This 1984 Soviet double-view postcard showcases two prominent historical landmarks of Lviv: the square in front of the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre and the fortification complex of the Hlyniany Gate.
What is shown on the postcard
The left side of the postcard depicts the square in front of the Ivan Franko Lviv State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. In the center of the square, a monument to V. I. Lenin stands on a granite pedestal, surrounded by a flowerbed. In the background, the theater’s facade with allegorical sculptures is visible, along with a passing LAZ bus. The right side of the postcard features the Hlyniany Gate—a fortification structure of the Bernardine Monastery with a wall, a wooden roof, and the tower of St. Andrew’s Church in the background.
Historical note
The Lviv Opera House was constructed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, designed by architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski. The Lenin monument in front of the theater was unveiled in 1952. The Hlyniany Gate, shown on the right, is the best-preserved segment of medieval Lviv’s defensive walls, constructed in the early 17th century in the Mannerist style.
Present day
In September 1990, the Lenin monument in front of the theater was dismantled, and the square was renamed to its historical designation, Svobody Avenue. Today, the Opera House is named after Solomiya Krushelnytska. The defensive complex of the Hlyniany Gate and the Bernardine Monastery have been restored and remain popular tourist sites in the historical center of Lviv.
Location (map)
Address: 28 Svobody Avenue, Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, USSR
Coordinates: 49.843900, 24.026400
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Lviv Opera House on Svobody Avenue (former Lenin Square).
Questions and answers
- Which monument is shown in front of the Opera House on the 1984 postcard? The monument in front of the Opera House depicts V. I. Lenin; it was erected in 1952 and dismantled in September 1990.
- What defensive structure is depicted on the right side of the postcard? The right side shows the Hlyniany Gate, a fortification structure from the early 17th century that is part of the Bernardine Monastery’s defensive complex.
- What is the current name of the square where the Opera House stands? The square in front of the theater, known as Lenin Square during the Soviet period, is now part of Svobody Avenue.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Lviv from 1984.
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