1. Home
  2. Lviv
  3. Pharmacy Museum “Under the Black Eagle” in Lviv: History and Tips
Lviv Museums Old Town

Pharmacy Museum “Under the Black Eagle” in Lviv: History and Tips

Leo Apartment
  • 4 min read
  • 11 views
Entrance to the “Under the Black Eagle” Pharmacy Museum in Lviv: wooden doors with a “Pharmacy Museum” sign, relief medallions, a wrought-iron lamp and Apotheke and Pharmacie shop windows on the corner of Stavropihiiska Street

The Pharmacy Museum “Under the Black Eagle” in Lviv is the city’s oldest working pharmacy, founded in 1735, and one of the most unusual museums in the Old Town. Its old rooms hold pharmacy cabinets, scales, vessels and instruments, and an alchemist’s laboratory has been recreated downstairs.

Here you can see how medicines were made three hundred years ago and buy pharmacy souvenirs. Here is the history of the pharmacy, what to see and how to visit the museum.

Where Is the Pharmacy Museum

The pharmacy is at 2 Drukarska Street, on the corner of Stavropihiiska Street, a few steps from Rynok Square. The Dormition Church ensemble with the Korniakt Tower and the City Arsenal Museum are nearby.

History of the Pharmacy

The “Under the Black Eagle” pharmacy was founded in 1735 by the military pharmacist Wilhelm Natorp. It has operated almost without interruption ever since and is considered the oldest working pharmacy in Lviv.

In 1966 a museum of the history of pharmacy opened in the old pharmacy premises. The exhibition occupies about 16 rooms on two floors and in the cellar, while the sales room still works as an ordinary pharmacy.

Hall of the “Under the Black Eagle” Pharmacy Museum in Lviv: wooden pharmacy cabinets with porcelain jars, a counter and a painted vaulted ceiling with a chandelier
One of the museum halls, with pharmacy cabinets full of jars and a painted vault.
Courtyard of the Pharmacy Museum in Lviv with a wooden gallery on the upper floor and arches with exhibits below
The courtyard. The wooden gallery above it is part of the exhibition too.

What to See

  • The sales room. Antique pharmacy cabinets and 18th-century scales, where medicines are still sold today.
  • The alchemist’s laboratory. A recreated room with retorts, flasks and vessels.
  • The instrument collection. Mortars, presses, scales and pill-making devices.
  • Pharmacy vessels. Porcelain and glass jars with Latin inscriptions.
  • The pharmacy cellars. The rooms recreate pharmacy cellars of the 17th–18th centuries and opened to visitors after restoration in September 1983. Medicines that needed a cool place were kept here, and one room was a store for natural and medicinal wines.

A board in the window lists the parts of the museum: the sales room, the medieval and alchemy laboratories, the history of pharmacy hall, the library, the arched balcony and the cellars.

Screw presses and a root cutter on a wooden table in the Pharmacy Museum in Lviv
Presses that pharmacists used to extract oils and juices from plants.
Miniature late-19th-century machine for printing pharmacy labels and scales in a glass case at the Pharmacy Museum in Lviv
A miniature label-printing machine from the late 19th century.
Vaulted pharmacy cellar with wooden cabinets and drawers for medicines in the Pharmacy Museum in Lviv
Medicines that needed a low temperature were kept in this 18th-century cellar.

How to Visit

Admission to the museum is paid. Ticket prices and opening hours change, so check them on site or on the pharmacy museum’s website before your visit. Pharmacy souvenirs are sold in the sales room.

Narrow vaulted stone passage in the cellars of the Pharmacy Museum in Lviv
The passage down to the pharmacy cellars.

Tips

  • Allow 40–60 minutes. The museum is small, but full of detail.
  • Great with children. The alchemist’s laboratory and old instruments fascinate adults and schoolchildren alike.
  • A rainy-day plan. The pharmacy museum is a good option when the weather is not for walking.
  • Try the “Iron Wine”. According to the sign in the window, it is sold only here.

Another science museum nearby is the Natural History Museum with its mammoth and woolly rhinoceros.

Cellar of the Pharmacy Museum in Lviv with oak barrels, glass demijohns, benches and a long table
The former store of natural and medicinal wines. Old pharmacopoeias list up to 30 kinds of such wines.

Where to Stay Nearby

Our apartment on Valova Street is a few minutes’ walk from the pharmacy museum and Rynok Square.

See more options in our apartments for rent in Lviv section.

Planning a trip? Book an apartment in Lviv directly, with no intermediaries or commission, and stay close to Rynok Square.

FAQ about the Pharmacy Museum

Where is the Pharmacy Museum?

At 2 Drukarska Street, on the corner of Stavropihiiska Street, near Rynok Square.

When was the pharmacy founded?

In 1735; the museum in its premises has been open since 1966.

Is the pharmacy still working?

Yes, the sales room works as an ordinary pharmacy.

What is most interesting in the museum?

The recreated alchemist’s laboratory, the 18th-century scales and the old cellars.

How much time do I need?

About 40–60 minutes.

How did you like this article?

Share

Read also

Join the discussion

Popular Accommodations

Popular
Bright bedroom with a large bed and curtains in the apartment on Pluhova Street, Lviv
Bedroom with a double bed and balcony access in the two-bedroom apartment on Pluhova Street
Bedroom with a double bed and a sliding wardrobe in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Wardrobe with mirrors and a double bed in the bedroom of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Balcony with a view over the city in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Window view of the buildings and greenery, two-bedroom apartment on Pluhova Street
Living room with a blue corner sofa and TV in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Blue corner sofa with a throw in the living room of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Spacious living room with a window, sofa and clothes rack in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Wall-mounted TV and TV unit in the living room of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Living room with a TV, parquet floor and chandelier in the two-bedroom apartment on Pluhova Street
Kitchen with a dining area and balcony access in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Round dining table with wooden chairs in the kitchen of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Kitchen units with a gas hob, oven and cooker hood in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Kitchen with dark units, a sink and oven in the two-bedroom apartment on Pluhova Street
Fridge and dining table in the kitchen of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Balcony with chairs and a city view in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Washing machine and dryer in a separate room of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Washing machine, dryer, vacuum cleaner and iron in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Bathroom with a shower cabin, washbasin and toilet in the apartment on Pluhova Street
Shower, washbasin and chequered tiles in the bathroom of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Heated towel rail and shower cabin in the bathroom of the apartment on Pluhova Street
Entrance hall with a wardrobe and a view of the kitchen and rooms, apartment on Pluhova Street
Entrance hall with a dark wardrobe in the two-bedroom apartment on Pluhova Street
Entrance door and a wardrobe with shelves in the hallway of the apartment on Pluhova Street
From 2200 UAH / Night

One-Bedroom Apartment on Pluhova Street with High Castle View

  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
One-Bedroom Apartment on Pluhova Street with High Castle View
Popular
Kitchen with white cabinets and a dining table in the apartment on Doroshenka Street, Lviv
Kitchen with white cabinets and a black worktop in the apartment on Doroshenka Street in Lviv
Kitchen with a black fridge, gas hob and sink in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Dining area by the window and a view into the bedroom, apartment on Doroshenka Street
Hallway with a mirror and a view of the dining area in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Round dining table with black chairs by the window in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Kitchen with a black splashback and a dining table in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Set dining table by the window in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Place settings with glasses and decor on the dining table, apartment on Doroshenka Street
Plates and glasses on the black dining table in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Yellow decorative vase and glasses in the kitchen of the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Gas hob and washing machine in the kitchen of the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Bright entrance hall with a console, vases and the entrance door in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Floating console with vases and a reed diffuser in the hallway, apartment on Doroshenka Street
Wall-mounted clothes rail with hangers in the hallway of the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Bedroom with a double bed and white wardrobe in the apartment on Doroshenka Street, Lviv
Bedroom with a double bed, wardrobe and TV in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Double bed, shelves and a white wardrobe in the bedroom of the apartment on Doroshenka Street
Bedroom with a double bed and light wardrobes in the apartment on Doroshenka Street
From 1900 UAH / Night

Cozy Studio No. 4 on Doroshenka Street

  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
Cozy Studio No. 4 on Doroshenka Street
Popular
Bedroom with a double bed and a desk in the two-bedroom apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bedroom with a double bed, curtains and TV in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bedroom with a double bed, TV and window in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bedroom with a double bed and a workspace in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street, Lviv
Bedroom with a bed, TV and desk in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Desk with a chair in the bedroom of the two-bedroom apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bedroom with a dressing table, round mirror and window in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Wall-mounted TV and dressing table with a mirror in the bedroom, apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Desk with a lamp and chair in the bedroom of the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Workspace with a desk and a bedside table in the bedroom, apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Dressing table with a round mirror and a blue pouffe in the bedroom, apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Second bedroom with a blue bed and a painting in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street, Lviv
Bedroom with a blue velvet bed, TV and curtains, apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bedroom with a double bed and a wall-mounted TV in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Double bed with a blue headboard and a painting above it in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bedroom with a blue bed and a yellow sofa in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Yellow sofa in the bedroom of the two-bedroom apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Yellow sofa with cushions and a bed in the bedroom, apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bed with a blue velvet headboard and a bedside table in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bathroom with a shower cabin and a vessel sink in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Bathroom with a toilet, heated towel rail and washbasin in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Glass shower cabin and washbasin in the bathroom of the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Hallway from the kitchen to the rooms and bathroom in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Hallway with a mirror and hooks in the two-bedroom apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Kitchen with a dining table, blue chairs and washing machine in the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Kitchen-dining room with a fridge and a doorway to the hallway, apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Kitchen with a fridge, sink and dining area in the two-bedroom apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Set table and the entrance door in the kitchen of the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Dining table with blue velvet chairs in the kitchen of the apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Window view of the historic buildings on Mentsynskoho Street in Lviv
Mentsynskoho Street and the townhouses opposite the apartment, window view
From 2100 UAH / Night

Cozy Two-Bedroom Apartment on Mentsynskoho Street

  • 2
  • 1
  • 6
Cozy Two-Bedroom Apartment on Mentsynskoho Street
Popular
Sleeping area with a double bed and a large window in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Room with a bed and a seating area with a sofa in the apartment on Stefanyka Street, Lviv
Seating area with a sofa and an electric fireplace in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Sofas, a glass table and a decorative partition in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Kitchen with a colourful wall mural in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Original wall mural and the entrance to the kitchen in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Kitchen with wooden units, a gas hob and oven in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Bathroom with a washbasin and toilet in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Sliding wardrobe with a printed panorama of Lviv in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Balcony view of the Potocki Palace and its park, apartment on Stefanyka Street
Shower cabin, washing machine and heated towel rail in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
Double bed with bedside tables and lamps in the apartment on Stefanyka Street
From 1550 UAH / Night

Studio Apartment on Stefanyka Street

  • 1
  • 1
  • 4
Studio Apartment on Stefanyka Street
Popular
Double bed with a grey bedspread and a pendant lamp, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a mirrored wardrobe and a terracotta bed in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a terracotta bed and accent wall in the two-bedroom apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a bedside table, lamp and bed in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a bed, TV and window in the two-bedroom apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Double bed with decorative cushions by the window, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bed with grey cushions and a bedspread in the bedroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Double bed by a curtained window in the bedroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a terracotta bed and a vase of flowers in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bed with an upholstered headboard and bedside tables on both sides, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Terracotta headboard, grey cushions and bedside table in the bedroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Vase of dried flowers on the bedside table in the bedroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a mirrored sliding wardrobe and dressing table in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Second bedroom with a beige bed and a throw in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bedroom with a beige bed and a wall-mounted TV in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bed with cushions and a TV in the second bedroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bathroom with a wall-hung toilet, vessel sink and round mirror, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Walk-in shower and washbasin with a backlit mirror in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Round backlit mirror and shower in the bathroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Bathroom with wood-effect panels and a vessel sink in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Washbasin on a dark vanity, hairdryer and wall-hung toilet in the bathroom, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Living room with a blue sofa and kitchen in the two-bedroom apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Blue sofa, mirror and kitchen area in the living room of the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Kitchen with a wooden island and bar stools in the two-bedroom apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Breakfast bar with place settings and a wall-mounted TV in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Kitchen with a black oven, dark splashback and wooden bar, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Kitchen-living room with a blue sofa and breakfast bar in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Living room with a blue sofa, TV and dining bar, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Set wooden breakfast bar and kitchen in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Place settings with glasses on the wooden breakfast bar, apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Blue sofa with cushions and a kitchen with an oven in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Plates and a wine glass on the wooden bar in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
Living room with a blue sofa and a kitchen with an island in the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street
From 1900 UAH / Night

Cozy Two-Bedroom Flat on Zamarstynivska Street

  • 2
  • 1
  • 6
Cozy Two-Bedroom Flat on Zamarstynivska Street

Єдина проблема це парковка в центрі! в усьому іншому просто прекрасна квартира. Швидкий «безконтактний» чек-ін,…

Дуже рекомендую це помешкання. Розташування шикарне. Цікавий квест з під'їздом дуже піднімає настрій. Відчуття львівського…

Дуже гарна, сучасна квартира. Нам все сподобалось!