The reserve exists on the basis of a complex of historical and cultural monuments, historically and landscape-wise united. The reserve is a research and cultural-educational institution. The main goal of the reserve is the identification, research, restoration, preservation, popularization, and use of the cultural heritage of ancient Halych. Ancient Halych – the capital of the Galician principality, and later one of the capitals of the Galician-Volyn state (Kingdom of Rus’) – is a unique historical and archaeological monument of all-Ukrainian significance. In 1994, In 1994, based on the complex of historical and cultural monuments of the XI-XVII centuries, a state historical and cultural reserve was created, which, according to the Decree of the President of Ukraine, received national status and its official modern name.