The city as a national work of art: modernity and nation building in fin-de-siècle Lviv

In fin-de-siècle Lviv, historic monuments played a pivotal role in modern nation-building, particularly in ethnically diverse regions of central and eastern Europe. The study reveals that the Old Town of Lviv, with its multi-ethnic heritage, was deliberately reinvented to strengthen Polish national identity. This transformation involved securing the 'Polish character' of the area through architectural preservation and urban planning efforts led by local authorities and institutions. The research highlights how secular historic architecture served as a tool for nation-building, emphasizing its significance in shaping collective identity during this period.

Łupienko, A. (2020). The city as a national work of art: modernity and nation building in fin-de-siècle Lviv. Urban History, 48(4), 663–683. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0963926820000589