olechko

A fortnight of self-indulging has passed. Lots of interesting things learned and seen. Apparently a large sub-culture of our people are into mineral water-treatment (also ozekerit- mountain wax, fresh air walks and salt shafts breathing exercises). Some dedicate to it up to a month of time each year! The often positive effect stands proves them right. The exercises seem to improve their health greatly.

Truskavets is an ancient settlement in Pre-Carpathians (Lviv region). It’s name comes from ?latin for salt. Previously, the local folk would base the livestock in the mineral water springs to treat skin problems and thanked the providence for the healing. In 1827 Tarasevych - an Armenian apothecary from Lviv has discovered the water in Truskavets can benefit people’s health when drunk. Rich in oil-based elements, it dissects calcium in body and removes kidney stones. The town bloomed at the end of XIX Century, full of Austro-Hungarian aristocracy. A few mineral water springs were named after Austrro-Hungarian empress Eduard and Maria, who vacationed there.

The vacationers also put up church there in 1827 - a place of worship and socialization, is also an item to invest by rich patrons. The church burned down in the 60s, was turned into a movie theater, chemical storage barn, and finally found its angel-savior in a face of polish-descendant enthusiast. Twice weekly, the guy opens the organ music evening so reverently retelling the story of the church down to smallest detail, once in a wile a rich benefactor is being discovered in one of the listener. Suddenly the for gets tiled or walls repainted for their donations- just like in the olden times. The organ sounds great and is usually accompanied by a violinist - pani Maryana. The evenings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays, entry- by donation only.

A Yanosh villa, one of few that stands today, all in a quirky secession style, more looking like neo-dutch style. (see pic of Bilas villa) A Crystal palace was built, all crystal down to door knobs, and exotic plant glass houses. After the war the soviets made it their resort for those gloriously building up communism. Multi-storied gray apartment-block looking resorts have risen up and stands there today - full of Russian-speaking folk- on the background of looming Carpathians. This mix of aristocratic Austro-Hungarian-polish style and soviet reminiscences remains here today.

This mix of aristocratic and soviet is now diluted by the neo-riches of east Ukraine. A couple villas and resorts are due to open this season. Some belong to Donetsk, other - to Dnipropetrovsk clans. All real estate divided up a while ago.
Recently Med-Palace - a rehabilitation center was built there. It offers similar services as the rest of the resorts in town, only at world-class standards. All there is about self-indulgence, from oxygen foam drinks to swimming pools, fully equipped with five kinds of saunas, exercise room, massage and three floors of other sweet pleasantness. The weather is very temperamental due to the proximity of the mountains. Apart from a few luxirious resorts like this med-center, the rest of town looks pretty dilapidated. The more so such place becomes attractive.

Going rate at a villa or one of the resorts goes between $35-$70 per day, lodgin, diet meals, doctor consultations and various prescribed treatments included. Usually people stay for 21 days - the traditional term- long enough for the water to take effect on one’s health. And don’t forget to take advantage of tours, pletifully offered by local companies. On a day trip you can see the best sites in the Carpathians, Lviv and around.

Truskavetskurort (+3803247) 5-31-85

Travel agency Pidgirya (+3803247) 6-60-27

Victoria villa (where we stayed) тел. (+3803247) 5-31-85

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 18th, 2007 at 8:22 pm and is filed under architecture, travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.