Attractions of Ivano-Frankivsk

Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Museum of the Liberation Struggle named after Stepan Bandera is housed in a two-storey Art Nouveau building near the city center.

The museum presents documents and material covering the period from XI to XX centuries. and which tell about the struggle of the inhabitants of Prykarpattya for the independence of Ukraine. In particular, there are documents that cover the struggle against the Soviet regime of the Legion of Sich Riflemen, the Ukrainian People's Republic, the Western Ukrainian People's Republic, the OUN and the insurgent army.

The exposition dedicated to political prisoners is represented by a map of the Gulag camps and household items of prisoners.

A memorial complex "Demyaniv Laz" was built on the site of the execution of the victims of Stalin's terror.

Branches of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Museum of the Liberation Struggle named after Stepan Bandera are also the Historical and Memorial Museum of Stepan Bandera in Stary Ughryniv, the Museum of Liberation Struggle of Prykapattya in Kosiv, and the Museum "Roman Shukhevych Underground Headquarters" in Kniahynychi.

The historical and memorial museum of Oleksa Dovbush in Ivano-Frankivsk was created in 1995 on the basis of the private collection of the famous historian Volodymyr Hrabovetsky, who for 50 years studied the Carpathian insurgent movement of opryshki of the 16th–19th centuries and the life of the legendary hero Oleksa Dovbush, a noble robber and people's avenger, who fought for the liberation of the enslaved peasantry.

The small museum exposition consists mainly of documents and paintings, as well as some ethnographic materials.

The most interesting exhibit is the legendary ax of Dovbush, which was kept for two centuries by the descendants of witnesses to the death of the robber in the village of Kosmach.

The Prykarpattya Literary Museum was opened in 1986 for the 130th anniversary of the birth of the writer Ivan Franko.

The museum is located in a one-story town house of the end of the 19th century.

After the renovation in 2006, the museum exposition tells about all the main stages of the development of the literary process in the region starting from the 12th century. In particular, a copy of a page of the Galician Gospel of 1144, a reprint of the Galician-Volyn Chronicle, materials about the first Carpathian printing presses in Stratyn and Krylos are presented.

In total, the museum's funds include more than 40,000 exhibits. The most valuable among them are Lviv old prints of the 17th century: "Triodion" from 1664 and "Apostol" from 1684.

A prominent place in the exposition is occupied by a section devoted to the stay of Ivan Franko in Prykarpattya, illustrated with an electrified literary map.

The exposition presents manuscripts and lifetime editions of the works of Ivan Franko, Bohdan Lepky, Vasyl Stefanyk, Les Martovych, Mark Cheremshyna, Nataliya Kobrynska, Mykhaylo Yatskiv, Olha Duchyminska and other writers.

The museum also highlights the development of the literary process of Prykarpattya in the 20s and 30s of the 20th century, the work of writers of the OUN-UPA, the activities of the Stanislaviv Literary Association and the regional organization of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine.

The Prykarpattya Literary Museum is a branch of the Ivano-Frankivsk Museum of Local Lore.

Stanislaviv Brewery in Ivano-Frankivsk is one of the oldest industrial breweries in Ukraine.

Opened in 1767 by representatives of the Potocki family. In 1905, entrepreneur Peter Zedelmayer bought the plant, setting up beer production under the trade mark Browar Parowy Sedelmajera. Every year, the brewery produced 12,000 buckets of beer. The Zedelmayer family owned the Stanislaviv Brewery before the Second World War.

The plant also worked in Soviet times, but it was closed in 1997. Currently, the historical building of the brewing shop has been reconstructed, and a fast food restaurant has opened in it.

Residents of Ivano-Frankivsk call the pedestrian part of Nezalezhnosti Street, from Vicheva Square to Ivan Franko Street, "Stometrivka" ("One-hundred meter) or simply "Sotka".

Its real length is about half a kilometer. In the 16th century, it was called the Tysmenytsia road, as it connected Stanislaviv (former name Ivano-Frankivsk) with Tysmenytsia. In 1869, it was renamed Sapezhynska in honor of Leon Sapeha. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was the main and busiest street of the city. The most expensive houses were built here, the best hotels and shops were opened.

Now it is the most popular walking area of the city. There are many street cafes and restaurants, bookstores and boutiques. Every year, new forged sculptures appear on "Stometrivka" and nearby streets, which are opened during the "Feast of Blacksmiths" festival.

The Reform Synagogue Tempel was built in Ivano-Frankivsk on the initiative of members of the "Public Progress" society.

The first stone was laid in 1895, the construction lasted four years under the direction of the architect Vilhelm Shtyasny. The building is made in the Moorish style with elements of the Renaissance. At first, there were four towers decorated with stars of David at the corners.

During the two world wars, the building was damaged, but was restored. In the 1990s, part of the premises was returned to the city's Jewish community.

Nearby, in 2003, a monument was erected at the place of execution of 27 Ukrainian patriots, members of the OUN, shot by the Germans in 1943.

Tarasa Shevchenko Park of Culture and Recreation in Ivano-Frankivsk was opened in 1946 on the territory of Baron Romashkan's estate.

Around the estate, on an area of 22 hectares, there was a forest in which the Potocki once liked to hunt. At the end of the 19th century, the territory began to be cultivated, alleys were laid, and later a number of cascading ponds were dug. During Soviet times, the territory was redeveloped several times. A small bust of Shevchenko was installed here, which is still the only monument to Kobzar in Ivano-Frankivsk.

Two ponds have been preserved. On one of them, called "Swan Lake", an island has been created with a house for swans and ducks (local residents come to feed them on weekends).

There is also an amusement park here.

In 2010, the "Stone of Love" brought from Cana, a small town in Galilee, where Jesus blessed the newlyweds, was installed on the day of the city. According to legend, this place is considered lucky for lovers: here they make dates, declare their love and take pictures on their wedding day.

The constructivist building of the town hall on Rynok Square is the most famous symbol of Ivano-Frankivsk. At the time of construction in 1932, it was the tallest building in the city (49.5 m).

The first wooden town hall on this site was built shortly after the founding of the city in the XVII century, but then it was repeatedly rebuilt. The most interesting from an architectural point of view was the town hall of Austrian times, which existed in 1871-1915.

In its current form, the town hall was built in the interwar period. Monolithic reinforced concrete walls could not be blown up by the German occupiers before the retreat in 1944.

In April 1990, the national Ukrainian flag was raised for the first time over the building of Ivano-Frankivsk Town Hall.

The building houses several exhibits of the Museum of Local Lore: nature, history, folk art, archeology. There are rich collections of weapons and books, as well as antique furniture. In total – 120 thousand subjects. An interesting exhibit is a model of the old Stanislaviv of the Potocki era.

Branches of the Ivano-Frankivsk Museum of Local Lore are the Prykarpattya Literary Museum in Ivano-Frankivsk, the Hutsulshchyna Historical and Local Lore Museum in Verkhovyna, the Ivan Franko Literary Memorial Museum in Kryvorivnia, the Mykhaylo Hrushevsky Historical and Local Lore Museum Museum in Kryvorivnia, and the Khata-Grazhda Museum in Kryvorivnia, the Les Martovych Literary Memorial Museum in Torhovytsia, the  Oleksa Dovbush Historical and Local Lore Museum in Pechenizhyn.

Numismatist meetings are held in the lobby every Sunday.

Aquapark "Tsunami" in Ivano-Frankivsk is considered one of the largest in Ukraine.

Its area is 6 thousand square meters. It can accommodate up to 500 people at a time.

In total, there are 6 swimming pools and 12 slides in the "Tsunami" water park, as well as a jacuzzi, solarium, sauna, massage room, fitness center. One of the pools with a depth of 12.5 meters is intended for diving. From the central indoor pool, you can swim outside to a 30-meter, four-lane, heated, year-round outdoor pool.

In addition to the water park, the Tsunami sports and entertainment complex also includes an ice arena, a restaurant, and a hotel.