Lviv

Lviv is a city in western Ukraine that was residence of princes and kings of the Kingdom of Ruthenia, capital of the Ruthenian Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland, the Habsburg Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, and later of West Ukrainian People's Republic. Then, centre of Lwów Voivodeship during the Second Polish Republic, Lviv Oblast of Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and after 1991 Ukraine Centre of the historical region of Galicia, Lviv is now regarded as one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine. The historical heart of Lviv with its old buildings and cobblestone streets has survived Soviet and Nazi occupation during World War II largely unscathed. The city has many industries and institutions of higher education such as Lviv University and Lviv Polytechnic. Lviv is also a home to many world-class cultural institutions, including a philharmonic orchestra and the famous 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.