Mukachevo Palanok Castle: a mighty giant of Transcarpathia

Q: How many people visit Palanok Castle annually?

‘Zakarpattya Online reports that in 2023, more than 180,000 tourists visited Palanok Castle.

Q: When was Mukachevo Castle built?

The exact date of the castle's construction is unknown. The earliest mention of the building is found in the context of the political activities of the Hungarian King Stephen I the Holy, who strengthened the walls of the palace and gave it a fortification value.

Q: When was the historical museum in Mukachevo Castle established?

The fortification's main attraction is the historical museum, established in 1989. Currently, the museum has 8,000 exhibitions, the main of which is the History of Mukachevo.

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01 Oct. 2024

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Mukachevo Palanok Castle: a mighty giant of Transcarpathia

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The history of Mukachevo Castle - through the echoes of centuries
What secrets does Mukachevo Castle hide?
What does Mukachevo Castle look like now?
What catering facilities does Mukachevo Castle offer to tourists?
How to get to Mukachevo Castle?

Mukachevo Palanok Castle: a mighty giant of Transcarpathia

Western Ukraine is famous for its fortifications. Dozens of castles, both working and ruined, attract tourists from all over the world. Interesting architecture, spooky legends, and historical secrets are all about them. The most famous in Zakarpattia is Mukachevo Castle, also known as Palanok Castle. Find out about its history, interesting places, legends and secrets in the material by Visit Ukraine

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One of the most famous fortification giants of Ukraine, the Palanok Castle, is located in Zakarpattia. Its location (near the city of Mukachevo) gave it another name - Mukachevo Castle. One of the main mysteries is its age. No one knows how old the building is, but it is already mentioned in chronicles dating back to the 11th century. ‘Zakarpattya Online reports that in 2023, more than 180 thousand tourists visited the Palanok Castle. Read the article to find out what attracts tourists from all over the world to Mukachevo Castle, what they can see there, and what excursions they can join.

The history of Mukachevo Castle - through the echoes of centuries

Mukachevo Castle is built on a mountain of volcanic origin. As mentioned earlier, the exact date of the castle's construction is unknown. The earliest mention of the building is found in the context of the political activities of the Hungarian King Stephen I the Holy, who strengthened the walls of the palace and gave it a fortification value. As it turned out later, the decision was correct, as neither the Polovtsians in 1086 nor the Mongols in 1241 were able to capture it.

The heyday of Mukachevo Castle was in 1396-1414, when it was owned by Prince Fedir Koriatovych of Podillia. He rebuilt the palace and turned it into his residence. Koriyatovych started a long process of fortification of the building, and by the 16th century there were already 14 (!) defensive towers. In the 17th century, the castle was acquired by Yuri I Rakoczy and made the capital of his principality, Transylvania.

At the end of the 17th century, the fortress was captured by Austrian troops, and in the 18th century it became the strongest eastern fortification of the Austrian Empire. For more than a century, it served as a prison, but in 1848, during the Hungarian Revolution, all prisoners were released under the pressure of local residents. Subsequently, in honour of this event, the Tree of Freedom was planted here, which grew until 1960 when a storm toppled the centuries-old linden tree.

In 1897, the castle was bought by the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Justice, but no attention was paid to its development and restoration, so the centuries-old architecture gradually fell into disrepair.

Today, the castle is home to a historical museum that anyone can visit.

What secrets does Mukachevo Castle hide?

1. It is located on an inactive volcano.

2. It has secret passages under the walls and towers, which served as a shelter for local residents during the attacks of foreign troops.

3. It is divided into three levels: Upper, Middle and Lower castles.

4. It commemorates the ruler of Transylvania, Ilona Zrinyi, who led the city's defensive garrison for 2.5 years (it was the longest siege in the city's history).

5. It has an 85 m deep well that can supply the palace with water during a siege.

6. The name of the castle comes from the Italian ‘palanca’ - a palisade, so experts believe that the fortress was built in the times of Kyivan Rus.

7. Among the passages of the castle was the so-called ‘corridor of death’: when enemy troops entered it, the corridor was closed on both sides by iron gates, and boiling water and tar began to pour from above.

8. For some time, the owner of the castle was Sofia Bathory, who entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most mass murderer in history. Terrible legends about the cruel princess still roam the streets of Mukachevo.

What does Mukachevo Castle look like now?

The Upper Terrace has been reconstructed. The fortification is decorated with a historical museum established in 1989. Currently, the museum has 8,000 exhibitions, the main one being the History of Mukachevo. There are also exhibitions dedicated to the Rakoczy family, Fedir Koriyatovych, poet Ferenc Kazinca and ATO soldiers.

The exposition dedicated to Fedir Koriyatovych was the last to be opened - in 2018 as part of a joint Ukrainian-Lithuanian project. The exhibition is called the Room of Historical Memory of Prince Fedir Koriyatovych.

The historical museum also features monuments to Fedir Koriyatovych, Ferenc II Rákóczi and Ilona Zrina, a monument to Celt and a monument dedicated to the victims of the Holodomor. The memorial plaque to Sandor Petofi is not to be missed - the poet visited the castle when it was an Austrian prison. We also recommend that you check out the plaque commemorating the preservation of the Hungarian crown in Mukachevo Castle.

The bronze monument of the turreted falcon can be seen far beyond the castle. It weighs 850 kg, is 2 m high, and has a wingspan of 5 m. The monument, dedicated to the totem bird of the ancient Hungarians, was created in 2008 by sculptor Mikhail Belen. In fact, it is an interpretation of an ancient monument also dedicated to the rook, which was dismantled after World War II and is now housed in the Transcarpathian Museum of Local Lore.

What catering facilities does Mukachevo Castle offer to tourists?

Upon arrival at the castle, you can visit the following establishments:

- Family cafe and bakery;

- the Medovyi Dom tasting room, where you can feel like a real beekeeper - wear a suit and work with a beehive.

We told youmore about Zakarpattia's catering establishments with a link to a video by Misha Katsurin and Anton Ptushkin.

How to get to Mukachevo Castle?

From Uzhhorod:

- by train (the cost varies from 28 to 250 UAH);

- by bus (the cost varies from 280 to 390 UAH, the bus runs every 15-20 minutes);

- with a travelling companion, using carpooling services (about 110 UAH);

- by taxi (the cost varies from 280 to 350 UAH);

- by your own car (the cost varies from 268 to 387 UAH, depending on the price of petrol, the distance is 42.2 km).

From Kyiv:

There are currently 8 trains between Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi and Mukacheve stations.

The earliest train No. 749O departs at 11:20 am, and the latest - No. 045D - at 22:02 pm.

Train tickets for the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi - Mukacheve route are sold 45 days in advance.

Bus fares on the route Kyiv - Mukacheve start at UAH 1029. Check the schedule on the relevant services.

You can also get to Uzhhorod, and from there to Mukachevo Castle.

From Lviv:

It takes 3 hours and 40 minutes to get from Lviv to Mukachevo by bus. The minimum ticket price is 409.00 UAH. The first bus departs at 09:10 and the last one at 18:55. There are 3 trips per day.

The train route is usually less popular among tourists. The current train schedule for the route Lviv - Mukacheve can be found here.

To book tickets, arrange travel insurance, advise on tours and organise the best route, please contact Visit Ukraine (Telegram | WhatsApp). We guarantee support at every stage of your trip.

Findone of the most interesting tours of Mukachevo Castle here.

Find more tours of Transcarpathian castles with Visit Ukraine here.

Photo: Ukrinform

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Frequantly

asked questions

Where is the Palanok Castle located?

One of the most famous fortification giants in Ukraine, the Palanok Castle, is located in Zakarpattia. Its location (near the city of Mukachevo) gave it another name - Mukachevo Castle.