This exceptional architectural monument of the 16th-17th centuries is matchless not only in Lviv, but in the whole of Europe. Construction on this alluring structure began in 1588 and incorporated locally mined, vibrant grey sandstone. The imposing black colour is a product of long-term absorption by the stone of dust, dirt and smoke that swirled about the market (coal was used to heat homes until the 1960s). The name Black Stone House didn’t always apply, it was previously known as Kyiv Stone House and Doctor’s Stone House. In 1926 the building was bought by the city and a branch of Lviv’s historical museum was soon established.