Twin City: Stryj

Part of the railway building in Stryj.

Stryj, located in a charmingly scenic area in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, offers numerous possibilities for excursions. The open-air museum and the spa waters in the nearby health resorts Morshyn and Truskavic attract more and more tourists to this region. The city Lwiw (Lemberg), about 80 km away from Stryj, offers a historic center, which is on the list of the UNESCO world heritage. The center displays architecture from the Baroque, Renaissance, Art Noveau, and Classicism periods in a confined area. Stryj was established in 1385 and was a blooming trading town in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1772, it became Austrian, 1919 Polish, and 1939 Ukrainian. After the Second World War, the country belonged to the Soviet Union. With a turning point in Europe, the Ukraine became independent again in 1990.

Since September 15th 2001, Düren has had a partnership with Stryj. Mayor Paul Larue and his Ukrainian counterpart Roman Schramoviat signed the corresponding document in the conference room of the City Hall of Düren.
The roots of this partnership lie with the commitment of the St. Augustinus Hospital. The surgeon Dr. Wolfgang Spithaler of Düren and the executive director of the hospital Gabor Szük provided humanitarian help with their team in the cities Lwiw and Stryj numerous times. Since 1999, Düren's doctors travel to the Ukraine on the initiative of the orthopedist Michael Markowics to operate on the people.

Meanwhile, the cooperation and encounters have intensified. There are many contacts in the areas of politics, administration, economy, medicine, welfare, school, sport, and culture. A special priority is the internships for young people from Stryj in the companies and facilities of the district town on the Rur. This allowed more focus to be placed on the East in the growing together of Europe and to walk in the way of understanding and cooperation.

www.stryi-rada.gov.ua