Ancient cave complex

The ancient cave complex is a small historical and architectural monument located in a picturesque area near the town of Skole, Lviv region. It is a complex of artificial caves carved into the sandstone on a hillside. The date of its foundation is unknown, but according to various versions, it could have originated as early as the 11th-13th centuries, when Christianity spread throughout these lands and the first secluded monastic settlements were built. Some researchers associate it with the period of Kievan Rus, others with the time when monks hid in the Carpathians, fleeing from Tatar-Mongol raids or religious persecution. The cave complex consists of several rooms, a small chapel, and traces of wooden structures and passages connecting different levels. Carved crosses and recesses for lamps have been preserved on the walls. There are folk legends associated with this place. According to one of them, the underground passages of the caves go deep into the rock and lead to neighboring villages. Another version claims that the caves were used as a hideout by the opryshky (folk rebels) who were active in the Carpathians in the 17th-18th centuries. Today, the cave complex is a secluded place of rocky architecture where you can feel the spirit of antiquity preserved among the forests and stones.