St. Andrew's Church and Bernardine Monastery

One of the most famous landmarks in Lviv is the Bernardine Monastery and the Church of St. Andrew. These buildings are part of the city’s defensive complex, which once withstood more than one siege of Lviv.

Photo from the website lviv.travel

The first mentions of the Bernardine Monastery date back to the 15th century. At first, a wooden church was built, which is mentioned in historical records in 1460. Later, construction of the complex itself began.

Interesting facts:

• The monastery burned down twice: in 1464 and in 1509.
• The monastery, which was built to the design of Pavlo Romianyn in 1630, was intended to serve a defensive function.
• The monastery was a refuge for Chechens. In the 16th century, there were about 70 people here.
• Today, documents dating from the 12th century are kept in the monastery archives.
• The Bernardine Monastery is 57,5 m long and 22 m high. In size, it is similar to a nine-storey building, which makes it the largest among Lviv’s church buildings.
• The clock on the church tower is always 5 minutes fast. This is explained by the fact that when the Turks were advancing, one monk spotted them from the tower. He deliberately moved the clock hands forward so that the city gates would be closed earlier, which saved the city’s residents.

Tip:

When visiting the Bernardine Church, it is worth going down to the basement, where the Museum of Ideas is located.