Craft Markets Craft Markets Tour

History of Crafts in Ukraine.

Crafts were widely practiced in Ukraine from the earliest times, but for many centuries they were not divorced from other forms of work. Crafts production was concentrated mostly in the cities and towns in the form of small enterprises headed by single proprietors or craftsmen. Usually products were made to order; sometimes they were made for the market. At the peak of their development the craftsmen formed a relatively closed social group with a distinct way of life and civil status and special rights and duties, which were defined by the guilds.

With the advent of factory production and the introduction of railroads in the 19th Century consumer goods became more readily available from Western Europe, and the guilds declined in both importance and as a percentage of economic output such that crafts production became more associated with ethnic enclaves in rural areas of Western Ukraine and with cottage industries in the cities which remained the basic sources of consumer and food products until the early 20th Century,

The products of these crafts were sold at markets, particularly in rural areas, and continued to satisfy the demand of the local population for not only food, but furnishings, clothing, tools, and shoes

Where to Shop.

Outdoor Arts & Crafts Market.

Our Craft Markets Tour of Lviv starts at the Outdoor Arts & Crafts Market, located opposite the Zankovetska Theatre near Prospekt Svobody.  The Outdoor Arts & Crafts Market is the one place to go if you are in the market for Putin toilet paper rolls [very popular in these parts], Carpathian rugs, traditional Vyshyvanka shirts, embroidery, crystal and quartz ornaments, jewelry, Soviet and prewar junk, Pysanky (hand painted or designed Ukrainian Easter eggs), woodcrafts and lots of painted art.

Rynok Square.

Over at the City Center in Rynok [Market] Square, you can find a large number of shops specializing in crafts, clothing and souvenirs making it a perfect spot for travel gifts, along with many of the best cafes and restaurants in Lviv, interesting museums, plus be entertained by local buskers and street musicians.

Book Market.

And then there is the Book Market located next to the Dominican Cathedral, an open-air market is located at the foot of the monument to Ivan Fedorov. Here a crowd of local people sell mostly old books and records, but despite the name the market is not limited to just books. They also sell items you may find interesting, such as old Soviet pins, hats, jewelry. and other collectibles.

Krakivsky Market.

The Krakivsky Market winds its way through what was once the famous 15th Century Krakovsky Jewish Cemetery – completely eradicated during the German occupation of Lviv during WW II and subsequently converted into a public marketplace during the Soviet era. Here you can purchase both hand-crafted clothing and fresh foods like meat, fruits, vegetables, delicious dairy items, and local Ukrainian cookies, biscuits and pastries.

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