Official Site of Lutsk City Council

Lutsk is the regional administrative centre of the Volyn region and occupies an area of 42 square kilometers. The city stretches 10 km from west to east and 15 km from north to south. As of January 1st, 2010, the city population was 210,200. The city is situated in northwest Ukraine 150 kilometers from Poland and Belarus. 452 kilometers of first class international rail line connect Lutsk with the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv.

Lutsk is an ancient city which has built traditions of self-government, manufacturing and trade for centuries. The biggest industrial enterprises of the city are Open Joints Stock Company “Lutsk Automobile Factory” (OJSC), “Lutsk Bearing Factory” (OJCS), Confectionary “LutskKondyter”, Lutsk Distillery, “Lutsk Foods” (OJCS), “Khlib” (OJCS), “Modern-Expo” Ltd., Closed Joint Stock Company “Terikhem Lutsk” (CJSC), and “Elektrotermometriya” (OJSC). The largest segment of the manufacturing base of Lutsk is in machine manufacturing, which represents 72.5% of the city’s total manufacturing output.

Lutsk has a successful motor vehicle manufacturing sector with a well-developed infrastructure, helping to develop a favorable climate for foreign investment. As a whole, from the time foreign investment began in January, 1994, through January, 2007, enterprises in Lutsk have attracted 223,4 million dollars. The largest sources of investments have been Great Britain – 107,4 million dollars -- and Poland – 68,6 million dollars. The most significant trading partners of Lutsk are the Russian Federation, Germany, Poland and Italy. Today in Lutsk there are approximately 400 industrial and 770 trade enterprises. In addition, 19 markets operate in the city – the largest being the Central Market and Zavokzalny Market, with active trade in agricultural products as well as food and non-food goods. One of the largest automobile markets in Ukraine is located on Ershov Street in Lutsk. The financial industry has also grown quickly in Lutsk and there are now more than 30 banks in the regional center. The average salary in the city is 1064 grivnas as of June of this year.

Lutsk is connected by railway not only to Kiev, Lviv, Odessa, Simferopol and Chernivtsi but also with Berlin and Warsaw. There are two bus stations in different parts of the city that provide connections with other cities of Ukraine and with other towns in the Volyn region. Trolleybuses and mini-buses also run throughout Lutsk. In addition, over 30 thousand private vehicles are owned and operated by the citizens of Lutsk.

Modern Lutsk is divided into the old and the new city. The old city is a historical and architectural preserve, where architecture of the ХІІ-ХVIII century can be found. One of best known structures in the old city, the Upper Lutsk castle, is included as one of the ten oldest fortification buildings of Western Europe. In 1429 the castle was the site of a convention of European monarchs. Today it has become a popular staging ground for cinematography and a variety of music videos. The star of Eurovision Ruslana Lizhichko initiated the well-known project “Castles of Ukraine” - for the protection and preservation of unique sights of ancient times - on the walls of Lutsk castle. Also located in the old city are the Catholic cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul, the Orthodox Svyato-pokrovska church where old traditional worship is still conducted, a former neogothic Lutheran kircha and a Jewish synagogue. It is also possible to visit a medieval underground complex beneath Lutsk castle, including a temple, tombs and dining-rooms as well as to walk on mysterious underground roads that according to legend once extended under the whole city.

One of the longest central avenues of Lutsk is beautiful Voli Avenue that was so named after the proclamation of independence in Ukraine. Parallel to the avenue, which is decorated with flower-beds and fountains, flows the Styr River, a tributary of the Pripyat River. Adjoining the Styr River is Central Park named after Lesia Ukrainka which along with extensive peaceful, tree-lined walkways contains a beach along the river, a children’s amusement park and a zoo.

Voli Avenue

The new city of Lutsk is divided into 55 micro districts, with the newest development in the 33rd and 40th districts marked by multi-story apartment buildings constructed in the 1970’s and 80’s. These areas house the major part of the population of Lutsk and now include a variety of stores, schools, restauarants and grocery markets. One of the largest hypermarkets in western Ukraine, Tam-Tam, is located in this area.

Scientific and educational facilities of the city include 27 comprehensive schools and 9 higher education institutions. The oldest of them are Volyn National University named after Lesia Ukrainka and Lutsk National Technical University. In January, 2007, in secondary school №16, classes for the children of Roma nationality were established.

10 print mass media publications are produced in Lutsk: seven city news-papers and three magazines. There are also two television broadcasting companies, five radio stations, five large printing enterprises and seven publishing houses. Cultural facilities in the city include the drama and musical Taras Shevchenko Theater, the Palace of Culture (Prosvita) which offers a variety of events including performances sponsored by the regional philharmonic society, and the Puppet Theater for children. Admirers of fine art can enjoy a variety of paintings in the Art Gallery of National Union of Artists of Ukraine.

Lutsk is also known even outside Ukraine as a city of various festivals, national fairs and knights’ tournaments. In summer, tourists can enjoy the festival of modern Ukrainian song “On the Waves of Svityaz”, our festival of authentic folk creations “Beregynya” and the international festival “Poliske Lito” with folklore from numerous countries including Ukraine. Traditional knights’ tournaments take place in Lutsk castle. The International musical festival named in honor of Igor Stravinsky has become known for its excellence and is a Lutsk tradition.

Saint Mykolay has been considered the protector of Lutsk since ancient times and is commemorated by a bronze monument constructed by the citizens of the city.
In addition, the lives and fates of famous historical figures – of Galshka Gulevichivna, cossack otaman Severyn Nalivayko, writers Lesa Ukrainka and Olena Pchilka, iconist Yov Konzelevich, orientalist Agatangel Krymsky, composer Igor Stravinsky, geologist Pavlo Tutkovsky, political figure Vyacheslav Lipinsky and many others are connected with the city.

A regional museum will acquaint visitors not only with the history of Volyn and its heroes but also with its modern life. There are unique rarities in the collection of the Volyn icon museum including the oldest icon in Ukraine – the icon of Kholmska God’s Mother (ХІ century). In the museum of bells in Lutsk Castle, you can examine the display of exhibits and listen to the bells’ magical sounds.

Lutsk attracts visitors not only by its history but also by its interesting, friendly people and by the opportunity to experience the modern city, to relax among the variety of lush parks and flower-gardens and to taste national and local dishes in the network of dining establishments. There are 60 bars and restaurants, 180 cafes and snack bars, 40 cafeterias, dining-rooms and summer cafes in Lutsk. Lutsk is always happy to greet guests!


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