Potocki Palace, Lviv

sketchfab

The Potocki Palace in Lviv, Ukraine, was constructed during the 1880s as a prestigious urban estate for Alfred Józef Potocki, who served as Austria's Minister-President. No expense was spared to transform it into the grandest noble residence in the city, situated on Copernicus Street at number 15. By the start of the twentieth century, the surrounding parkland had given way to a series of apartment buildings. The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic seized control of the palace in 1940. In 1972, the building was repurposed for wedding ceremonies and underwent subsequent restoration efforts. In the twenty-first century, Ukraine's President claimed the palace as one of his official residences. Some architectural features from the Potocki Palace were incorporated into an adjacent exhibition hall, which opened its doors in 1996. The matches for the Women's World Chess Championship held in 2016 took place within the palace walls.