The city Zhovkva was founded in 1597 on the territory of the Old Russian settlement Vinniky, near an ancient city Shekotiv (Shekotin). The first mention in chronicles about the village Vinniky belongs to 1368. The village Vinniky laid on the borders of Zvenihorod and Belz principalities, through territory of which trade-routes laid from Halych and Lviv to Belz and Khelm. The location of settlement promoted it to mushroom growth. After the disintegration of Galychina-Volyn principality and the capture of its territory by Poland at the end of 16 century (1588) the village Vinniky became property of hetman Stanislav Zholkevs'kyi, who got afterwards the royal privilege of Zigmunt III on building of new city. The city Zhovkva is built on principle of "ideal cities" - the conception of time of Renaissance. The management in city was carried out by a city council which was elected on the consent of proprietor of city. One of modern researchers of city paid attention to accordance of a plan structure of Zhovkva to theoretical work of Pjetro Cataneo (1500-1572). This architectural intention was realized by P. Shaslivyi. On small territory of historical center, that has status of State historical-and-architectural reserve since 1994, today there are about 55 sights of architecture, including world level sights. The city is attributed to the first category of value of register of historical cities of Ukraine. Since 1998 Zhovkva is a pretender on bringing to the list of the World inheritance of UNESCO.