Skole is a small town located in the southern part of Lviv region. It is famous for its luxurious natural resources, extensive historical baggage and marvelous architectural forms. The list of Skole attractions is as big as the number of mountains in the Carpathian ranges.
Naturally, that holiday in Skole would never have taken place, if not for the location of this settlement in the intermountain valley Skolivskie Beskid on both banks of the river Opir. The town is surrounded by low mountains — Dobryaná and Klíva, Korčanka and Zelemin. A little farther stretches the Kievets Ridge and the Kremenna Mountain. The latter belong to the National Park «Skolivskie Beskidy».
Those who come here can count on trekking along the most interesting routes of the Skolivskie Beskidy. Tourists will be offered marked trails to Parashka Mountain, to Lopata, to Gurkalo waterfall or to Kamenetska waterfall, a decoration of the Kamenka River. A separate interest is the protected place «Tustan», where Prince Sviatoslav is buried, and local springs of mineral waters — 7 iron-containing and 3 with water of the type «Naftusya».
Your vacation in the Carpathians can be enriched by rafting. In May, when the Opir fills with water of snow melted in the mountains, you can start rafting from Slavske, which is 28 km away from Skole. In summer, when the water level in the river is minimal, rafts, kayaks and catamarans start from the district center.
Of particular value for those who plan to relax here is the local vegetation. The surrounding mountains are covered with relict fir and beech forests, the green mass of which saturates the air with phytoncides that destroy bacteria.
Everyone can take advantage of the natural treasures and attractions of Skole. You just need to know the best way! The fact is that many residents of the town are engaged in so-called «green tourism». Having earned money in Italy and Spain, they returned to their «piece of paradise» and built family hotels with a small number of rooms. Most of the hotels are erected on the slopes of the surrounding mountains out of wood. The decoration and the food served are in keeping with the traditions of the Boyks, one of the most colorful ethnic groups in the Carpathians. But the owners of local hotels have not forgotten the foreign experience of hotel business organization. Service, furniture, household appliances here are like in the best hotels on the shores of the Gulf of Naples. In addition, many hotels have been given Italian romantic names that speak of the origin of the investment, something like «Villa Romania» or «Villa Emilia».
For those who are seriously interested in vacationing in the Carpathians, an association called «Resort Skolivsky» has been created. In its office, which is located at the address — Skole, Stryjska Street, 35A, you will be provided with a complete list of «green estates», pricing policy and characteristics of villas. By the way, the owners of these villas are often organizers of walking tours around the Beskids, to springs of healing water, provide guests with the opportunity to mow hay, ride horses or treat them to steam milk.
Naturally, a vacation in Skole would not be so interesting, if it were not for the grandiose history of this city. The first written mention of the town dates back to the X century and refers to the biography of the Drevlyan prince Svyatoslav, son of Vladimir, brother of saints Boris and Gleb. But even before the appearance of one of the Vladimirovichs in these places, Skole was known as a transit route for Magyars and Goths moving to Pannonia.
The times when Skole was under the protectorate of the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia were described by the main Carpathian boyko — Ivan Franko. His «Zakhar Berkut» shows how the locals resisted the aggressive Mongol hordes coming from the east. The era of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is considered truly fertile for the formation of the sights of Skole. Under the Poles, the town acquired its own castle, Town Hall (later dismantled) and two breweries. Under the Habsburgs, Skole became home to craftsmen — locksmiths, metallurgists, bakers, watchmakers, shoemakers, who migrated here from Alpine Germany at the invitation of Isabella Lubomirska. In addition, the Austrian Baron Gredl and his brothers built a hydroelectric power plant in the town, organized logging, opened a quarry, built a water supply system and inspired the idea of green tourism and recreation in Skole.
Once here, you can see the former baron Gredelej’s palace and visit the church of St. Panteleimon from the 16th century, a unique monument of Boykovo architecture. Check out the Church of the Virgin Mary’s Sorrows or pray in the church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Besides the sacral sights of Skole, you will be able to see unique wooden mansions built in the XIX century and even stay in one of them. The main thing is to get on vacation in Skole, and the sights and active entertainment will not be a matter for you!