The residence of the metropolitans of Bukovina is an architectural complex - the pearl of Chernivtsi and the pinnacle of creativity of the famous Czech architect and scientist Josef Hlávka.

The residence is a balanced group of three main buildings around a beautiful square. At the head of this space is the residence of the Metropolitan with a chapel.

On the sides - a seminary and a house for visitors. The ensemble is organically complemented by a church, and its culmination was the domes and towers.

The construction of this palace building was a real event for Chernivtsi, near the city there were built brick factories, new quarries; famous craftsmen and builders arrived from Vienna, Prague and other cities of Austria-Hungary.

Among them was Karl Jobst, who, together with Karl Svoboda, designed and executed the artistic design of the ensemble's interiors.

Today, the former residence houses three faculties of the Chernivtsi National University.
Chernivtsi National University was founded on October 4, 1875. by decree of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary Franz Joseph as part of the theological, philosophical and law faculties. The famous scientist and public figure K. Tomashchuk became the first rector. Scientists of European and world level taught and conducted research here: economist J. Schumpeter, lawyer G. Gross, historian R. Kaindl, Slavist A. Kaluzhnyatsky, Ukrainianist Smal-Stotsky, composer and writer S. Vorobkevich and others.

After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the accession of Northern Bukovina to the Romanian Kingdom, the university in 1940. was considered a Romanian institution of higher education.

In 1940 after the reunification of Northern Bukovina with Ukraine, the university was reorganized into a state higher educational institution with the Ukrainian language of instruction. In 1989, Chernivtsi University was named after the outstanding Ukrainian writer of Bukovyna, the predictor of the Ukrainian national revival in the region, Yuriy Fedkovych.
In October 1999, Chernivtsi University was accepted as an honorary member of the International Organization of Universities "Phi Beta Delta" (USA).

Considering the general state and international recognition of the results of activities and a significant contribution to the development of national higher education and science, by Decree of the President of Ukraine dated September 11, 2000 No. 1059/200 Chernivtsi State University named after Yuriy Fedkovych was granted the status of a national university.