Bilshivtsi (Bołszowce)

 

Once Bilshivtsi was a town with Jewish, Polish and Ukrainian population, but now it is a quite Ukrainian village.

The Annunciation church and Carmelite monastery, which were built in 1624 and desecrated by the Soviets, are being restored by Poles.

One synagogue was rebuilt during the Soviet times into a House of Culture. Its building was enlarged with attachments on the western and southern sides. Another synagogue, standing nearby, was destroyed and used as building material for the House of Culture.

At the Jewish cemetery on a hill, an Austrian artillery unit was stationed during World War I. The traces of the entrenchments are still visible, while all tombstones disappeared in the Soviet times. 

The photographs made by Dr. Vladimir Levin during the expedition to the Ivano-Frankivsk region in August 2009.

Annunciation church in the Carmelite monastery, built 1624
Annunciation church ...

Annunciation church in the Carmelite monastery, built 1624
Annunciation church ...

Annunciation church in the Carmelite monastery, built 1624. Interior, detail.
Annunciation church ...

Annunciation church in the Carmelite monastery, built 1624. Interior.
Annunciation church ...

Memorial to Shevchenko - the national Ukrainian poet
Memorial to Shevchen...

Former central square
Former central squar...

Former central square
Former central squar...

Former central square
Former central squar...

Former central square
Former central squar...

Former central square
Former central squar...

Former central square
Former central squar...

A Jewish restaurant was situated in this house before WWII
A Jewish restaurant ...

Synagogue

View from southwest
View from southwest

Southern facade
Southern facade

Southern facade
Southern facade

Western facade
Western facade

Eastern facade
Eastern facade

Northern facade
Northern facade

Interior view towards east
Interior view toward...

Interior view towards west
Interior view toward...

On this place stood the second synagogue
On this place stood ...

Jewish Cemetery

General view
General view

View from the Jewish cemetery
View from the Jewish...

Traces of the Austrian entrenchments from World War I
Traces of the Austri...

Traces of the Austrian entrenchments from World War I
Traces of the Austri...

View from the Jewish cemetery
View from the Jewish...