Formation of the Street
Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street in Lviv is one of the city’s oldest and most important thoroughfares, with a history that predates the official founding of Lviv. Originally, it formed part of the Volyn Route, which connected Halych with Volodymyr and served as a key trade artery in the region.
In the 13th century, the street became the boundary between the newly established city center (Sredmistia) and the earlier urban area of Pidzamche. It began at Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl Square, which is believed to have been the site of Lviv’s earliest marketplace.
Over time, the street underwent several name changes. In the 18th century, when Galicia became part of the Austrian Empire, it was named Zhovkivska Street because it led to the town of Zhovkva. In 1936, it was renamed after Crown Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski. Its current name, in honor of Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, was adopted in December 1944.
Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street played a key role in Lviv’s industrial development. As early as the time of Prince Danylo of Halych, many craftsmen lived here. In the Middle Ages, it was part of the Krakivske suburb, inhabited mostly by the poor. Later, a significant Jewish population settled in the area, contributing to the growth of trade and crafts.
The street is home to several important historical landmarks, including:
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The Church of St. Nicholas (No. 28) — the oldest surviving church in Lviv.
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The Monastery and Church of St. Onuphrius (No. 36) — the burial site of Ivan Fedorov, the first printer in Eastern Europe.
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The Church of Paraskeva Pyatnytsia (No. 63) — built in 1644 with funding from Moldavian ruler Vasile Lupu.
Today, Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street remains an important transport artery, connecting Lviv’s historic center with its northern districts and preserving its rich historical and cultural legacy.
Architects and Style
The Schulz Villa is a true hallmark of the Pidzamche district. This elegant residence, built by the architects Jan and Karol Schulz for their own use, remains nearly intact at 56 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, near the Pidzamche railway station. The building is designed in the Neo-Renaissance style with elements of Mannerism.
Who Owned It?
The home of Jan and Karol Schulz was constructed in 1896 on what was then Zhovkivska Street. The façade once featured frescoes, colorful majolica, portrait medallions, and an inscription beneath a second-floor window, written in Gothic script and Polish, reading: “Jan and Karol Schulz, architects and owners, built this house for personal use.”
What Does the House Look Like?
The corridor is adorned with wooden panels, carved stair railings and balusters, and a ceiling decorated with intricate carved patterns. The stained-glass windows were produced by the Zelensky firm, while the ironwork for the staircase was crafted by Jan Daszek’s workshop.
The façade features exquisite late 19th-century majolica, likely manufactured at Ivan Levynskyi’s factory. The architects’ initials — I.S. and K.S. — are stylized as Scandinavian runes on the facade’s consoles. A Japanese-style garden once adorned the front of the house.
Interesting Facts
The Schulz brothers were of German descent. Jan (Johannes) Schulz was the architect of many tenement houses, villas, and palaces in Lviv. He is often credited as one of the first to introduce Art Nouveau (Secession) architecture in the city, although most of his works were in Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, and picturesque styles. Karol Schulz typically collaborated with his brother.
Some of Jan Schulz’s most notable projects include:
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The Glombinska Villa at 48 Drahomanova Street (1901)
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The residential building with the “Under the Golden Star” pharmacy at 1 Kopernyka Street (1892)
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The tenement house at 10 Shevchenka Street with St. Anne’s bathhouse in the courtyard (1888–1894)
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Tenement houses at 21 and 25 Shevchenka Street (early 20th century)
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The Military Casino at 1 Fredra Street
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The Dombchanska Villa on Tsytadelna Street (1888)
In addition, the Schulz brothers remodeled the Biesiadecki Palace at 10 Halytska Square in Lviv and a palace in Velykyi Liubin in 1885. In 1914, Jan Schulz designed the renovation project for the Galician Merchant Bank building at 11 Valova Street (the “House with Knights”) and designed the chapel over the crypt of Józef Baczewski at Lychakiv Cemetery.
What’s There Now?
In 1935, the building was purchased by Józef and Regina Katz. During the Soviet period, it was divided into apartments. The condition of the interior is unknown today. Some of the painted decorations, resembling stucco, and parts of the façade’s ornamentation have been lost. The tiled roof features a small, elegant turret. In 2014, the main gate was restored as part of the “Revitalization of Pidzamche” project.
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Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. 13th–21st Centuries / M. Bevz, Yu. Biryulov, Yu. Bohdanova, V. Didyk, U. Ivanochko, T. Klymeniuk et al. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008. — 720 pages. — ISBN 978-966-7022-77-8.
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Encyclopedia of Lviv: in 4 volumes / Edited by A. Kozytskyi. — Lviv: Litopys, 2007–2010.
– Vol. 1–3 (especially Vol. 2: D–Y and Vol. 3: K). -
1243 Streets of Lviv (1939–2009) / Ilko Lemko, Volodymyr Mykhalyk, Hryhorii Behliarov. — Lviv: Apriori, 2009. — pp. 105–107, 325–327.
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Lemko, I. “Bohdana Khmelnytskoho: The History of a Lviv Street” // Zaxid.net, 2020.
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Melnyk, I. Lviv: Streets and Buildings. A Guidebook. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2009