EXCURSION OBJECTS OF MYKOLAIV AND SURROUNDINGS (LVIV OBLAST)

Abstract

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the tourism potential of the town of Mykolaiv and its surroundings in Lviv Oblast. The main objective of the research is the identification and characterization of excursion sites that may significantly contribute to the development of geotourism in this part of Western Ukraine. The methodology combined field investigations with desk-based analysis, which allowed the authors to explore the geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological structure of the region. While Lviv and well-known spa resorts such as Truskavets, Skhidnytsia, and Morshyn remain the focus of most tourism studies, this work emphasizes a less-researched destination that combines natural, cultural, and anthropogenic resources of notable value. Among the most prominent natural attractions are the Dniester Valley and the landscape reserve “Starytsi Dnistra,” which preserves rare wetland ecosystems, floodplain meadows, and forests with endangered species. Zadorozhne Lake, created in the former cement quarry, has become one of the most popular leisure zones, offering beach recreation, scuba diving, paddleboarding, and accommodation facilities. Other geotourism assets include the Lisna Cave (also known as “Mammoth–Kohutia”), a site inhabited by bats and notable for its geological structure, and the Pryima Grotto, where archaeological finds testify to the presence of Neanderthals about 45,000 years ago. In the northern sector, the Stilske settlement complex represents an important archaeological reserve associated with the early medieval culture of the White Croats, adding considerable historical depth to the region’s tourist offer. Cultural and historical monuments are also significant. In Rozdil, visitors encounter the palace of the Zhevuskis-Lantskoronskis family, once housing a rich art collection, and the defensive Carmelite monastery with the church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the village of Zaklad stands the imposing charitable institution founded by Count Stanisław Skarbek, later repurposed as a Soviet prison and currently functioning as a correctional facility. Although many of these monuments are in poor condition, they still embody substantial cultural and architectural value. Industrial heritage also contributes to the geotourism profile: abandoned quarries and sulfur-extraction landscapes form unique anthropogenic reliefs that, despite ecological risks, possess educational and recreational significance. The study emphasizes that the coexistence of preserved natural landscapes, anthropogenic forms, and historical monuments makes the Mykolaiv area a promising geotourism destination. However, the authors underline that sustainable tourism development requires the cooperation of local communities, businesses, and scientific institutions. Proper promotion of these resources may raise cultural awareness, foster identity with the local heritage, and simultaneously improve the economic situation of the region by stimulating hospitality services, infrastructure, and employment. Thus, Mykolaiv and its surroundings, strategically located within transit routes of Lviv Oblast, can transform from a marginally known locality into a dynamic tourism hub of regional importance.