State Historical and Cultural Reserve Knyazhy Belz

The small town of Belz in the Lviv region is one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It was the capital of an appanage princedom, then the administrative center of the province of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. And the first mention of him is found in The Tale of Bygone Years.

The small town of Belz in the Lviv region is one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It was the capital of an appanage princedom, then the administrative center of the province of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. And the first mention of him is found in The Tale of Bygone Years.

The town has a rich history, after all, its origin dates back to the 10th-11th centuries. By the decision of the government, in 2001 the historical and cultural reserve "Knyazhy Belz" was established here.

The reserve includes four zones: thetract "Zamochek" - the former prince's city; a city center with architectural monuments of the 17th century; Christian cemetery with the wooden church of St. Paraskeva from the 16th to 18th centuries; Jewish cemetery of 17-20 centuries and ruins of the defensive shaft.

The oldest surviving monument of Belz is the hexagonal Arian tower of 1606. Historians are arguing: perhaps it was a chapel, and perhaps a city arsenal.

In the reserve is worth seeing the complex of the monastery of the sisters of the Dominican 17-18 centuries with a baroque church and a complex of the monastery of the Dominican fathers, dating from the same time. From an earlier period on the territory of the monastery, the ruins of the church, dating back to the 16th century, have been preserved. But the cells of the Dominican monastery are beautifully restored, and now the town hall of Belz is located here. In the halls of the town hall the historical and regional museum of the reserve "Knyazhy Belz" is opened, where archaeological finds are kept.

One of the most beautiful and notable buildings of the town and reserve is the Church of the Blessed Virgin,now the church of St. Nicholas.

From Lvov to Belz goes a shuttle Lviv - Varjazh. Belz itself organizes sightseeing tours in the historical places of the Ugnov - Belz - Varangian.