Lviv

If Ukraine has a city that can naturally bear the title of “Gateway to the West” it is certainly Lviv – not only due to its physical proximity to neighboring countries of the European Union (it’s only about 70 kilometers from the border with Poland) but also because it was part of the Austrian Hapsburg Empire from 1772 to 1918. Lviv also spent several centuries under Polish rule.

These Western influences have left an indelible mark on Lviv’s architecture, culture and cuisine. The central “old town” part of the city is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and nearly every weekend a festival is held here. Nestled among and within these historic buildings are dozens of delightful cafes and restaurants.

Yuriy Kulchytsky, a native son of the Lviv region, is considered by many to be the progenitor of Viennese coffee culture, establishing the first coffeehouse in that city in 1683. Today Lviv is a leading center of higher education and of Ukraine’s IT industry.