Bohdan Khmelnytsky prayed here. The church impresses with 17th-century frescoes and the icon “Deesis” by icon painter Ivan Rutkovych.
“I looked at photos of wooden architecture before the trip, but seeing these churches live is a completely different impression. You have an extraordinary heritage. There are many churches in France, but they are nothing like your wooden monuments,” shared Benjamin Laurent.
In addition to sacred sites, the delegation also visited the Memorial to French Prisoners of War in Rava-Ruska, which is a symbol of historical ties between Ukraine and France.