Nestled in the far south-west of Ukraine, Vynohradiv is a historic city near the country’s borders with Romania and Hungary. It was once inhabited by winemakers of the royal court, with its name translating as “Grape City”, and is home to crumbling castle ruins, picturesque parks and a monumental cathedral.

Soak up the views across Vynohradiv from the ruined Vynohradiv Castle, which is believed to date back to the 13th century. A short stroll away is the Pereny Zsigmond Castle, a 14th-century fortification that was rebuilt in a Baroque style and transformed into a family mansion. The surrounding parkland features a children’s playground and an open-air stage where live concerts are occasionally held.

You can delve into the local history at the Vynohradivsʹkyy Rayonnyy Istorychnyy Museum, which overlooks the statue-dotted Ploshcha Myru Park. There are several historic churches in Vynohradiv not to miss, including the magnificent Svyato Troitskyy Orthodox Cathedral and the whitewashed Franciscan Monastery.

Getting there

Vynohradiv is around an hour’s drive from Mukachevo and just under two hours from Uzhhorod International Airport. Regular trains connect to the Vinogradovo Zakarpatskoe station while buses travel throughout Vynohradiv. The centre of Vynohradiv is compact enough to explore on foot.