Staryi Sambir

Being in Sambir I learnt that when there was tatar-mongol invasion, people who settled here gave this name in memory of a town burnt down by enemy. The first Sambir was on fire and arose from ashes a few times, becoming Staryi Sambir. And this is not surprising as it was founded in 11th century. What kind of life is Staryi Sambir living now at the threshold of it’s millennium?

And here I am in the ancient provincial town, which is included to the State list of historical localities of Ukraine, go along the main street, named after the king of Rus Lev Galitskiy, whose residence was here in the 13th century.

Suddenly thunderclouds appeared and this disappointed me a bit. I carry umbrella in sunny days, and as soon as I put it off the bag I always get overtaken with rain. I had to drop in some shop and buy another umbrella. But I wrapped it up in a couple of minutes, because it stopped raining as fast as it begun.

City immediately drew attention with differently colored facades.

I so like when dates of construction are noted on the buildings! It’s seen at once (and a nameplate shows it) that this one was built in 1914 and had been a children haven until 1946.

There are playground and park sculpture of a gone epoch in the small park.

Another garden with curious benches and fences.


Youth of Staryi Sambir studies at this college.


Saint Nikolas Church was built in 1832, but founded over 700 years ago. Stained-glass windows and mosaics with Bible stories adorn the walls.



Orthodox and Greek-Catholic community do their worships in turn. Warden Yevgen was preparing to service, was very gentle and allowed me to take pictures inside the temple.


Yevgen told about the holy and the memorial sign, which is located on this territory. While building the temple they discovered remains of ancient tombs. What they are nobody will say. Staryi Sambir couldn’t escape wars, rebellions and epidemics. The marble slab is set up in memory of the fallen fellowmen.

The old wood church was disassembled and a chapel was created instead.

There are two chapels at the entrance to cemetery, one of them is private.


Climbing higher along the road, I looked back to admire a view across river Dniester.




I happened to find out a cemetery chapel, which was built in 1907. It is renovated, and there is a sign on polish language.







This day a memorial service was for the perished defenders of Ukraine. Military and other people flocked to the memorial for the soldiers of the UPA, which is located at the end of the cemetery.




Coming down from the mountain, I could enjoy again the vast expanses of Carpathian but I was in a hurry to the historic town center.




It was silent and deserted on the square Rynok. But in the Middle Ages there were noisy fairs, because Staryi Sambir was a shopping center. It’s pity that the oldest town hall in Ukraine has not preserved because of war years.




The town pooches have siesta on the new paving tiles. But recently the area has been paved with stones from river rocks.




The architectural dominant of the square is the church, built in 1890 on the place of its predecessors. Yet the town was a religious center. Now the sanctuary is tightly squeezed by other buildings. The church was closed and a little forsaken to my opinion.

Unfortunately, museum Boikivshchyna was also closed. It seems one should call in advance and notify about the visit.







Treasury had a representative appearance.


The rare in Ukraine fachwerk design was used in the construction of the building.







Another green area with a monument to Taras Shevchenko is named in honor of our national poet.

Knowing that there was half-ruined synagogue, I went to look for this religious object. This is one of the few religious buildings that were not destroyed during World War II. But now a synagogue is in oblivion. Built in the late 19th century, it, as it’s said, is a silent witness of the tragic events and the history of the Jewish people.


Cinema named after T. Shevchenko was built in 1953 on the place of the Town Hall, which was burnt down in the early 20th century. It looked like some kind of fortification. I do not know how it is used now, but the overgrown grass in front of porch is not trampled.

I regretted once again that I didn’t manage to get to the museum, where I could learn the details of local history.


Then I went to another part of the town, taking photo of the school and the People’s House.




I passed the bridge over the Dniester, which originates in these parts, and still only gaining strength, without big rapids and whirlpools. But I couldn’t satisfy myself looking at even this not very deep river.


The small church is hidden between buildings. It was closed. Or maybe such a day befell to me that all the doors were closed?


I took a photo of the well near the church for collection.



On the way back I stopped at the railway station built in 1904. This is two-storey brick building, which roof had a pointed pediment decorated with elements of the baroque. Such stations can often be seen in the Carpathians, where the railroad was built in the late 19th — early 20th century. The passenger traffic is low due to lack of long-distance trains. You can go by train at Lviv direction or in Solotvyno of Zakarpattia region from here.

It seems I’ve seen everything here, but I didn’t succeed to visit all. I liked the town, clean and calm, and I share experiences with you.