The Franz Joseph Gymnasium was opened in 1857 and was located in several rooms of the building “Pod Guskoj” at 11 Blyakharskaya Street (I. Fedorova). In 1864–1876, the gymnasium was located in the buildings of the Bernardine Monastery on Valova Street. In 1875–1876, a building was constructed specifically for the Franz Joseph Gymnasium on 5 Batory Street (Kniazia Romana Street) according to a design by architect Juliusz Hochberger. Until 1870, the site was occupied by the old church of St. Leonard of the Discalced Carmelites. The gymnasium building is decorated with figures of prominent Poles located in niches on the third floor: Adam Mickiewicz, Tadeusz Czacki, Jerzy Maksymilian Ossoliński, J. Sniadecki, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Jan Długosz, created by Lviv sculptor Tadeusz Baron.