Want to see a collection of antique apothecary equipment? Would you like to purchase the signature Iron Wine mixture? Or perhaps you want to visit an alchemical laboratory? Then go to Rynok Square, where on the corner of Drukarska and Stavropigiska Streets there is the Museum-pharmacy «Under the Black Eagle». This place belongs to one of the most popular attractions of Lviv.
The pharmacy «Under the Black Eagle» is considered to be the oldest pharmacy in the city, it was founded in 1735 by the military pharmacist Natorp. In those distant times, the pharmacy not only served the function of selling medicines, it was also the place to go for patients who just needed advice. Times passed, owners changed, but the pharmacy «Under the Black Eagle» for several centuries was considered the best in the city. In 1966 a museum was opened in its building, although the idea of its creation emerged in the XIX century
.
The museum exposition is located in 16 halls and counts more than three thousand exhibits and includes various ancient pharmacy equipment: presses for squeezing, herb cutters, mortars, beakers, samples of manual machines for the production of pills, drying cabinets and many other interesting things.
First of all, visitors can visit the museum in 16 halls.
First, visitors are greeted by the central hall, which even today houses a working pharmacy. Here you can see ancient pharmaceutical scales, cash registers and the oldest kerosene lamp, with its help the first in Lviv operation with the use of light. The interior of the hall is decorated with oak cabinets with artistic carvings, the ceiling is painted by Austrian master Staal.
The second room, accessed by a large door near the counter, features a collection of pharmaceutical glassware and equipment from various eras.
The library, which includes 3,000 copies of pharmaceutical and medical literature, is in the third room.
And lovers of mystery and mysteries will undoubtedly be attracted by the alchemist’s laboratory, based on ancient engravings.
Once in the ancient apothecary cellars, it is as if you are transported back several centuries, because their interior is a copy of the interior of the early XVIII century.
A visit to the pharmacy museum «Under the Black Eagle» you will certainly discover a lot of new and interesting things.