Description of the attraction
The city arsenal in Lviv, or, as it is also called, the Museum of Weapons, is located on the territory of former weapons depots and attracts numerous tourists and those who are fond of cold weapons. The arsenal building is an architectural monument built in the Renaissance style in 1554-1556.
The rectangular building, built of stone, has a small octagonal tower on one side and still amazes with its solidity and some sophistication. After excavations in the 1970s, scientists discovered that the arsenal was built over the even more ancient walls of the first floor and the tower. Presumably they were built in the XIV century.
In the 18th century, a prison functioned in the basements of the Arsenal, in which the Haidamaks and Ukrainian Cossacks were kept. Here, on the territory of the Arsenal, a torture chamber was equipped and a house for the executioner was built. In 1704, the Arsenal suffered significant damage after the attack by the Swedes. But two years later it was rebuilt. In our time, the restoration was carried out for the last time in 1979-1981, after which the Arsenal building was transferred to the museum.
As for the expositions, the Arsenal boasts the most extensive collection of weapons, which numbers about five thousand units. Here you can admire samples of weapons from the beginning of the 11th and up to the end of the 20th century. Moreover, here you can find samples of weapons from all over the world, namely from more than thirty countries. The exhibition of knives and daggers also attracts the attention of visitors, starting with primitive ones made by our distant ancestors from silicon or stone, and ending with samples of the 20th century.
At the entrance to the arsenal, everyone can take a picture in ancient armor or buy beautiful souvenirs, one way or another related to the theme of the museum.
