Pharmacy Museum, Lviv (must see)

The Pharmacy Museum in Lviv offers an engaging look at the history of medical practice in a city long known for its intellectual and commercial traditions. Established in 1966 inside an 18th-century apothecary, it occupies a building that has functioned as a working pharmacy since 1735. This continuity gives the museum a distinctive atmosphere, where the past feels closely connected to the routines of daily life that once unfolded behind its counters.

Inside, visitors find a series of carefully arranged rooms that trace the evolution of pharmaceutical work in Galicia. Original shelves, jars, mortars, and scales illustrate how medicines were prepared before industrial production became widespread. The historic laboratory, preserved with its wooden furnishings and equipment, reveals the precise and often labor-intensive methods used by early pharmacists. These displays highlight both the scientific and artisanal aspects of the profession, showing how remedies were crafted from herbs, minerals, and imported ingredients.

Another part of the museum explores the commercial side of pharmacy, presenting rare books, trade records, and decorative containers. These objects help explain the importance of Lviv as a centre of medical knowledge and trade within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and later under the Habsburgs. The collection also includes examples of pharmaceutical symbolism—such as serpents, cups, and allegorical figures—that once signaled trust and expertise to customers.

A visit concludes in the building’s cellar, where vaulted rooms and reconstructed storage spaces offer a quiet contrast to the main exhibition halls. Here, visitors can see how valuable ingredients were kept secure and stable before refrigeration. Together, these spaces create a clear and accessible narrative of the apothecary’s role in Lviv’s cultural and scientific life, making the museum a thoughtful stop for anyone interested in the city’s layered past.