Lviv

The city of Lviv has been known by multiple names. These include, amongst others: Ukrainian: Львів (Lʹviv) [ˈlʲwiu̯] ; Polish: Lwów [ˈlvuf] ; German: Lwiw [l(ə)ˈviːf] and Lemberg [ˈlɛmbɛʁk] ; Yiddish: לעמבעריק (Lemberik) [ˈlɛmbɛrɪk]; Russian: Львов (Lʹvov) [ˈlʲvof]; Belarusian: Львоў (Lʹvow) [ˈlʲvou̯]; Armenian: Լվով (Lvov) [ˈlvɔv] and Իլով (Ilov) [iˈlov]; Hungarian: Ilyvó [ˈijvoː], and Latin: Leopolis. The coat of arms, and the logo and banner of the Lviv City Council are the officially approved symbols of Lviv. The names or images of architectural and historical monuments are also considered symbols of the city. The city's modern coat of arms is based on that of a mid-14th-century seal. The modern seal depicts a stone gate with three towers, and in the opening of the gate walks a golden lion. …

Archaeologists have demonstrated that the Lviv area was settled by the fifth century, with the gord at Chernecha Hora-Voznesensk Street in Lychakivskyi District attributed to White Croats. The city of Lviv was founded in 1250 by King Daniel of Galicia in honour of his son Lev as Lvihorod which is consistent with names of other Ukrainian cities, such as Myrhorod, Sharhorod, Novhorod, Bilhorod, Horodyshche, and Horodok. Earlier there was a settlement in the form of a borough with a characteristic layout element—an elongated market square. Daniel's foundation of the stronghold was its next reconstruction after the Batu Khan invasion of 1240. Lviv was invaded by the Mongols in 1261. Various sources relate the events, which range from the destruction of the castle to a complete razing of the town. All sources agree that it was on the orders of the Mongol general Burundai. …

Lviv is on the edge of the Roztochia Upland, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) east of the Polish border and 160 km (99 mi) north of the eastern Carpathian Mountains. The average altitude of Lviv is 296 metres (971 feet) above sea level. Its highest point is the Vysokyi Zamok (High Castle), 409 meters (1,342 feet) above sea level. This castle 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 Poltva River. In the 13th century, the river was used to transport goods. In the early 20th century, the Poltva was covered over in areas where it flows through the city; the river flows directly beneath Lviv's central street, Liberty Avenue, and the Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. …