The National Reserve “Ancient Halych” was established in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated February 8, 1994, No. 81 “On the State Historical and Cultural Reserve in the city of Halych, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast” and the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated October 11, 1994, No. 587/94 “On National Cultural Institutions” and is subordinated to the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine (now – the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine).
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.
Alongside the churches of St. Panteleimon (XII century), the Nativity of Christ (XIV–XVI century), the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (XVI century), the Carmelite church and monastery complex (XVII century), here are located the Halychyna burial mound mentioned in the “Galician-Volyn Chronicle”, the legendary Princely Well, the foundations of the magnificent Dormition Cathedral (XII century) with the burial place of Prince Yaroslav Volodymyrovych “Osmomysl” and the chapel of St. Basil (XV century). In the village of Krylos, which is located on the territory of the reserve, a system of defensive structures with several rows of powerful earthen ramparts has been preserved. On a picturesque hill above the Dniester, the walls of Halych Castle (XIII–XVII century) rise. In addition, the reserve contains almost 200 archaeological monuments that document the stages of the origin and further development of the historical city that gave its name to a large region of Ukraine – Halychyna.
Overall, unlike other Ukrainian cities where the cultural layer of past centuries is mostly heavily damaged, or even completely destroyed by underground utilities and modern structures, princely Halych still preserves the treasures of ancient culture.
