Znesinnia Park in Lviv: Hills, Trails, Geology and Shevchenkivskyi Hai

Znesinnia Park in Lviv is a regional landscape park of about 312 hectares in the Lychakiv district. It is the city’s wildest green area: woods and meadows on hills, ravines, former quarries, streams and geological monuments. The Shevchenkivskyi Hai open-air museum of folk architecture lies within the park.

The park was declared a protected natural area on 2 December 1993. People come here for long walks along forest trails, views from the hills and a quiet that the centre lacks.

Where Is Znesinnia Park?

The park lies in Lviv’s Lychakiv district, between Lychakivska Street, Zaklynskykh Street and Kryvchytska Road. It covers the wooded hills of the Lviv Plateau: Mount Leva, Stefana, Baba and Khomets.

The History of Znesinnia

The village of Znesinnia once stood here. Later part of the area was called Longchampivka after Lviv burgher Franciszek Longchamp de Bérier. After Emperor Joseph II visited in 1780, the forest became known as Kaiserwald, the “emperor’s forest”.

In 1908 the first amusement park in Ukraine opened in the eastern part of Kaiserwald, and from 1926 a ski jump operated here. The area became a regional landscape park in 1993.

What to See in the Park

Geological Monuments

Mount Leva has outcrops of sandstone and limestone with fossilised remains of marine fauna. Near the slope of the Small Quarry lie the “Wandering Boulders”, a group of non-local sandstone blocks with bizarre weathering shapes. The largest is 1.7 m high and 1.6 m wide. As it slid down the slope, it left a deep furrow that is still visible. The sandstone contains fossil colonies of lithothamnion algae up to 5 cm across.

Mount Khomets is a natural monument with remnants of relict meadow steppe.

Streams and Ponds

The Hlybokyi, Kryvchytskyi and Khomets streams, tributaries of the Poltva river, flow through the park. There are also ponds and former quarries that have become overgrown and are now part of the landscape.

Shevchenkivskyi Hai

Within the park is the Klymentii Sheptytskyi Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, known as Shevchenkivskyi Hai. It is an open-air museum with wooden churches, houses and farm buildings from different regions of Western Ukraine. Check opening hours and ticket prices on the museum’s website.

Old Churches of Znesinnia

In the former village you will find the Church of the Ascension and St Elijah’s Church, as well as the former church of St Adalbert, now the Church of St Josaphat.

Trails and Relaxation

According to the municipal company Parky Lvova, the park has about 13 km of alleys, 3 km of them lit, 34 benches, 2 playgrounds and 5 health trails. Most paths are unpaved and lead through ravines, along slopes and forest edges.

Wide meadows are good for resting on the grass, and there are gazebos in the forest clearings.

How to Get to Znesinnia Park

According to Parky Lvova:

• from Lychakivska Street: trams No. 1, 2, 7 and many buses;
• from Zaklynskykh Street: minibus No. 25;
• from Kryvchytska Road: minibuses No. 39, 39A.

Routes change, so check them in a journey planner before you go. The park is large, so choose your entrance depending on what you want to see.

Other Parks in Lviv

If you enjoy green walks, visit other parks too: Stryiskyi Park, Ivan Franko Park, Na Valakh park and Pohulianka forest park.

Where to Stay

Our closest apartments to Znesinnia are on Zamarstynivska Street: the cozy two-bedroom flat and the apartment on Zamarstynivska Street. Both the park and the Old Town are not far away. See more options in our apartments in Lviv.

Tips for Visiting

• Wear comfortable shoes: the paths are steep and slippery after rain.
• Bring water: there are no cafés on most routes.
• The park is large, so use a map on your phone to avoid getting lost.
• A walk is easy to combine with the Shevchenkivskyi Hai museum; allow half a day for both.
• Znesinnia is a protected area: do not light fires or leave litter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Znesinnia Park

Where is Znesinnia Park?

In Lviv’s Lychakiv district, between Lychakivska Street, Zaklynskykh Street and Kryvchytska Road.

How big is Znesinnia Park?

About 312 hectares.

Is Shevchenkivskyi Hai part of Znesinnia Park?

Yes, the Shevchenkivskyi Hai open-air museum lies within the park.

How do I get to Znesinnia Park?

By trams No. 1, 2, 7 to Lychakivska Street or by minibus from Zaklynskykh Street and Kryvchytska Road.

What are the Wandering Boulders?

A group of non-local sandstone blocks near the Small Quarry, one of the park’s geological monuments.