monasteryUNESCO World Heritage⭐ 4.9 (419 reviews)

Bernardine Church and Monastery

17th century fortified monastery with unique fortifications

📍 Lviv, Lviv•🏛️ 1600-1630

About This Site

The Bernardine Church and Monastery in Lviv is a unique fortified complex from the 17th century. Built in Italian-Dutch Mannerist style, today it belongs to the UGCC.

The Bernardine church and monastery is located in Lviv's Old Town, south of the market square. Designed by Paolo Dominici, it is a unique architectural monument with its own fortification system. The Franciscan Observantists, known in the region as Bernardines after their monastery in Kraków, were invited to Lviv by Andrzej Odrowąż in 1460. In 1509 the monastery was plundered by the Moldovan hospodar Bogdan III. In the 17th century the present day church and monastery were constructed in the style of Italian mannerism and consecrated in 1630, after 30 years of construction. As the complex was located outside Lviv's city walls it was equipped with its own fortifications from the east and south, mostly taken apart at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1733 a square belfry was added to the complex and in 1736 a monument to Saint John of Dukla, who died in the monastery in 1484, was built in front of the church. The interior was refurbished in the Baroque style in the years 1738–1740. The church managed to avoid being closed by the Austrian emperor Joseph II, although part of the monastery was taken over for the city archive. After the Second World War the church was closed by the Soviets and fell into disuse until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since 1991 the complex is under the care of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Basilian Order and has undergone thorough renovation.

Historical Significance

The Bernardines were invited to Lviv by Andrzej Odrowąż in 1460. In 1509 the monastery was plundered by Moldovan hospodar Bogdan III. In the 17th century the present day church and monastery were constructed in the style of Italian mannerism and consecrated in 1630, after 30 years of construction. The complex was equipped with its own fortifications from the east and south. In 1733 a square belfry was added, and in 1736 a monument to Saint John of Dukla was built in front of the church. The interior was refurbished in Baroque style in 1738-1740. The church avoided closure by Emperor Joseph II. After World War II it was closed by the Soviets. Since 1991 it belongs to the UGCC.

The Bernardine Church and Monastery is a unique monument of Lviv's defensive architecture. Unlike most other churches and monasteries, this complex has its own system of fortifications due to its location outside the city walls. It is the only fortress-monastery in Lviv that has preserved part of its defensive structures.