In the 13th century the Halych Principality as part of the Ruthenian (Rus) Kingdom stretched from Przemyśl to Podolia, form Mukacheve to Terebovl, and from Busk to the Southern Bucovina.

By the end of the 13th century the Kingdom went into a heavy conflict with Lithuania, Poland, and Hungary with partial successes and failures.

The partition of the Ruthenian Kingdom ensued the Galicia–Volhynia Wars as both Lithuania and Polish states fought for their expansion east.

The new town of Halych was soon re-established in close proximity to the bishop's residence, receiving its Magdeburg Rights in 1367.

The preserve includes numerous churches, a system of defense structures, and various other historical artifacts of the ancient Ruthenian capital.

The raion had a single urban-type settlement of Bilshivtsi that was established in 1940 after the annexation of the former Polish territory to the Soviet Union.