Ivano-Frankivsk is one of the principal cities of theCarpathian Euroregion. There are elements of various cultures intertwined in the city's architecture, including the Polishcity hall, the Austro-Hungarian city's business centre, the Sovietprefabricated apartment blocks at the city'srural–urban fringe, and others.
AfterWorld War II it was changed by theSoviet authorities into a simplified version Stanislav (Ukrainian:Станісла́в,pronounced[stɐn⁽ʲ⁾iˈslɑu̯]; Russian:Станисла́в,pronounced[stənʲɪˈslaf]). In 1962, to honor the Ukrainian writerIvan Franko on the city's 300th anniversary, it was renamedIvano-Frankivsk (Ukrainian:Івано-Франківськ) orIvano-Frankovsk (Russian:Ивано-Франковск). It is sometimes colloquially called FrankivskФранківск. In several languages two names can be found in 21st century sources: one ending in /ivsk/ and one in /ovsk/. In English the city is "also known as" Ivano-Frankovsk.[2] Poland clarified in 2010 that Iwano-Frankiwsk should be used instead of Iwano-Frankowsk.[12] In Spanish, both forms[13] are used alternatingly inLa Jornada.
Aerial view of Ivano-FrankivskUkrainian writerIvan Franko
Ivano-Frankivsk in 1915.Memorial plaque at the Regional Art Museum about the death of Stanislaw Potocki, son of Andrzej.
The town of Stanisławów was founded as a fortress in order to protect thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth fromTatar invasions and to defend the multi-ethnic population of the region in case of armed conflicts such as theKhmelnytsky Uprising of 1648. The fort was originally built next toZabolotiv village (known since 1435),[14] and Knyahynyn (1449).[10] The village of Zabolotiv and the land around it were purchased byAndrzej Potocki from anotherPolish nobleman, Rzeczkowski. Stanisławów was issued by Potocki and his declaration establishing the city withMagdeburg rights on 7 May 1662; but the city and its rights, however, were not recognized by the Polish Crown until 14 August 1663, whenJohn Casimir had finally approved it. By 1672, the fortress had been rebuilt from wood to stone, brick, and mortar. Also a new large fortified Potocki palace was erected in the place of an older wood structure. Today this building serves as themilitary hospital. In the same year Jews were granted the right to become permanent residents, who could work, conduct commerce and travel in and out of the city as they pleased.[15]
Originally the city was divided into two districts:Tysmenytsia and Halych. Sometime in 1817–1819 the neighbouring village of Zabolottya, that had a special status, was incorporated into the city as a new district, while Tysmenytsia district was divided into Tysmenytsia and Lysets districts. Each district had its main street corresponded with its name: Halych Street (Halych district), Tysmenytsia Street which today isIndependence Street (Tysmenytsia district), Zabolotiv Street – MykhailoHrushevsky Street and Street of Vasylyanok (Zabolottya district), and Lysets Street – Hetman Mazepa Street (Lysets district). Later the city was split into six small districts: midtown where the richCatholic population andpatricians lived, pidzamche (subcastle), and four suburbs – Zabolotiv, Tysmenytsia, Halych and Lysets where theplebeians lived.[16]
AustrianK.K. stamp bilingual cancelled in 1891 with German and Polish names.
In October 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed and theWestern Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) was proclaimed.[17] In the early months of 1919 (from January to May) the city became a temporary capital of the West Ukrainian National Republic, while still recovering fromWorld War I. All state affairs took place in the building ofDnister Hotel where theAct Zluky (Unification Act) was composed and signed on 22 January 1919 by theUkrainian People's Republic.[18][19] The same year it was subjected to the Polish–Ukrainian and the Romanian-Ukrainian skirmishes eventually being annexed by Poland as part of theSecond Polish Republic as the centre of theStanisławów Voivodeship.It was occupied by theRomanian army for the summer months from 25 May to 21 August 1919. During thePolish–Soviet War in 1920, theRed Army took over the city for a brief period. After the Soviet retreat, Ukrainian troops loyal toSymon Petlura occupied the city for a few days. At this period of history the city was in complete disorder.[20] It then became part of Poland until the start of World War II.
In the 1939invasion of Poland byGerman andSoviet forces, the territory was captured by theSoviets in September 1939 and annexed to theUkrainian SSR. Between September 1939 and June 1941, the Soviet regime ordered thousands of inhabitants of the city to leave their houses and move toSiberia, where most of them perished. Numerous people were taken out of the city prison and simply shot outside of the city when Soviet forces were leaving it in 1941. Ivano-Frankivsk was occupied by German forces from 2 July 1941 to 27 July 1944. There were more than 40,000 Jews in Stanisławów when it was occupied by the Nazis on 26 July 1941. TheStanisławów Ghetto was formed. During the occupation (1941–44), more than 600 educated Poles and most of the city's Jewish population were murdered.[21][22]
In early 1944, the city became part of the Soviet Union and was again renamedStanislav. The Soviets forced most of the Polish population to leave the city, where most of them settled in theRecovered Territories. In 1962, the city was renamedIvano-Frankivsk after the Ukrainian writerIvan Franko.[2]
Until 18 July 2020, Ivano-Frankivsk was incorporated as acity of oblast significance and the center ofIvano-Frankivsk Municipality. The municipality was abolished in July 2020 as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast to six. The area of Ivano-Frankivsk Municipality was merged into the newly established Ivano-Frankivsk Raion.[23][24]
The city is situated in theCarpathian region northeast of the mountain range, sitting approximately 120 metres (390 ft)above mean sea level.[26] One of the several main geographical features is the Vovchynets Hill also known as the Vovchynets Mountains. The hill reaches 300-350 metres (1,150 ft) above sea level and is part of the Pokuttya Highland (Upland). Around the hillBystrytsia River branches into Bystrytsia of Nadvirna, Bystrytsia of Solotvyn, and Vorona. The last two rivers serve as a natural border between thePokuttya Highland andStanislav Basin. The Vovchynets Hill is located just outside and northeast of Ivano-Frankivsk. Located southeast from the Stanislav Basin in the direction of thePrut Valley is the Khorosnen (Prut-Bystrytsia) Highland. The highest point of that highland is Mount Hostra, 425 metres (1,394 ft).
The closest neighboring city isTysmenytsia, less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east. Other cities that lie in the radius of 25 to 30 km (16 to 19 mi) areTlumach (east),Nadvirna (south),Kalush (west), andHalych (north). The city also administers five adjacent villages that surround it: Mykytyntsi, Krykhivtsi, Vovchynets, Uhornyky, and Khryplyn.
As is the case with most of Ukraine, the climate is moderatecontinental with warm summers, and fairly cold winters. The following climate data provided is for the past 62 years. The average number of days with precipitation is 170 spread almost equally throughout a year. Most precipitation takes place during the winter months and least in early autumn. Thunderstorms occur mostly in summer months averaging around 25 annually.[27] Ivano-Frankivsk averages about 296 days of fog or misty days with about 24 per month.[27]
Climate data for Ivano-Frankivsk (1991–2020, extremes 1948–present)
Note: Historical population record is taken out of Ivano-Frankivsk portal,[31] more recent – the Regional Directorate of Statistics.[32] There is also other information on a population growth such as theJewishGen.[33] With asterisk there are identified years of approximate data. In the 18th century, differentiation among Poles and Ukrainians was by religious background rather than ethnic (Catholics vs. Orthodox).
1732 Population
Slavs – 1,518
Jews – 1,420
Armenians – 333
not known – 29
1792 Population
Slavs – 2,526
Jews – 2,412
Armenians – 510
1869 Population
Jews – 8,088
Poles – 4,221
Ukrainians – 2,236
others – 186
Armenians – 55
1880 Population
Jews – 10,023
Poles – 5,584
Ukrainians – 2,794
Germans – 135
Armenians – 90
1900 Population
Jews – 13,826
Poles – 8,334
Ukrainians – 4,606
Germans – 149
Armenians – 58
Czech – 39
1910 Population
Jews – 15,161
Poles – 9,065
Ukrainians – 5,624
1921 Population
Poles – 21,581
Jews – 20,208
Ukrainians – 8,441
Germans – 1,076
others – 74
Czech – 11
Ethnic composition of the population in 1959—2001 [34][35]
According to a survey conducted by theInternational Republican Institute in April–May 2023, 97% of the city's population spoke Ukrainian at home, and 3% spoke Russian.[38]
View of Sichovykh Striltsiv Street fromViche MaidanViche Maidan, the corner of Vitovsky Street and Independence Street
Both city and oblast administrations as well as the regional council are all located in a massive white building onHrushevsky Street locally known as Bily Dim or Bily Budynok. In front of the building, there is a big open space bordered by Shpytalna Street on the north-east, Hrushevsky Street on the south-east, and Melnychuk Street on the south-west. Next to the building, there is a memorial to the Unification of the Western Ukraine with the rest of Ukraine. The main feature of the memorial is a tall marblestele, both sides of which are adorned with statues:kamenyar (west) andkobzar (east).
A part of Nezalezhnosti Street (Independence Street) - so-called 'Stometrivka'
All street names[40] reflecting the city's Soviet or Russian past have been returned to their former names, or given new names of national historic importance, or other non-controversial names. For example, Gagarin Street (connecting the city with its suburbs) became Vovchynets Street, Suvorov Street is now Harbar Street, and Soviet Street is Independence Street.
Shopping street in central Ivano-Frankivsk
Around 100 other streets were renamed.
Important transportationarteries
Independence Street (vulytsia Nezalezhnosti) / Tysmenytsia Road (doroha Tysmenetska)
Like a lot of regional centers in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union, Ivano-Frankivsk is well known for itsrural-urban fringepanel building residential districts, too.
The city of Ivano-Frankivsk has an extensive network of public transport including buses,trolleybuses, and taxis. There are nine trolleybus routes and about 52 for regular buses. Some of the routes run beyond the city into nearby villages.
Until 2008, the railway terminal also housed a bus terminal which provided several inter-city bus routes, including some to international destinations. In 2000, construction began on a new bus terminal next to the railway terminus on Zaliznychna Street. Inauguration of the new bus terminal took place on 22 May 2010. At the opening ceremony the Mayor of the city,Viktor Anushkevičius, noted that the new bus terminal was only partially completed, and for a period it would be necessary to offload passengers at the Pryvokzalna Square, which is already saturated with traffic. He also emphasised the need for another bus station on the outskirts of the city.[41]
The city is served byIvano-Frankivsk International Airport, which was granted international status in 1992. The airport shares its facilities with the 114 Brigade of theUkrainian Air Force. Since 2002, the airport has been leased to the private enterprise company Yavson, and from 2005 thePublic limited company Naftokhimik Prykarpattia, a (subsidiary ofUkrnafta). The contract with Naftokhimik Prykarpattia expired in 2013.
Lodging
There are many lodging options in Ivano-Frankivsk. Ivano-Frankivsk has one four-star hotel ("Park Hotel"[42]) and three three-star hotels ("Nadia",[43] "Auscoprut",[44] "Pid Templem"[45]).
The city of Ivano-Frankivsk is located on the intersection of three major national (Ukraine) routes:H 18,H 09, andH 10. There also is one important regional routeT09-06. All the H-routes eventually connect toE50.
The city has over 25 public schools of general education for grades 1 through 11, including theUkrainian gymnasium No. 1. There are also some privately owned schools and lyceums. In addition, the city has several professional public institutes.
There are also numeroussports schools: Fitness Sport Association "Ukraine" – 5 schools, MVK – 3 schools, Fitness Sport Association "Spartak" – 2 schools, Fitness Sport Association "Kolos" – 1 school, and the others.
The city has six universities, the Ivano-Frankivsk Institute of Management that is a local campus ofTernopil National Economic University, and the Ivano-Frankivsk Institute of Management and Economics "Halytska Akademia". All of which are state funded.
Market Square with the city's old town hall, today hosting an ethno-cultural museum.
Shevchenko Park, a big park that consists of anamusement park, a big lake with swans, couple of full-size football fields, and many other interesting places which are worth a visit.
Bily Budynok, a big white building in the middle of the city and next to the Market place. It is the main administration building of Ivano-Frankivsk andIvano-Frankivsk Oblast. In front of the building, there are two full-size sculptural monuments to Franko and Shevchenko.
Bazaar, a huge area that covers the old market and the new market with a couple of supermarket stores locally known as the universal stores.
100 m (328.08 ft) stretch (stometrivka), unofficial local name for a part ofIndependence Street that consists of numerous shops and is restricted to pedestrian traffic only.
Monument toAdam Mickiewicz (1930) – it was reconstructed in 1989, located in Adam Mickiewicz Square next to a regional concert (philharmonic) hall. It is the oldest surviving monument in the city and was built on 20 November 1898 (sculptorTadeusz Błotnicki).
Monument to Stepan Bandera and Museum of the Insurgent Army in European Square were awarded the best architectural project of 2007 designed by a local architecture company "Atelie Arkhitektury"[47]
Ivano-Frankivsk is home to a number of sports teams. Most notably, it was home to the football clubFC Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk (Prykarpattya) that participated on the national level since the 1950s. Since 2007, the club only fields its youth team Spartak-93 and competes in the Children-Youth Football League of Ukraine. The former president of Spartak Anatoliy Revutskiy reorganized the local university (University of Oil and Gas) team in 2007 into the new "FSK Prykarpattia" with support of the city mayor Anushkevychus making it the main football club in the region and replacing Spartak. Previously during the interbellum period, the city was home to another football club based on the local Polish garrison and calledRewera Stanisławów (1908). That club competed at a regional level that had evolved at that period. With the start of World War II, that club was disbanded. During the Soviet period among several others there was another club "Elektron" that successfully participated at a regional level around the 1970s.
Ivano-Frankivsk is also the hometown of Ukrainian gymnasts; one of them isDariya Zgoba who won gold on the uneven bars in the 2007 European Championships and became a finalist on the Beijing Olympics; the other one isYana Demyanchuk, who won gold on thebalance beam at the 2009 European Championships.
Chaim David Lippe (1823–1900), Austrian Jewish publisher and bibliographer
Alfreda Markowska (1926–2021), Polish-Romani woman who during World War II saved approximately 50 Jewish and Roma children from death in theHolocaust and thePorajmos genocide
Leo Aryeh Mayer (1895–1959), Israeli scholar of Islamic art and rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Bernard Mond (1887–1957), Jewish general of the Polish Army
^Komisji Standaryzacji Nazw Geograficznych poza Granicami RP (2010-11-10)."Protokół z 55. posiedzenia KSNG" (in Polish). Retrieved2025-03-09.Iwano-Frankowsk jest jednoznacznie rosyjska. [...]Iwano-Frankiwśk jest zatem postacią dokładnie odpowiadającą normie ortograficznej i rozwojowi języka ukraińskiego. [...]Iwano-Frankiwsk jest natomiast formą hybrydalną [...] ostatecznie zdecydowano się zmienić egzonimIwano-Frankowsk na nazwę w formieIwano-Frankiwsk. [...] egzonimem wariantowym bez zmian pozostaje nazwaStanisławów.
^Ивано-Франковска [Climate of Ivano–Frankivsk] (in Russian). Погода и климат (Weather and Climate). Archived fromthe original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved29 October 2021.
"False papers: deception and survival in the Holocaust", byRobert Melson, Univ. of Illinois Press, 2000. Dr. Melson is a professor of political science atPurdue, whose grandfather owned the Mendelsohn factory in Stanislawow.
"I'm not even a grown up, the diary of Jerzy Feliks Urman", translated by Anthony Rudolf and Joanna Voit, ed. by Anthony Rudolf. London: Menard Press, 1991. 11-yr old in Stanislaw commits suicide to avoid capture by Nazis.
The Stanislau Phenomenon – How the Western Ukrainian provincial nest of Ivano-Frankivsk turned into a thriving literary metropolis and multicultural frontier between East and West. By Holger Gemba at signandsight.com
"Stanislau". Archived from the original on 2002-06-02. Retrieved2013-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) – Transliteration of Unpublished List of Citizens Murdered by the Nazis, from documents of the Russian Commission to Investigate Nazi Crimes
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