One of the oldest Lviv parks is the Ivan Franko Park, which is located opposite the main building of the National University. In the XVI century there was a garden belonging to the burgomaster of the city I. Shalts-Volfovich, and then to his son-in-law, the owner of the «Venetian» house on Rynok Square A. Massari. Having divided the garden into terraces, he redesigned it in the Italian manner. Over time, the territory of the park became the property of the Jesuit order, which built a tavern, a folwark, a brickyard and a brewery.
With the arrival of the Austrian government at the end of the XVIII century, the Jesuit order was dissolved and the park became the property of the city authorities. Having expanded the park to 12 hectares, it was leased to the entrepreneur I. Recht, who carried out redevelopment in the classical style.
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Many trees were planted, clear paths were paved, and in the center of the park was erected a white-stone pavilion-rotunda (a round building, usually topped with a dome) of Doric order — a rare example of Lviv classicist architecture of small forms. In addition, a restaurant and a swimming pool, a carousel and even a summer theater were built here. The park was regularly cared for, bushes and trees were trimmed, and the paths were sprinkled with sand.
Later Ivan Franko Park changed owners several times and in 1855 it became the property of the city again. The famous city gardener Bauer carried out landscaping works: he replaced smooth paths with winding ones, cut down old trees and created several picturesque meadows.
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In 1881, they began to equip the lower part of the park, built a beautiful art vase and flower beds.
In 1964, a monument to the great writer Ivan Franko was erected in the parterre in front of the National University.
In this picturesque place you can see different species of trees: ash, oak, maple, hornbeam. There are also exotic species: Manchurian aralia, catalpa, mahonia, wild apple tree blooming with snow-white color.
From early morning, when the birds start singing, until late evening, the Ivan Franko Park invites guests under its green crowns.