Palanok Castle in Mukachevo - is perhaps the most famous and most popular of all the castles of Transcarpathia. It is also one of the oldest fortresses in Ukraine, located in the Transcarpathian town of Mukachevo, and it draws the eye at once as you enter the town, since the castle stands on a hill that raises it majestically aloft.
Palanok - a castle of secrets and riddles
For most people who have at least a little idea about Transcarpathia, the main association with Mukachevo - is precisely Palanok Castle. It is considered the main landmark of the town, within whose medieval walls a host of riddles and secrets lie hidden.
The fortress itself stands on a hill of volcanic origin, while the town lies on a plain. It is believed that the origin of the town’s name is connected precisely with the hill. According to legend, people created this hill with their own hands, literally ‘heaping up’ the hill, which cost them enormous torment (‘muka’), and hence, so they say, the name - ‘Mukachevo’.
Whether this is to be believed or not - is hard to say, but only one thing is known for certain: in those ancient times people needed to build the town around a mighty fortress in order to be able to defend themselves from their numerous enemies.
No one can name the exact date of the founding of Palanok ; the historical records tell us only that the castle already existed in the 9th century. As for the name, the very word ‘palanok’ means an oak palisade with which the moat around the fortress and the castle hill is enclosed. While this palisade was still being built, carpenters, blacksmiths and many other craftsmen who were building it lived right beside it.
In those days fortresses were built mainly for defensive purposes, so that in the event of a raid as many people as possible could take shelter behind its walls. This is precisely what explains the enormous area of Palanok. On its territory, behind the walls, lived not only princely families and aristocrats, but also soldiers, craftsmen, servants and so on.
The castle building is full of secret passages and underground tunnels in which people and livestock could hide in case of danger. These passages, laid out beneath the walls and towers, have survived to the present day, preserving too the atmosphere of that difficult era, its mystical charm, mystery and enigma.
A captivating tour of Palanok - a fascinating castle of Transcarpathia
Interestingly, the castle is divided into as many as three levels - Upper, Middle and Lower, where the first - is the oldest of all the parts, and the last - is the ‘youngest’.
Palanok Castle in Mukachevo can safely be called a true veteran castle, since it managed to survive countless wars, enemy sieges and various twists of fortune. The longest siege of the fortress lasted more than three years. At that time the castle was ruled by the famous princess from Hungary Ilona Zrinyi. At that time she led the liberation movement directed against the rule of the Austrian Empire. The Austrians were forced to almost double the number of their soldiers in order to attack the fortress. But even so, Palanok could not be taken by storm. The princess accepted the surrender only after the food supplies had already run out and it had become clear that there was nowhere to expect help from.
After this Palanok Castle became a centre of the national liberation actions begun by the Hungarians, as well as by other representatives of the nationalities that inhabited the territory of present-day Transcarpathia at the time, against Austrian rule. Since then Palanok has become a symbol of freedom and struggle. But, paradoxically, after some time it turned into a prison where political prisoners were held. The most famous of them was the celebrated revolutionary from the Russian Empire - Bakunin.
Today Palanok is more than just a very convenient and attractive castle from a tourist point of view. A very good road leads up to it, one that is not hard to climb even for an elderly tourist. Inside the fortress itself time passes very quickly, because there is so much here that is interesting and captivating. You can walk around the castle grounds on your own, but it is better if you have a good guide with you who can reveal the secrets of the ancient fortress.
Undoubtedly, Palanok Castle - is one of the most fascinating castles of Transcarpathia, and it really is worth visiting during a trip to Transcarpathia. You can also do this during our regular excursion to the castles of Transcarpathia, as part of which you will discover, besides the majestic Palanok, other, no less fascinating and special in their own way castles of Transcarpathia. Join us, you will not regret it!
The most convenient way to see Palanok in the flesh is as part of a tour, while residents of the town will find useful excursions from Mukachevo - the coach picks the group up right here.
