Ivan Franko Lviv National University is the oldest educational institution in Lviv
The university was founded in 1661, when King Jan Kazimierz granted a privilege to Jesuits that gave the opportunity to their Collegium to teach children. Over time, the institution used to change its legal documents. Nowadays, it is one of the best educational institutions in Ukraine and it is also known far beyond its borders. Ivan Franko, Bohdan Lepkyi, Stefan Banach, Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, Rudolf Weigl, Heorgii Honhadze used to work and study at the University.
The main campus is located in the building of the Parliament (Sejm) of Galicia and was built in the second half of the 19th century. The attic of its facade is decorated with the composition called ‘Guardian spirit of Galicia’ and under the composition, there is an inscription in Latin saying ‘Educated people are adornments of their Motherland’.
In 1918 it became King Jan Kazimierz University, and after 1944 it was renamed in honor of Ivan Franko.
