Where else can be sweeter, freer and more beautiful than in the mountains?! Boundless meadows of fragrant flowers against the background of an incredibly deep and clear sky. severe stone cliffs harmoniously look against the backdrop of dense emerald forests. Where the winding ribbon of a mountain stream sparkles in the distance, and there the playful water grows into a stormy and unrestrained waterfall. With light gentle touches, the bright sun draws its own pictures with the colors of the rainbow on a transparent water canvas, understandable only to nature. As if harsh guardians surrounded the mountain peaks from all sides. Some of them are cold and covered with a white cap of snow, while others are covered with dense forests, reminiscent of furry bears that have sunk into hibernation. And now the bear does not sleep, he keeps his one eye open, the beast is staring at the order. And just take a closer look - and it immediately becomes clear - this is not the eye of a large beast, but a crystal clear mountain lake surrounded by dense mountain grasses.

Where else can you touch real clouds?! Just imagine: you are climbing to the top, and a thick white carpet appears in front of you ... and a few more meters - and you seem to rise above the world ... and how can you not feel like a free bird ...

And not only untouched and pure nature attracts thousands of tourists every year. The Carpathian region is a fabulous land! The land of centuries-old traditions, hospitable and sincere people, magical villages and cities that are unlike any other in the world. To get to know this amazing land better, it’s not enough to hear someone’s impressions, it’s worth visiting! Regardless of what time of the year you are going to spend your holidays in the Carpathians, whether it be autumn or even winter, you will gain unforgettable impressions and improve your body. Of all the variety of miracles, it is still difficult to choose one single one, so our article will highlight individual places that are worth visiting at the beginning of a trip to the Carpathians.

1. The city of Yaremche - the capital of tourists in the Carpathian region

A small and cozy Carpathian town on the banks of the Prut River is located in a picturesque mountain basin. Although the history of the city is not even three hundred years old, it was Yaremche that became the cradle of Carpathian culture and traditions. Extremely colorful and colorful, it combines rhythmic modernity and wise antiquity. Through the hospitality of the locals, their love for nature and neighbor ancient mystery old mountains becomes accessible to every tourist.

Yaremche is especially interesting during the biggest religious holidays. It seems that before you is not an action familiar to the townspeople with traditions that have already been passed through more than once, but a real theater. A variety of colors, a variety of songs and actions will not leave indifferent any of the guests. A real theater with genuine actors against the backdrop of incredible landscapes is able to find an inflammatory Hutsul in the soul of each of us. Rest in Yaremche you will remember for a long time.

What is worth seeing in Yaremche

• Suspension bridge over the Prut.
• Reserve with wild animals.
• Old railway bridge.
• Ancient wooden temples of the XVII-XVIII centuries, made in the colorful local architectural style.
• Museum of Ethnography and Ecology.
• Restaurant "Hutsulshchyna", built without a single nail.
• Pass "Pereslop".
• Dovbush rocks.
• Souvenir market.

Night view of Yaremche (Yaremche) from a bird's eye view

2. Unforgettable vacation in the village of Polyanitsa

The next destination is the village of Polyanitsa, which belongs to the Yaremche city council. The settlement is quite modern and developed. Despite the rather Ukrainian name, the village can easily compete with the most famous ski resorts in Europe. It is near Polyanytsya that the largest ski resort in Ukraine "Bukovel" is located.

Each tourist can be amazed not only by incredible landscapes, but also by the cleanliness of the streets, their orderliness, a large selection of cozy and modern private estates and hotels. Therefore, while relaxing in Polyanytsya, you will collect a full bowl of unforgettable impressions.

• Ski resort Bukovel.
• Pedestrian pass "Tables" 1130
• Upside down house.

3. The picturesque Carpathian village of Yablunytsya

The village with the appetizing name Yablunitsa is located 35 kilometers from the city of Yaremche. Due to moderately cold winters, the snow cover remains for half a year, and due to the large number of slopes, Yablunytsya is one of the most popular resorts in the Carpathian region.

As in a deep cauldron is Yablunytsia, from all its sides are surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. A fabulous time is summer, when the air is filled with sweet herbal aromas and bright juicy flowers. You just want to get into such a natural corner. Yablunitsa - relax and forget about household chores.

Without which it is difficult to imagine Yablunitsa

• Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin of the 18th century.
• Mount Khomyak;
• The highest peak in Ukraine Hoverla (2061 m).
• Mount Petros (2020 m).
• Yablunitsky pass.

4. City of Ukrainian customs and rituals - Kosiv

According to local legend, Kosiv is part of the heavenly land. And it's hard to disagree with that! The land of horticulture and beekeeping, the world mecca of folk arts and crafts. The entire Carpathian and mountainous region is represented in the works of local masters. Kosiv - the national encyclopedia of the Hutsul region. Visiting and resting in Kosovo is a holiday of body and soul, you can go on forever.
From such pleasure poetic lines are born by themselves:

"The smell of copper and licorice sunits,
Svіtankova dew on the princess - yalitsі,
I healing water of the blue spring,
I will always dream of such Kosiv.”

What else is Kosiv famous for?

• Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist 20th century
• Wooden Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• national park"Hutsulshchyna".
• Strutinsky Museum.
• Museum of the liberation struggle of the Carpathian region.
• Kosovo market.
• Kosovo Museum of Folk Art and Life.
• Waterfall "Kosovsky Huk".
• Castle ramparts.

Kyiv Kosiv, panorama from the ridge Sharp

5. Fabulous Hutsul village - Verkhovyna

Singing land with cheerful and friendly people. A magical and mysterious place that strikes the most skeptical minds. The region is so picturesque that it has become a favorite among writers and poets. The surrounding beauty and grandeur impressed director Sergei Parajanov so much that it was here that the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”, famous throughout the Soviet Union, was filmed.

Verkhovyna is like a fortress that protects the traditions of the Carpathian region from the south side. Very bright tradition of celebrating the wedding, which takes place here for a whole week. Folk traditional costumes are just the tip of the iceberg, and all other traditions and their diversity are simply difficult to list and understand right away. But the hospitable and sincere Hutsuls want the whole world to know about them. Therefore, there is no need to be shy, everything will be explained to you in the smallest detail - come and have a rest in Verkhovyna!

What is Verkhovyna famous for?

• Museum of Hutsul life, ethnography and musical instruments. R. Kumlik.
• Museum of Hutsul magic.
• House Museum "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
• "Hata-pack".
• Regional Museum of History and Local Lore of the Hutsulshchyna.
• Museum of Applied Arts, Iltsy village.
• Verkhovyna National Natural Park.
• Written stone.

6. Silver resort of the Hutsul region - the village of Sheshory

A rich and luxurious Hutsul village in the Kosovo region. Without a doubt, the best way to relax is to go to the Carpathians. Sheshory is a well-known resort throughout Ukraine and beyond, where pure mountain air with the aroma of real field herbs makes you dizzy. In which you wake up from the sweet singing of birds and a soft ray of sunshine. A resort where you heal with the help of nature, body and soul. A place where you can find inner harmony.

And of course where without skis. Specially equipped ski resorts await real daredevils and extreme sports in Sheshory. And delicious Hutsul cuisine will quickly restore your strength.

What to see in Sheshory

• Lake Swan.
• The tract of Petrichila.
• Waterfalls Big and Small Guk.
• Alley with American pine from the times of Austria-Hungary.
• Ridge "Brusny".
• One of the oldest Hutsul temples is the Upper Church.
• Festival of ethnic music and land art "Sheshory".

7. Village Skhidnitsa

The settlement in a wide valley on the banks of a small mountain river is located in the Lviv region, Drohobych district. The former all-Union resort is still famous throughout Ukraine thanks to the Naftusya mineral water. Spring water of this type helps with diseases of the liver and kidneys, anemia, salt diathesis, diabetes mellitus, normalizes the acidity of the stomach, etc. Water helps in cell regeneration, therefore it rightfully deserves the title of "living water".
In total, there are 38 springs and 17 wells on the territory of Skhidnytsia. In addition to water, Skhodnitsa is known for its healing mud.

As for a resort, the tourist infrastructure is quite well developed in the village, so the guest does not need to worry about housing and accommodation prices here for any budget. Rest in Skhidnytsia will become a truly curative and interesting pastime in the Carpathians.

What is worth seeing in Skhodnitsa

• The memorial room is a museum of the discoverer of the Skhodnitsky mineral water deposit E. Stotsky.
• Route Skhodnitsa-Ugrich (10 km.) State Historical and Cultural Reserve "Tustan".
• Remains of the Iron Guta blast furnace.
• System mountain ranges"Beskydy".
• Room-museum of folk life.
• Stone Nicholas Church of the 17th century.
• Skhodnitskoye oil field.
• Skhodnitskoye mineral water deposit.
• Landscape regional park Stuzhytsia.

8. City of Skole

A small provincial town of regional significance Skole belongs to the Lviv region. Historical Center Boykivshchyna, is included in the List of historical settlements of Ukraine. The settlement has a large number of architectural and natural monuments.

The city of Skole is surrounded on all sides by mountain peaks of different heights, which makes it cozy and protected from cold winds. Skole is leisure for the whole family. The temperate and mild climate allows walking among nature on the banks of a clean river, among green and cozy forests, among fragrant herbs.

• National natural park "Skole Beskydy".
• Church of the Seven Sorrows, con. 19th century
• Dead lake.
• Palace of the Barons Grödlei.
• Kinsky Palace.
• Cave monastery XIII-XVI centuries.
• Dovbush rocks.
• Fortress Tustan;
• Church of the Great Martyr. Panteleimon (Saint Paraskeva).
• city ​​of Parashka.

9. Pylypets village

Pylypets is an alpine village, one of the largest in the region. The famous ski resort, which belongs to the Transcarpathian region. The most visited Pylypets during the ski season. For lovers winter holiday and extreme here are specially equipped trails with a total length of 20 km, the longest of them has 6 km, and 7 lifts. Also, the village has a well-developed infrastructure: hotels, estates, restaurants, rental offices, etc. For lovers of home comfort, you can rent a room in the private sector.

• Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin;
• Mount Gymba.
• Mount Zhyd Magura.

10. Shayan village

The real pearl of Transcarpathia is the resort village of Shayan, famous for its mineral springs. It was on the basis of these sources that one of the oldest baths of Maramorosh zhupy was founded. Local water is able to cure and cleanse the intestines, cure stomach ulcers, get rid of urological diseases. Shayanskaya mineral water in terms of its properties, it is equated with the well-known medicinal waters "Borjomi", "Narzan", "Essentuki".

The developed infrastructure will allow the tourist to forget about the problems of accommodation, and the surrounding clean and incredibly picturesque nature will help restore all lost strength. Come to the Carpathians and relax in Shayan.

Sights of the village Shayan

• Healing springs of Marmarosha.
• Peaks Shayan, Shayanikha, Shayanchik.
• Vigorlat-Gutinsky ridge.
• Mount Lopos.
• With. Velyatino, a unique herd of buffalo, the only one in Ukraine.

Carpathians and Transcarpathia - Ukraine

Carpathians and Transcarpathia

Ukrainian Carpathians- This is part of the Carpathian mountain range, located on the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathian, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions. According to one of the versions, the name of the Carpathians comes from the name of the Karp tribe, who lived in this territory in ancient times. The highest point of the Carpathians is the top of Hoverla - its height is 2,061 meters above sea level.

Karpaty - video

Transcarpathia located in the southwestern part and foothills of the Eastern Carpathians. administrative center Transcarpathian region is a city. In terms of area, this is one of the smallest regions (about 13 thousand sq. Km.). Approximately 1.2 million people live here. By ethnic composition, the population of the region is divided into Ukrainians, Hungarians, Romanians, Russians, Gypsies, Slovaks, Germans, Belarusians, Jews, Poles and Moldovans. The relief of the region is represented by mountain ranges, which occupy about 80% of the territory and the Transcarpathian lowland (the remaining 20%), where the main part of the population lives. More than 9 thousand rivers flow within the region. The largest of all is the Tisza River, the length of which within the region is 240 kilometers. Among the numerous lakes of Transcarpathia, the most famous is Lake Synevyr. The temperate continental climate of Transcarpathia with a rather sensitive influence of the Atlantic determines here a long and warm summer and a relatively mild winter. The average January temperature is -4 degrees (in mountainous areas -10 degrees), and the average July temperature is +21 degrees.

The region's economy is focused on the use of local natural resources. In this regard, the industry is represented here by the forestry, woodworking, wood-chemical, light, food, machine-building industries, as well as the production of building materials.

Sights of the Carpathians and Transcarpathia

The main attractions of the Carpathians and Transcarpathia are ancient castles and fortresses. In the city of Uzhgorod, interest for tourists is old castle, whose construction dates back to the 12th century. The castle was rebuilt several times, but retained the architectural features of that time. Opposite the old castle there is a museum of residential buildings, where you can see Ukrainian, Hungarian and Romanian buildings, in which the interior, furniture and utensils characteristic of these peoples have been preserved. Also in the museum is an old church built of wood without the use of nails.

It is definitely worth a visit, which is located a few kilometers from Uzhgorod. The Nevitsky castle is popularly called the castle of the "Bad Maiden". In the 12th century, the building was destroyed by the Transylvanian prince and has never been restored since then.

Pay attention to the village with the name Berehove. In this village you will find the famous thermal source, the water temperature in which is kept at around +45 degrees all year round. Bathing in the spring helps in the treatment of diseases of the spine and sciatica.

In the city of Mukachevo, tourists will be able to visit castle "Palanok" built in the thirteenth century and recently restored. Currently, the premises of the castle are used as hotel rooms where weddings and other celebrations are held.

Near Mukachevo there is the most beautiful castle in the entire territory of Transcarpathia - Shenborn Castle. The building was erected at the end 19th century in the style of romanticism. The roof of the building is covered with red tiles, so it can be seen from afar. There are about 300 window openings on the facades of the building. At the moment, there is a sanatorium with the name "Karpaty" in the castle.

In the 15th century, Baron Pereni was built as a residence Chinadievsky castle, which is also called "Saint Miklos". In the second half of the 17th century, as a result of the attack of the Polish troops, the castle buildings were quite badly damaged. In recent years, the building has been reconstructed - exhibition halls are already open in some rooms.

In the city of Vinogradovo, tourists will see Kankov Castle, which was built in 1329 as a defensive structure. Also in this small town you should pay attention to the Ascension Church.

Ascension Church

In addition to the above-mentioned sights of Transcarpathia, it is worth paying attention to Borzhavsky, Kvasovsky, Bronetsky, Vyshkovsky, Khustsky, Serednyansky castles with preserved wine cellars, the Dovgaiv Palace and the Dovzhansky Castle in the village of Dolgoye, the Kolochavskaya narrow-gauge railway, the Holy Spirit Church and others.

1. If you went to the mountains, be careful when making fires. To do this, it is best to find a place where there was already a fire before. If there is no such place nearby, then dig in your fire so that sparks from it do not fall on dry grass.

2. While walking through the forest, do not frighten wild animals, as well as domestic cows and goats grazing not far from you.

3. Don't leave trash behind - the best option is to take it with you. If you still have empty cans, then burn them on a fire and flatten them, and then bury them.

4. Take care of nature - do not pick berries without an urgent need, do not cut tree branches, since you can always collect dry brushwood to make a fire, do not pollute springs and streams.

5. In the event that you have lost your way, ask the locals for it. Here distances are usually measured by the time spent on the road. The locals will point you in the direction and tell you how long to walk. By doubling the indicated time, you will find out the true travel time.

6. If you are planning a trip to the mountains, then you should take into account that the weather here is quite changeable. You need to prepare in advance and take spare dry clothes and a hat with you. When traveling in the mountains as part of tourist groups, in no case do not lag behind the person walking in front, as you can get lost in the limited visibility.

7. Take into account that there is a border zone here, so residents of Ukraine must have a passport or other identification document with them, for example, a driver's license. Guests from other countries, in addition to a foreign passport, must have a document with them that confirms that they are on the territory of Ukraine legally.

8. Tourists who prefer skiing will be able to rent all the necessary equipment for 20-30 UAH. in a day. You will also have to pay for the use of the lift - the price depends on the place you have chosen for skiing.

9. When climbing mountain peaks, the air density decreases and some people may feel dizzy, shortness of breath and bouts of nausea may occur - these are the first signs of the so-called mountain sickness. If suddenly you are faced with a similar situation, then it is better to stop the ascent and return back. To relieve the symptoms of the disease, taking analgesics and intensive drinking helps. People with heart failure or other cardiovascular diseases should not make mountain climbs.

10. While relaxing in the mountains, avoid hypothermia, as this can lead to very serious consequences. If, nevertheless, this happened to you, then immediately find a warm room, drink hot tea, rub your frozen limbs and contact the first aid station. Attention! In case of hypothermia, avoid drinking alcohol!

Western Ukraine, namely Transcarpathian region is an amazing region where traditions are especially honored and culture is valued, where it is so easy to breathe, feeding on the energy and power of nature.

In other words, you can find more here than you ever thought possible. Journey through little-known and tourist places of the Transcarpathian region will not leave indifferent even professional travelers.

Where to go and what to see in the Transcarpathian region

Volcano on Black Mountain

Transcarpathian region, Vynohradiv

Photo otdyhaem.com.ua

The one "Black Mountain", which was previously considered active volcano, located above Kankov Castle from the side city ​​of Vynohradiv.

There is a small recreation area with a lake and a quarry where red clay was once scooped from. In the center of the presented territory is botanical reserve where tourists are also allowed.

Reserve extends over as much as 747 hectares, including a variety of vegetation: oaks and beeches, silver lindens and mountain ash. The density of vegetation, by the way, is due to the previously located here volcano.

The quarry from which red clay was mined looks simply amazing.

Transcarpathian region, Vinogradovo

Photo ukrainaincognita.com

Defensive Pereni Palace appeared in Transcarpathia in the 16th century. Tycoons Pereni framed lock in the Baroque style, giving sophistication and splendor to the structure. In palace from the very beginning there was a library, and this suggests that the owners were very rich people.

Palace of Pereni increased with each century due to the addition of new floors and the growth of infrastructure.

On the first castle floor there was a subsidiary farm and a warehouse, and on the second - rooms for guests and residents. castle.

All halls in the castle were decorated with symbols of the knightly dynasty and family symbols Pereni. Even the exterior was dominated by intricate and slightly angular symbols of the family coat of arms. Pereni.

Shipot

Transcarpathian region, with. Pylypets, ur. "Grunok"

Near the village Pylypets known for ski resort, is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Ukraine - waterfall Shipot.

Its peculiarity is in loud sounds that resemble a whisper. The water cascades down from a height of 14 meters and the sight is amazing.

Since 1993, all the informals of Ukraine have been gathering at the waterfall for the largest Shipot Festival. Locals claim that the water in the waterfall has extraordinary properties to heal diseases and improve health.

Kolochava narrow-gauge railway, Kolochava

Transcarpathian region, with. Kolochava, st. Friendship, 26

Museum "Kolochava narrow-gauge railway" is in charge skansen "Old Village" and is a real train!

Yes it museum train, which, by the way, is also engaged in transportation. In each of the 10 wagons you will find items related to the history of the narrow gauge railway. It is known, after all, that not only the Soviet mechanism was involved here, but also the Czech one.

A moment of history- The narrow gauge railway was created at the end of the 19th century in order to take workers to the sawmill, and then back along with the wood. Naturally, scientific and technological progress removed the need for such work, but the exhibit remained and is part of history. Transcarpathian region.

Nevitsky castle, Nevitskoe

Transcarpathian region, with. Nevitskoe, Kamenitsa, st. Uzhanskaya, 100, t/b "Verkhovyna"

Nevitsky castle first mentioned in documents in 1274.

It is located on a high hill covered with forest. Thanks to this, his ruin are among the most picturesque in Ukraine.

Lock is one of the favorite places to visit for honeymooners, and among tourists the castle has recently gained great popularity.

The castle is dilapidated, but at the same time it has a very romantic look, also thanks to the shingled roof on the donjon tower, which adds a little fabulousness to the fortress. If you have already arrived in Transcarpathia, then take the time to visit this wonderful castle.

Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Rakhiv

Transcarpathian region, Rakhiv, st. Red Pleso, 77

Ukraine is rich in beautiful nature reserves And protected areas, which is why they are worth seeing and protecting the environment.

So on the outskirts Rakhova located biosphere reserve of the Carpathians, which is represented by a huge variety in Europe and is considered the most valuable on planet Earth.

Yes, since 1992, this biosphere complex - UNESCO reserve, that is, it may soon become its object. There is a museum of natural history and ecology, and from the highest points one can see the best corners of Transcarpathia.

Transcarpathian region, with. Long, st. Victory, 3

Photo fotostudio.com.ua

Standing in the valley about Borzhava river and according to many scientists it was erected in the 13th century. Of course, initially the building was decorated with wood and stone, but later, along with the change of owners, the appearance also changed.

So, in the 15th century, a luxurious lock with a pushed back facade, and in the 18th century it was already restored Count Teleki. The count turned the castle into a summer residence, which gave it a special charm. The royal nobility and the highest ranks of society stayed here for a long time, but in the 20th century the Bolshevik raid began. Since then, a sanatorium has been operating here until now.

Old vat, Lumshory

Transcarpathian region, with. Lumshory, st. Lesnaya, 8

Photo traveller.com.ua

IN Transcarpathian region you can not just walk with a camera, snacking on cheese and drinking wine. Here you can also improve your health, and for real!

Chan in Lushmore- these are some kind of hot baths in the open space. Special water is extracted from mineral springs to cure many diseases. The beneficial properties of water extend to the nervous system, joints and skin.

In total, there are 18 vats with a capacity of up to 20 people. The water temperature in each of the vats ranges from 35 to 45 degrees.

They say that it is most useful to bask in a vat in winter.

Transcarpathian region with. Upper Grabovnitsa

Photo arpad-line.com

Hungarian troops in the 20th century eastern part of the Carpathians created the so-called Arpad line - a defensive strip for 600 km.

The line was not solid, but a little intricate with special moves and riddles. According to historical facts, this defensive line was built quite quickly, since during the Second World War there was no time to wait.

It is known that through Carpathians lay the path of the fourth Ukrainian front, which fought for more than a month with the Hungarian army. At that time, about 100 strongholds, more than 400 firing lines and almost 500 km of trenches were created here.

Serednyansky castle, Sredne

Transcarpathian region, with. Average

Photo m-a-d-m-a-x.livejournal.com

From Serednyansky castle practically ruins remained, but this does not make it less famous and popular.

If the legends are to be believed, then lock erected by the Templars- a secret order, which, according to legend, kept chalice of the Grail.

The peculiarity of the castle is that it was practically the only one made in the Romanesque style. The palace withstood many battles with dignity, but no one wanted to restore it, since it did not correspond well to the ideas about the life of rich nobles.

Mount Pikuy, Belasovitsa

Transcarpathian region, with. Belasovitsa, Volovets district

Mount Pikuy- the highest point of the Verkhovinsky Watershed Ridge. From the village to the top of the mountain lies a path 10 km long. This is one of the most picturesque corners of the Carpathian mountains.

Near the summit is the historical pass "Russian way", which was once the border between Poland and Hungary. There was also formed a wonderful Voevodin waterfall, the path to which persistent tourists will be frankly difficult, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Pikuy covered with beech forest and juniper vegetation. From above, reviews of other famous Carpathian peaks.

Daffodils in Khust

Photo ukrinform.ua

Thousands of tourists come to see this miracle every year. Valley of daffodils amazes with its beauty and the bright floral aroma reigning here. In May, about a thousand flowers bloom here. daffodils and delight the eye of curious inhabitants.

And now the main attraction of Mukachevo is Palanok Castle.
The castle is located on a hill, the height of which is 80 meters. The origin of the hill, as the guide told us, has two versions. According to one, it is bulk, according to the other, it is of volcanic origin.

Road to the castle:

A bridge is thrown over a dry moat:

On the right is our tour guide:

According to legend, once the castle was like this:

The thickness of the walls is impressive:

An analogue of a modern intercom between floors - you need to shout into this hole and you will be heard on the next floor:

In the courtyard:

Ancient well:

Let me remind you that the castle is located on a hill, the height of which is 80 meters. So getting to the water was oh so difficult. But nevertheless, they dug a well of the required depth, and water appeared in the castle.

On the observation deck:

Mukachevo at a glance:

Inspection of Mukachevo is over and you can go further to Uzhgorod.

Uzhhorod is the capital of the Zakrpatsky region. Uzhgorod is a city located on the river Uzh. Here is the river itself:

In the place where we left the car, there was some kind of rally (in the background):

A few shots of the city center:

Monument to the lamplighter:

The castle (oh, I had to look for a guide, they themselves saw almost nothing, and from what they saw they understood little):

Moat around the castle:

Courtyard:

From the fortress wall:

On this story about visiting Uzhgorod could be completed, if not for one institution. Having been in Uzhgorod, one cannot help but go for lunch at the tavern "Deca at the Notary". Cultural place. Literally translated, it means - 100 grams at the notary. The place where the Transcarpathian humor is collected and embodied.

Before having lunch, you need to go around and inspect the entire territory.

Guess who or what you are talking about :)

Fresh theme of Euro 2012 is also not left aside:

On the path to the WC:

Outstanding Beans:

Before leaving))) :

With all the gaiety, the food in the tavern is serious and delicious. National dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine.

We laughed and had lunch in the tavern, then left Uzhgorod and headed for Lviv (road M06 - Chop - Uzhgorod - Lviv). We drove past Mukachevo, after which we made a stop in Chinadievo - there are two more castles here.
The first castle is more like a big house:

And the second castle is a real palace. The former hunting lodge of the counts of Shenborn (a hunting lodge of such a scale seemed to them in the order of things). Now it has a sanatorium:

And they went out to inspect the surroundings from the height of the pass:

Somewhere not far from Skole, near the village of Nizhne Sinevidnoe, we liked a motel for an overnight stay:

Decent, clean, tidy, inexpensive and almost empty. The motel made me feel right at home. Polite and pleasant staff, good rooms. The motel is called "Viking Karpaty". Near the motel there is a gas station, as well as a cafe "Dikanka", where they cook delicious dumplings with a variety of fillings. We had supper and breakfast at Dikanka.
And on the other side of the motel there is a playground where we immediately launched football:

It got dark, and we go to the room to sleep. And when we wake up, we observe this view from the window:

This motel, by the way, turned out to be the most comfortable of all the hotels we encountered during our entire trip. And Wi-Fi was free in the rooms, and the Internet worked. And slept very well. 320 hryvnia for a 3-bed suite for our family (we were given an extra bed, so all four of us fit).
We have breakfast and leave for Lviv, about 100 km to it.

And finally - a few shots from the streets of Lviv:

The city is very beautiful

Every journey ends someday. Farewell, Lviv, goodbye, Transcarpathia, see you soon, Ukraine, and it's time for us to return home.

Practical Information

Road conditions and traffic in Western Ukraine

As of the summer of 2012, the H09 road, along which we drove from Yaremche through Rakhiv, Khust to Mukachevo, was of quite decent quality. Not wide, but at least pits and potholes, the quality of the coating is quite normal. Asphalt almost everywhere without cracks, no potholes were observed. The M19 / E85 road on the Ratno - Kovel - Lutsk - Dubno section is much worse, at night it’s better not to go there at all - there are a lot of holes, potholes, and in some places a real rut has formed from trucks in the asphalt - you can damage the bottom. It is normal to drive during the day, everything is visible, all obstacles can be bypassed if you do not rush. The same road M19 / E85 on the section Dubno - Kremenets - Ternopil is a little better, but only a little.
After the roads described above, the quality of the M06 / (E40, E50) road on the Rivne - Dubno - Lviv - Uzhgorod section is beyond praise. It is no wonder - this is the best track in Ukraine. There is a dividing strip and two lanes in each direction, the asphalt is not bad. Speed ​​limit - where 90, and where 130. Locals are worn faster than these limits :).
Traffic cops meet, they usually sit at a table with a laptop in a tent on the side of the road. Somewhere radars with video fixation are installed (then on the laptop screen you will be shown a video where you are in leading role:)), and somewhere ordinary old radars. I do not recommend violating, the fines are large - from 400 hryvnia ($50) and more. GAI officers work mainly for their own pocket, immediately reducing the fine for the client by half. You can and should bargain!
The most frequent and "expensive" violations are speeding and crossing a double solid line (where it is, of course). As long as you have not violated anything, no one will stop you "just like that", even despite your "foreign" numbers, do not worry. Our carriage was stopped only once for driving into the oncoming lane on a very "tricky" circle beyond Mukachevo, how to go from Mukachevo towards Uzhgorod. There, three roads join at the circle, more precisely, the P54 road adjoins the M06 road through the circle. We left Mukachevo along the P54 and had to turn around on the M06 towards Uzhgorod, but it turned out that this circle is not completely one-way, and one of its sectors has two-way traffic (where the M06 is)! And I just drove along a smaller radius, and it turned out to be oncoming! Well, it didn’t come to an accident, and I sensed something was wrong, moved to a larger radius, already inevitably violating the markings and the double solid line. The traffic cop saw these maneuvers of mine, stopped them, took me to the booth, showed the video, asked if I would recognize my car... We talked for a long time, the result of the conversation was minus 400 hryvnia to the traffic cop (bidding started directly from the price of the fine for creating an emergency and crossing a double solid line - from 850 hryvnia). Harsh, but there will be a lesson. And the circle there is really very tricky and whoever passes it for the first time, almost everyone automatically falls into this trap.
Local drivers are mostly adequate, of course there are reckless drivers and boors, but there are not many of them.
In general, road traffic does not carry any difficulties.

Where to spend the night in Transcarpathia (Mukacheve and Uzhgorod)?

In Mukachevo, we spent one night at the Weekend Hotel - 400 hryvnia for a quadruple room. The situation in the room where we spent the night is quite up to standard, there is satellite TV, a refrigerator, air conditioning, a nice full bathroom. Breakfast is not included, the rooms have free Wi-Fi, through which it was really impossible to access the Internet. There is a bar and a restaurant with room service. We ordered two mojitos to the room - the cocktails were made well and delivered quickly. All in all, nothing such a hotel.
They also recommend the hotel "Palanok" (next to the castle of the same name, very convenient for its inspection). A cozy double room will cost 290 hryvnia. There is a TV, refrigerator and air conditioning.
And one more hotel. "Mom's Abode" is a private boarding house of the European type Bad&Breakfast, located on Generala Petrov Street. Pretty comfortable hotel.

In Uzhgorod we recommend the hotel "Zolotaya Gora". In fact, this is a villa, located 2 km from Uzhgorod. Address: Uzhgorod district, s. Periwinkle. And one more good hotel - "Duet Plus" Double room from 400 to 500 hryvnia. Air conditioning, satellite TV, Wi-Fi. Located on st. Koshytska, 6.

Where to eat in Uzhgorod?

If you want to laugh, taste Transcarpathian humor, and at the same time eat well, visit the tavern

Where to eat in Lviv?

You can sit, drink beer in a pleasant and interesting place, and eat, at the same time, inexpensively in the Kryevka cafe. Located on Market Square. Very unusual and creative cafe, you even need to know the password :) . Without a password - cafe "Gas lamp" (Armyanskaya st., 20)
Sit and drink coffee and a lot of other things instead of coffee and for coffee - coffee shop "Golden Dukat". I. Fedorova street, 20
Delicious, satisfying and expensive meal with a beautiful view of the city - Garmata restaurant of the hotel "Citadel", st. Grabovsky, 11. Or the restaurant of the hotel "Opera" on Svobody Ave., 45.

P.S. Come to Transcarpathia!
Good luck!

To get an unforgettable experience from the trip, it is not necessary to get out somewhere very far. It often happens that a hometown, region, country hides no less interesting places that you definitely need to travel around. And even more so, this is true when it comes to such a country rich in tourist places as Ukraine.

It must be said that I have been on fire with the idea of ​​traveling around the cities of Transcarpathia for a long time: both friends who have been there, all as one praised the beauties there, and avenues travel companies, and other sources. In general, all as one, they talked about what a wonderful holiday in Transcarpathia. And in general, I really love nature, and where, if not in the Carpathians, to enjoy it?

And then I also learned about a unique place: not far from the small town of Khust in the Transcarpathian region, there are several hectares of untouched meadows where wild daffodils grow. Nowhere else in the world do they survive in the wild. Unfortunately, I found out about this in the summer, and they only bloom for a couple of weeks in early May, so the trip had to be postponed.

But for the next year, my girlfriend and I prepared in advance: we studied various travel options, both on our own and with travel companies, and eventually went to a travel agency from Western Ukraine, found out what kind of tours there are in Transcarpathia. Our travel company arranges amazing trips to unusual, unbanal places, and takes very little money for it. It was pointless to think further - we bought a tour in Transcarpathia from them.

Having reached Lviv by train, we easily found the meeting point: a colorful guide in national clothes could not be overlooked. Here we should immediately say that we were very lucky with the guide: we were personally driven by the head, founder and spiritual inspirer of this company. Most of the routes, including the one we chose, were developed personally by him. We didn’t have to be bored on the road: while the bus was running between destinations, we listened to his fascinating stories about the history of the region, about the population, culture, interspersed with local anecdotes and tales.

For interesting stories, we did not notice how we arrived at the first point of our program - the palace of Count Shenborn. Unfortunately, it did not quite retain its original appearance: during the Soviet era, it was nationalized and given over to a psycho-neurological hospital, and at that time many values ​​were lost.

To date, it has been restored and serves as a sanatorium. The appearance of the palace has been restored almost completely, and if you do not know about the tragic fate of its interior decoration, you will never guess that something is wrong with the palace. Its main feature has also been preserved: 12 entrances, symbolizing 12 months, and 365 windows that indicate the days of the year.

Around the palace is surrounded by a very beautiful park with lakes, bridges and rare plants, and in the depths of the park there is a source of water, which is believed to cure all diseases. I don’t know about diseases, but the water is really very tasty, we drank with pleasure and took it with us on the road.

Further, our path lay through one of the most famous among tourists cities of Transcarpathia - Mukachevo. Another ten kilometers to the city, through the windows of the bus we saw a castle that stood out against the background of the entire surrounding landscape, which towered over the city, standing on a huge mountain. From some angles, the mountain was not visible, and the illusion was created that it was floating in the air.

Having approached the castle and having overcome a long way downhill to the entrance to the castle, we saw massive gates and walls almost three meters thick! Here we were met by the director of the historical and cultural center "Castle Palanok" (this is the official name of the Mukachevo castle).

During the tour, we learned a lot about the history of the castle and the city, about the system of fortifications, which were innovative for their time and made it possible to protect the castle from being taken by the enemy even during the most large-scale and bloody wars.

Palanok Castle is the only one in Western Ukraine that has never been captured by any army. At the very top of the castle there is an observation platform, which offers a gorgeous view of the whole city and not only - an amazing sight!

Having taken plenty of pictures, descended from the castle and had lunch in a local cafe with a hearty Transcarpathian soup, we set off on our journey. On this day, we had to visit only one more place, but it promised to be very interesting.

We are talking about Beregovo - a city on the border of Ukraine and Hungary, where, thanks to the national composition (Hungarians make up almost half of the population here) and a unique climate similar to the south of Crimea, its own unique culture has been developed. And besides, this is the land of winemakers, and we had to visit one of them.

When the bus stopped in Beregovo and we got off, the first thing that surprised us was that it was very warm outside. And this despite the fact that it was only May 9 in the yard, and the time was not mass - about six in the evening, and in other cities it was relatively fresh.

As the guide explained to us, this is due to the special location of the city between two mountains, and it is always much warmer here than even in neighboring areas, not to mention the whole of Transcarpathia. Another surprise is the abundance of inscriptions in Hungarian and Hungarian-speaking citizens.

However, we did not have time for a long surprise, and we proceeded to real wine cellars, where we were met by the owner, winemaker Franz. Although he spoke Russian, it was clear that this was not his native language, and it was very difficult for him to pronounce many words. However, everyone soon stopped paying attention to this, because there were tables in front of us, on which there were all kinds of snacks for wine, and Franz himself began to talk about his winery, its history and the varieties of wine that he produces.

It turns out that this is his family business, founded by his great-grandfather, who came here from Hungary. Having bought a plot of land and planted the first varieties of grapes, he began to make wine. Over time, the winery has achieved good results, some varieties of wine are awarded international medals and certificates.

After the end of the story, the most interesting part of the tour to the winery began - the tasting. In total, we tasted 6 varieties of wine, and I must say that this was the best wine that I tried. Perhaps this was influenced by the surroundings of the place: a cold cellar, barrels of ripening wine and a specific smell of mold, or perhaps it really was of such high quality. Having enjoyed plenty of wine and bought some to take with us, we went to the place of lodging for the night.

After quite a bit of wine tasting, the group and I went to the place of spending the night. In order to feel the local atmosphere as much as possible, it was not a hotel or a hostel, but the so-called “green tourism estates”, or, simply put, the houses of local residents, where they rent a room or several for tourists like us. At first, we were a little afraid that it would not be a very comfortable place, but when we saw the houses, we calmed down - few people had two-story houses, mostly three- and higher. In the place where we were settled, there were 2 floors with 4 comfortable rooms on each.

The overnight stay also included dinner. The excursion program said that we were waiting for dishes of real Transcarpathian cuisine. And indeed, the food was very original, you can hardly try this somewhere in a restaurant. The first course is a traditional local bograch, a cross between soup and porridge, generously seasoned with spices and lots of meat of different varieties. Amazingly rich and delicious food.

Never tried anything like it. For the second there were cabbage rolls, but instead of cabbage they were wrapped in young grape leaves, which added spice to the dish. And there was even a dessert - pancakes with jam from local wild berries. And, of course, the wine that is drunk here like in France – a little bit every day. In a word, we were very pleased with the reception and the overnight stay.

On the second day, the main goal of the trip awaited us - the Narcissus Valley in Transcarpathia. Saying goodbye to the owner of the estate, we boarded the bus and drove off. Since the road to the next point of the journey was not close, we again plunged into wonderful world stories from our guide. We also passed a whole gypsy settlement, and the gypsies here did not look like ragamuffins, they all walked in gold, colorful clothes and lived in very beautiful bright houses.

Finally we arrived at our destination, and after paying a small fee for entry, we went to see the daffodils. Here the guide left us, and we were left to our own devices for several hours. How to describe the Valley of Narcissuses? It's probably hard to find words for this. Imagine that all you see is the mountains around the perimeter, and between them, as far as the eye can see, the white sea and millions of daffodil flowers. Truly a true natural wonder! One could spend the whole day here, but, unfortunately, the trip program is limited, and we, having wandered along the paths among these spring flowers, were forced to go further.

The last item on our program was Lake Synevyr. Perhaps this is one of the most famous reservoirs in Ukraine. The lake is surrounded by a whole halo of different stories, many of which are mystical. This also applies to the history of the lake - according to a folk legend, the lake was weeping by the daughter of the local king, when, by his order, the beloved princess was beheaded. Scientists have a different idea - the lake arose during the displacement of the plates, since seismic activity in the mountains not so long ago (on a planetary scale, of course) was very high.

Be that as it may, today Lake Synevyr is a visiting card of Transcarpathia and a real tourist gem, which is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists. The lake is located on the top of a hill, and around the lake there is a very beautiful park of the same name. By the way, at the foot of the hill there is a mini market with a variety of handmade souvenirs, which, oddly enough, are very cheap here. Here we bought home not only traditional magnets, which we carry from every trip, but also dried porcini mushrooms, mountain blueberry jam and a beautifully carved wooden cutting board.

To climb to the lake, there are two roads - one is steeper and faster, passes through the forest, and the second is a more gentle stone one. Since we were not tired, we chose the one that passes through the forest, and did not lose. Despite the fact that it was necessary to go about a kilometer downhill, the road was very easy, largely due to the beautiful nature around. So we did not notice how we ended up on the shore of the lake.

The lake struck, first of all, with its cleanliness: the bottom was visible everywhere, the water is absolutely transparent. Closer to the middle of the lake is a small island, to which you can ride (for a fee) on a beautiful wooden raft. We did not want to sail to the island, but found ourselves another fun. In Synevyr, there is simply an incalculable number of small fish swimming, which rushes at everything that is thrown into the water: bread like bread, coins like coins, a leaf like a leaf. We had a pack of cookies with us, which we successfully fed to the fish. It was very funny to watch what serious battles unfold for every crumb.

After feeding cookies and sitting on the shore for a while, we went to the bus, choosing another, more gentle road. A stormy mountain stream flows along the entire road with very clean and tasty water, which we gladly quenched our thirst and took with us. And the hunger that they managed to work up, they went to satisfy the people's restaurant, which is located at the foot of the hill. For ridiculous money, we were offered a three-course dinner, which we could hardly squeeze into ourselves, it was so big.

Unfortunately, this was our last point on the program, so the bus headed for Lviv. Along the way we heard enough interesting stories from the guide, as well as a special selection of folk songs that he personally collected from Transcarpathian villages, so there was no doubt about their authenticity. And so, tired, but very satisfied, late in the evening of May 10 we returned to Lviv, from where we immediately boarded the train home. But we will definitely return to the Carpathians!

P.S. If you are planning a trip to Transcarpathia on your own, then you can see various hotel options with prices, reviews and photos