Palanok Castle rises on a hill above the city and has been preserved in excellent condition to this day. Historically, Palanok Castle was a defensive fortress, which was considered one of the most impregnable in Eastern Europe.
Shernborn Palace - a magical castle built for the family of counts who ruled the region. The Shernborn Palace is full of symbolism. There are 365 windows - symbolizing the days of the year, 52 - chimneys, this is the number of weeks in the year, as well as 12 entrances, respectively, the months of the year. Around the castle there is a large park, which is part of the ideal composition conceived by ancient architects. Today it is located in the Schernborn castle. Hundreds of holidaymakers come here to relax and recuperate.
Uzhgorod Castle is an ancient fortress in the regional center. Its special feature is its high walls, which will definitely impress tourists. The Uzhgorod castle has remained in good condition to this day. Now on the territory of the Uzhgorod castle there is a local history museum, where you can get acquainted with both the history of the fortress and the past.
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The Vinogradov Fortress is popularly called the Kankov Castle. The first mention of a fortification in the region dates back to the distant year 903. The fortress is located next to the Black Mountain. The castle itself was built in a rectangular shape with square towers around the perimeter already in the 11th century. The main purpose of the castle was to protect the border and escort traders who supplied salt to the west along the Tisza. Over time, the castle became the property of Franciscan monks and a monastery was founded here. It was through the outer clothing of the monks - Kanko, that local residents called the fortress “Kankov Castle”.
In the 15th century Due to civil strife between the feudal lords, the Kankiv castle was destroyed. Today, the ruins of the castle, the remains of the walls, chapel and foundation have been preserved.
Chinadievsky Castle was built in the 15th century. the Pereni family. The castle is located in the valley of the Latoritsa River. Locals call the castle Szent Miklos (Castle of St. Nicholas), in fact, it received this name from the old Hungarian name for the region. The main task of the fortress was to guard the border and approaches to. In ancient times, it was from here that the Hungarian kings began their campaigns against Rus'.
Saint Miklos Castle has been well preserved to this day, welcomes tourists and is being restored with funds from donors.
The castles of Transcarpathia are an important part of the history of the region; by visiting them you can personally feel the greatness of their rulers and owners. Not all castles in Transcarpathia are in perfect condition, but all are worthy of attention. They are a clear confirmation of the warlike history of the Transcarpathian region.
I have already written more than once that Transcarpathia is a unique region. Here, different kingdoms, empires and cultures collided, were born and died, often leaving behind the same cultural heritage that still carries the memory and spirit of the times almost a thousand years ago. Castles, palaces, fortresses, fortifications - all this is in abundance here, in different states - from almost destroyed, to sparkling spiers and brightly painted walls. In the two days that we devoted to the castles of Transcarpathia, you can see a lot or almost nothing, however, in any case, you can get an idea. So, go ahead :)
In Transcarpathia, Ukraine // se16.livejournal.com
Mukachevo Castle or Palanok Castle.
Mukachevo Castle or Palanok Castle in Transcarpathia, Ukraine // se16.livejournal.com
An absolute gem, one of only five castles in Europe preserved in this form. Very beautiful and powerful, giving many vivid images to artists and writers.
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According to one of the legends, the castle stands on a hill, hand-built by residents nestled at the bottom of the town of Mukachevo. This is where the name of the city “Mukachevo” came from, with the root of the word “flour”, because the people’s labor was hard labor and turned into flour. The next photo is not mine, but I consider it necessary to insert it to fully understand the grandeur of the ancient fortress.
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The reality turned out to be much less tragic, but no less surprising. The castle was built on a rock that appeared out of nowhere (rocky outcrop), right in the middle of the Transcarpathian plain, and of volcanic origin.
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The citadel has many tragic and heroic pages in its history. The exact time of construction is not known, however, the castle was first mentioned in documents at the beginning of the 11th century, that is, a thousand (!!!) years ago... The awareness of this and of yourself standing in the middle of the castle courtyard, touching the stones of the walls, immerses you in some very distant worlds and the atmosphere of this giant portal to the past. Fantastic!!!
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With your permission, I will deliberately not provide any historical information, limiting myself only to personal feelings.
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I also remembered...under the ringing laughter of my wife, I refused to go down into the dungeon for an excursion...I was fooled by vampires...)))) anyone who has watched Twilight will understand))))
Castle of Saint Miklos.
Castle Saint Miklos in Transcarpathia, Ukraine // se16.livejournal.com
Built on the border of the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle has a very beautiful legend. Years have carried with them the memory that a kind ghost lives in the castle, helping you find your soul mate - your love. And strange as it may seem, many meetings took place in the castle, which became the beginning of great love.
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Hunting castle of Schönborn.
This amazing place is either a castle or a palace. When you find yourself next to him, it’s as if you find yourself in Europe of the 18th-19th centuries. Or a piece of Europe itself ended up here by chance... In any case, everything is not so. The owners of these lands in the 19th century, the Shenborn family was very fond of hunting. According to their instructions, a wooden hunting lodge was built here in 1840.
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Just 50 years later, on the site of the wooden building, the palace that can be seen now grew up, becoming one of the architectural pearls of Transcarpathia.
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One of the remarkable pages in the history of the castle was the interest of Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering in the castle during the Second World War. There were even negotiations between Nazi Germany, the owners of the castle and the government of Carpathian Ukraine about the purchase. However, the deal did not take place.
Hunting castle of Schönborn in Transcarpathia, Ukraine // se16.livejournal.com
In the post-war period, the giant Karpaty sanatorium was organized here. And so, it was no longer nobles who began to walk through the palace parks, but simple resting workers...
Many people wonder why Transcarpathians are so different from other residents of Ukraine? Why is Transcarpathia so unique? Everything will be explained by the history of the region, full of vicissitudes and unexpected turns of fate. The Kingdom of Hungary, Transylvania, the Austrian Habsburg Empire, the Czechoslovak Republic - and this is not a complete list of states that included the lands of Transcarpathia. Throughout history, the region belonged to 22 state entities, each of which left its mark on Transcarpathia, giving it a unique appearance and a peculiar mentality.
You will discover the real Transylvania, free from the stereotypes of the vampire Count Dracula. Few people know that the lands of Transcarpathia were part of the Transylvanian Principality, which existed for only 165 years and was in many ways ahead of its time, becoming a harbinger of European freedom.
Driving through the village of Seredne, located in the middle between Uzhgorod and Mukachevo, you will learn about the oldest castle in Transcarpathia, which in the old days was the easternmost outpost of one of the most mysterious organizations of humanity - the Order of the Knights Templar. Who knows, maybe this is where the mysterious Grail is hidden, haunting human minds for millennia.
But Serednee is famous not only for its Templar castle. In the 16th century, the owner of these lands was Istvan Dobo, the famous captain of the garrison of the Hungarian fortress of Eger. Thanks to the talent of the commander, in 1552, the two-thousand-strong garrison of Eger Castle withstood the siege of the 120,000-strong Turkish army, thwarting the Ottomans’ conquest. Knight Istvan Dobo drew the right conclusions from the war and created unique impregnable fortifications! Captured Turks carved underground shelters about five kilometers long into the rocks. These shelters later became the world-famous Serednyansky wine cellars.
A visit to the Mukachevo Palanok Castle, which is rightfully considered one of the seven architectural wonders of Ukraine, will give you an unforgettable experience. Throughout its history, since its founding in the IX century. and until the end of the 18th century, the castle played a significant role in the military-political life of Europe, giving its descendants a grandiose historical heritage. Ilona Zrini, Imre Tekeli, Ferenc Rakoczi and many other heroes of their time became role models for us, our descendants.
Having passed through the centuries, Palanok Castle still amazes with its grandeur and perfection, rightfully being one of the most interesting monuments of Transcarpathia. It is no coincidence that the Mukachevo castle “Palanok” ranks second in Ukraine in terms of the number of visitors, after the Kamemnets-Podolsk fortress.
A tour of the historical center of Mukachevo will give you the charm of a European town frozen in time. The majestic churches, cathedrals and ancient houses built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire will not leave anyone indifferent. And, of course, the unusual Transcarpathian flavor will complement the vivid impressions of exploring the Silver Land.
In addition to a walk around the center, a delicious lunch awaits you. And then, along the old trade route to the Veretsky Pass, we will proceed to the village of Chinadievo, where the amazing Saint Miklos castle (XV century) is located.
A fascinating tour of the ancient castle awaits you, where great love was born. In the light of past events, this ancient castle is rightly called the “castle of love”, the walls of which have witnessed history, which the whole of Europe followed with bated breath.
By visiting the castle, you will also become a witness to the story of love for your homeland, for your land. The tenant of the castle, Josip Bartosz, in a short time, from ruins littered with garbage, out of sheer enthusiasm, recreated the historical heritage of our country. The Saint Miklos Castle has become a real pearl of Transcarpathia.
On the territory of the Karpaty sanatorium you will discover the palace of Count Schönborn, where grandeur, beauty and romance are intertwined. It is not for nothing that this creation of a genius architect is recognized as one of the best hunting castles of the European aristocracy. The palace was built in the style of the times of the “Sun King” - Louis IV, and today charms and surprises many sophisticated visitors. A wonderful addition to the excursion will be a walk along the alleys of the ancient castle park with more than a hundred years of history. The paths of the park will lead us to the “Fountain of Youth” spring. Tradition says that whoever washes his face with spring water three times will certainly become younger. Don't believe me? Try it!
On the way back to Uzhgorod you will learn a lot of interesting and funny things about your favorite childhood films. After all, it was in Transcarpathia that episodes of such beloved and world-recognized films as “17 Moments of Spring”, “Waterloo”, “Gold of the Carpathians”, “Tabor Goes to Heaven” and many others were filmed.
All the castles of Transcarpathia were once built as guardian fortresses of this land. Each of them spans centuries of existence – even non-existence! - became surrounded by legends. And no matter how successful historical science has been, many of these myths still can neither be substantiated nor refuted...
Walled-up maidens and underground groans, bloody traces of the Dracula family and a mountain of torment - all the legends of Transcarpathia cannot be listed. Moreover, the castle passions were supplemented by the stories of all the countries and authorities that visited here, the myths of castle-palaces, the secrets of fortifications that disappeared in ancient times. Thus, over the centuries, dozens (if not hundreds) of mystical tales have been formed, which still haunt the imagination of contemporaries.
Uzhgorod Castle, Uzhgorod
The legend of Uzhgorod Castle tells of the cruelty of Count Druget towards his daughter. The girl was walled up alive in the castle walls for unconscious treason - giving away castle secrets to her beloved, who turned out to be an enemy commander. According to another version, because she did not want to become the prince’s wife, but gave her heart to a simple guy. And the worst thing is that in the 17th century, when the Drugets ruled and when the Poles attacked Uzhgorod, there really was a custom of immuring people in the fortress walls. Allegedly for the sake of increasing the defense capability of the structure...
Nevitsky Castle, Nevitskoye
The castle in Nevitsky is shrouded in legends about the obnoxious filthy girl and the daughters-in-law, whom he allegedly protected. The dirty wench, as folk legends say, was the name given to the Turkish princess who ruled the castle. She ordered eggs and milk to be added to the defensive walls for strength. The walls became stronger, but hunger began among the people... Another story tells about the Nevichanskaya maiden, the young mistress of the castle. Fleeing from a forced marriage, she threw herself into the abyss right here. 
Templar Castle, Middle
Knights Templar monks, monks of the Order of St. Paul, feudal lords, Uzhgorod magnates... Serednyansky castle could not withstand all its owners and the historical collisions that befell its fate over seven centuries. The ruins of the fortress could tell us, for example, about a beautiful and cunning young lady: they say she once lived here. But even cunning could not save the girl from her murderous father, who was walling up people in the castle dungeons. By the way, Transcarpathians still say that some kind of underground passages connected as many as four castles in Transcarpathia - Uzhgorod, Nevitsky, Serednyansky and Mukachevo. 
Palanok Castle, Mukachevo
Mukachevo Castle, like a living fairy tale, rises on a large lonely volcano that long ago fell asleep forever. However, it is still described as a “mountain of torment” created by the hard work of the peasants. Another story about torment says that people suffered during construction precisely because of the steep mountain up which they had to pull stones. There are also many legends about the castle well, where, supposedly, the devil himself found water in order to later destroy Prince Koryatovich. 
Castle Saint Miklos, Chinadievo
About the castle of Saint Miklos they say that a walled human skeleton was found within its walls. It seems that in the Middle Ages people thought that a person immured in the castle walls became the patron-guardian of the fortress and did not consider this matter to be murder. But the more romantic history of the castle is connected with lovers - Count Imre Tekeli and Princess Ilona Zrini. It was here that they first met and fell in love with each other... At least, that’s what the legends say, thanks to which the fortress was dubbed the “castle of love.” Now the fortress is being actively revived and is welcoming guests. 
Khust Castle, Khust
The most interesting legend about Khust Castle has certain historical roots. She is connected with the family in which the notorious Count Dracula was born. Dracula's mother, Vlad the Impaler, actually came from these lands, which are now divided between Ukraine and Romania, and were once called Maramorosh. And Dracula’s grandfather, Bogdan from the Sas clan, the Maramorosh voivode, could well have lived in the castle. But is it true that his grandson later hid his treasures here and did evil deeds? Unlikely, although the version is intriguing. 
An attempt to graphically reproduce the castle.
Kankov Castle, Vinogradov
The Vinogradovskaya fortress is now just a fascinating memory; little remains of it. The ruins and the cross stand alone on Black Mountain, but you still want to touch them. Vinogradov legends say that the castle was built during the time of the glorious Hungarian king, whom we know as St. Stephen. But over time, this castle became only an object of struggle and war - and then it fell into decay. 
Nyalab Castle, Korolevo
The royal castle also did not know the mercy of history. Its powerful walls have not even retained their outlines. But the legend about him is among the most romantic, because it is about King Vladislav and the beautiful Caroline. It is surprising that the legend is not tragic - meeting, love, marriage and children follow one after another. It is only unknown what happened to the royal family next - tragedy befell them during one of the Tatar invasions. They say that the noble couple and the princes fell asleep forever under the castle walls. 
Vyshkovo Castle, Vyshkovo
This non-existent castle in Vyshkovo (a village near Khust, famous for its unique architectural monument - a wooden Reformed church) had a certain common feature with the fortresses of Khust, Vinogradov and Korolev. It was also a “salt” castle - designed to protect salt mining in Transcarpathia. Castle legends are associated with twelve robbers who once occupied the mountain where the Vishkov fortress stood. The robbers mocked the peasants, and one owner’s daughter was stolen and taken to the castle. She cursed, and prayed, and begged... And suddenly such a storm covered the castle that it destroyed it. All that remains of the fortress are ruins. 
Recreation of the castle by Shoosh Elemer.
Minta Castle, Kvasovo
To see the remains of the Minta Castle in Kvasovo above the Borzhava River, you should hurry. A few more years and there may be nothing left of him at all. People say that once upon a time an unfortunate rich man lived here. Dying, he cursed his goods. And no one could reach it or capture the castle... So the stronghold disappeared over the centuries. 
Borzhavsky Castle, Vary
The remains of Borzhavsky Castle in the village of Vary are located a 25-minute drive from the town of Beregovo, famous for its healing thermal waters. It's almost on the border with Hungary. According to legend, the castle was destroyed by Batu Khan, and this happened in 1241. Legends tell the tragic story of the unhappy marriage of the Borzhavian prince Chernogor and the Galician princess Milota. The unfortunate princess loved another - and in a tragic coincidence, she died during the Hungarian attack precisely at the hands of her beloved. 
Bronetsky Castle, Bronka
The castle in Bronka (28 km from Irshava) has hardly survived at all; all that remains are barely noticeable ruins of walls and foundations. Nobody knows the time of his appearance. This could also have been the period of the ancient state of Dacia, which later became part of the Roman Empire. The treasures of Bronetsky Castle, its fate and death are shrouded in tragic legends; even why the fortress fell, only its ruins know for sure. There was also tragic love: the robber knight Brinda allegedly died here, having cheated on his beloved with another. The unfortunate girl took revenge by denouncing him to the authorities. Along with Brinda, the secret of the treasures he stole, which the Transcarpathian Robin Hood hid somewhere in the Bronets dungeons, perished. 
Reconstruction of the Bronets Castle Sh. Elemer.
Belkovsky Castle
The remains of a Slavic settlement (8–9 centuries) on the outskirts of the village of Belki, Irshava region (this is one of the largest villages in Ukraine with a rich history, located 10 km from Irshava) only a folk legend remains. The peasants built a castle on the mountain to escape their enemies. They called that mountain Gorodishche. When a powerful attack by the Tatar horde occurred on the village, women and children dug an underground passage under the castle while the men held the defense. So everyone escaped, but the castle, they say, fell into the ground, and now even traces of it are no longer noticeable. 
In addition to the classic fortresses of Transcarpathia, well-known similar architectural structures, but of a different type, are of interest - in particular, the Dolzhansky castle-palace and the hunting castle-palace in the Beregvar tract (Schönborn castle).
Countless legends have been preserved about the disappeared and mythical fortresses of Transcarpathia. These are, for example, the mysterious Cat Castle near Chernecha Mountain (Mukachevo region) and the Owl Castle in the village of Antalivtsi near Uzhgorod. There are also legends among the people about the Pagan Castle on Mount Stremtur near Irshava, Beylev Castle (Beilovar) in the village of Belovartsy, Tyachevsky district. They also talk about the Galabor kastel (that is, a castle-palace) in the village of Galabor near Berehovo and other fortifications, castles and fortifications in Ardanov, Mala Kopan, Vyshkov, Dedova, Velyki Berega... Transcarpathia is shrouded in legends, as in the cradle - and they are were and are an indispensable feature of this mysterious region with a magical, unique charm.
