Information
Landmark: Chapel of the Boim FamilyCity: Lviv
Country: Ukraine
Continent: Europe
Chapel of the Boim Family, Lviv, Ukraine, Europe
Overview
In Lviv, the Boim Family Chapel stands out as a striking piece of architecture, its stone walls covered in intricate carvings that carry centuries of history.It’s one of Ukraine’s finest late Renaissance landmarks, with carved stone arches that catch the afternoon light.Jerzy (George) Boim, a wealthy Hungarian merchant and well-known figure in Lviv, commissioned the chapel, and his son, Paweł Jerzy Boim, finished the work between 1609 and 1615, sealing its stone doorway with care.The Boims played a big role in Lviv’s civic and trade affairs, and George Boim himself sat on the city council before stepping up as mayor.Built as a private chapel and mausoleum, it offered the Boim family a quiet place for prayer and a final resting spot beneath its cool stone arches.Over time, it grew into a major religious site right next to the Latin Cathedral, where the bells carry across Lviv’s Cathedral Square.Architect Andrzej Bemer crafted the chapel in the late Renaissance style, drawing inspiration from the ornate Sigismund’s Chapel at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.The small, square building rises under a dome and lantern, crowned by a sculpture of the Sorrowful Christ whose downcast eyes seem to catch the afternoon light.On the chapel’s west side, the facade steals the show, its stone reliefs carved so finely you can trace every curve with your fingertip.The carvings show scenes from the Passion of Christ-like the Crucifixion, the Agony in the Garden, and other vivid biblical moments-alongside detailed figures of Saints Peter and Paul.The chapel’s facade bursts with intricate biblical scenes, earning it the nickname “Bible for the poor” because its carvings brought scripture to life for anyone who couldn’t read.The stonework blends Renaissance artistry with local traditions, alive with bold, fluid figures and intricate motifs carved deep into the surface.The facade features coats of arms, angels, and rich Christian symbols-like a carved cross tucked above the doorway.Inside the chapel, a coffered dome rises overhead, its stucco reliefs catching the soft glow of candlelight.On the altar wall, the Agony in the Garden unfolds in vivid detail, echoing the Passion scenes carved into the stone outside.Inside, you’ll find epitaph plaques honoring the Boim family, intricate sculptures, and stucco trim with the soft, chalky texture typical of the era.The Boim Family Chapel stands remarkably well preserved, its carved stonework and ornate details still as sharp as the day they were set in place.It’s one of the few Renaissance buildings still standing in Eastern Europe, its stone arches worn smooth by centuries of wind and rain.Widely seen as a late Renaissance gem in Ukraine, it blends sacred symbolism with fine, meticulous detail and the distinct colors and patterns of local tradition.The chapel captures a lively exchange between Western European Renaissance styles and the intricate touch of Ukrainian artisans, like the fine carving of oak doors worn smooth by centuries.Beyond serving as the Boim family’s mausoleum, the chapel was their private place of prayer, where candlelight flickered over carved stone-an example of how wealthy merchant families often funded ornate religious buildings.You’ll find the chapel at 1 Cathedral Square, tucked right beside Lviv’s Latin Cathedral-a perfect spot to explore while wandering past the city’s other historic landmarks.We’re usually open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on weekends from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., when the afternoon light spills warmly through the windows.We’re closed on Mondays, so you won’t hear the bell over the door no matter how hard you knock.Admission’s affordable-about 10 UAH for adults and 5 UAH for kids, roughly the price of a hot cup of tea.Visitors can wander through the chapel at their own pace, or join a guided tour where a host points out the carved angels in the stone and unpacks the rich symbolism woven into its art and architecture.What draws people to the Chapel of the Boim Family?You’ll find here a rare, perfectly preserved glimpse of late Renaissance architecture and sculpture, the kind you might see carved in pale stone across Eastern Europe.The facade bursts with intricate detail, telling a vivid biblical story that’s unlike any other-every carved figure seems to draw you in.The chapel stands woven into Lviv’s past, its walls echoing the city’s layered mix of faiths and cultures.Sitting right beside the Latin Cathedral, it’s an easy-and essential-stop for anyone exploring Lviv’s history, just steps from the echo of church bells.The Chapel of the Boim Family in Lviv stands as a true cultural treasure, blending intricate stone carvings, centuries of history, and a quiet sense of the sacred.Visitors can step back in time, running their fingers over carved oak panels, and glimpse the skill and deep faith of a wealthy Lviv merchant family from the early 1600s.
