TOURISM IN THE LVIV REGION

The Lviv region is an ecologically clean area, not touched by the Chernobyl catastrophe.

The Carpathian Mountains, a part of which is located in the Lviv region, are unique natural complex. It is one of the ecologically cleanest places in Europe. Forests, mountain rivers and streams, picturesque mountain landscapes, springs of medicinal mineral water create favourable climate conditions for recreation and tourism.

The Lviv region is significant in Ukraine in the sphere of tourism and recreation. The total area of recreation landscapes forms 13% of the region territory.

The mountain relief gives good perspectives for development of summer and winter tourism, mountain skiing. Famous mountain-skiing centers are Slavske, Skole, Hrebeniv, Tukhlia, Rozluch, Dovhe, Tysovets. A plain landscape, especially pine and beech forests around Lviv, can also be interesting for tourists. In Maydan, Sambir, Zadvirya, Polianytsia, Roztochia there are national parks with rare animals. In the Lviv region there are 22 hunting forests (total area of 360,000 hectares). Strictly controlled hunting on wolves, hares, ducks, elks, deer, wild Uoars, roes, foxes is permitted.

The Lviv region is famous for its medicinal mineral waters with bio-active organic substances. Water of Truskavets spring "Naftussia" has a unique therapeutic effect. Now springs in Truskavets and Skhidnitsa are used only at 10%. Нуdrocarbonate-sulphate, calcium-sulphate and sodium-calcium waters are in Truskavets, Morshyn, Skhidnytsia. Well-known sulphate waters are in Liuben Velyky and Shklo. A big number of sanatorium, rest homes, health resorts, tourist bases are situated near these mineral springs.

Ruins of former fortifications and reconstructed castles in Olesko, Pidhirtsi, Urych, Svirzh, Zolochiv, Pomoriany as well as historical, cultural and architectural monuments of Lviv are very interesting for tourism.

The Lviv region has a good transport infrastructure (fuel and service stations, auto shops) with all necessary auto services for tourists' needs. Offering a great variety of tourist services, 77 tourist firms work in the region.

The development of the tourist business is based on a wide network of hotels, campings and rest homes. Most of them are in Lviv, Truskavets and in the Carpathian Mountains. In Lviv there are hotels offering a high level of services: "The Grand-Hotel", "The Dnister", "The Lion's Castle" and others. In Truskavets, hotels are linked in a sanatorium-hotel complex "Truskavetskurort", where medical treatment and examination can be received.

Hotels in the Carpathian Mountains are not big and filled mainly in summer and winter. Hotels in Lviv accept credit cards- After the privatization many private restaurants and cafes were opened in Lviv and other towns of the region, offering good and tasty food. There is a steady rise in the number of fast food restaurants, bars and campings in the region.

The complex of the tourism infrastructure and services of the Lviv region is developing very fast. All the year round it provides clients with high-quality services for tourism, rest, sport and relaxation.