If the mysterious air of military-architectural monuments gets you excited, then you should visit the Palanok Castle. This spellbinding historical castle stands proud atop a former 68-meter-high volcanic hill. Allow yourself to experience the richness of its landscape, the structure, the architecture, or even the bone-chilling legends associated with the castle. What adds to its mystery is that the exact date of its construction is not known till date!
It is also known as the Mukachevo Castle, located in the Mukacheve city, of the Zakarpattia Oblast. Historians believe that the castle was built in the Kyivan Rus times. At that time, it was merely a palisaded (“Palanca” in Italian) wooden fortification, and from here got its name. In 1396, the new owner of the castle, Podillia Prince Fedir Koriatovych rebuilt and updated the structures of the castle. There were new walls erected, deeper ditches dug, dwelling houses created, and new towers raised. Further on, they built long, narrow passages that came to be known as the corridor of death or the trap. In case of an invasion on the city, if the enemy would enter this corridor, the entry and exit points would be sealed shut trapping them inside. There were small holes in the ceiling, through which boiling water or molten lead would be poured on the enemy. This infamous corridor is still standing and can be visited.
Apart from this, there are many legends that are associated with the Palanok castle - one of which is that of an 85-meter deep well. It is said that workers kept digging deeper and deeper in the hope of hitting the water but to no avail. So, the Devil, himself, offered the Prince water in exchange for a sack of gold. But as the Prince was facing financial constraints, he tried to trick the Devil. He offered the Devil the smallest sack of gold comprising only 2 coins. What’s more, this infuriated the Devil beyond no bounds. The Devil grabbed the gold sack and jumped into the well, where its howls can be heard till date!
Famous monument of Ilona Zrigny and her husband Imre Tokoli.
The picture gallery of the museum.
The observation deck.
The castle complex consists of three parts: the high, middle, and low castle.
Statue of Turul
The mythic eagle
Art gallery with works of local artists.
You can get there by bus number 3 from the city center.
Taxi and Uber are the fastest way of getting here.
Take a guide with you to know more interesting stories about the castle
Cafes, food outlets, and washrooms are on the premises.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Carry an ample amount of water to avoid dehydration.
If you are traveling in the summer season, make sure that you cover yourself well, carry an umbrella, hat, water, and sunglasses.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Parking is free at the top.
Lots and stairs and ramps are there, not suitable for the person with mobility issues.
Visit the wine tasting at the castle's medieval wine cellar.
Try to visit on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds.
Visit early to get a parking slot or try to take public transport to visit the place.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Waiting Time
Entrance Fee
Entry fee to the castle is 20 UAH
Time you can spend
Weather
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