Halytska Square (early 1960s)

Halytska (“Galician”) Square is situated in Lviv's Halytskyi district, between Valova St. and Mariiska and Soborna Squares. The square in front of the Halytska (“Galician”) Gate dates back to the thirteenth century. Roads to Halych, Hlyniany and to the Carpathian ravines and salt mines began here. Before the gate was an empty square, where craftsmen settled and guesthouses functioned. This was known as Pid Storozheyu/Pod Strażą (“Under the Guard”). The square acquired its present-day appearance in the late eighteenth century, when demolition of medieval city fortifications began. The square owes its name to the Galician Gate, which stood at the intersection of today's Halytska and Brativ Rohatyntsiv streets. Until 1892 the square was the site of the Halytskyi Market, which was later moved to the territory of the garden behind the Bielski and Komorowski palazzo. Arnold Röhring, park architect of Lviv (officially Lemberg at the time), laid a green area on the site of the former market in 1893. In 1880 horse-drawn tram tracks were laid through Halytska Square, leading to Mytna Square. In 1894, electric trolleys began running through the square, along with the horse-drawn cars. The electric trolleys took a turn in Batorego St. (now Kniazia Romana), and continued to the Galician County Fair. In 1909 an electric trolley began running through Halytska and Bernardynska squares.