The Beregvar Hunting Lodge ( or or ) is a palace in a
neo-romantic
The term neo-romanticism is used to cover a variety of movements in philosophy, literature, music, painting, and architecture, as well as social movements, that exist after and incorporate elements from the era of Romanticism.
It has been used ...
style. It is located in Karpaty, which is part of
Chynadiiovo in the
Mukachevo Raion,
Zakarpattia Oblast
Zakarpattia Oblast (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Закарпатська область), also referred to as simply Zakarpattia (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian: Закарпаття; Hungarian language, Hungarian: ''Kárpátalja'') or Transcar ...
,
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
.
Built between 1890 and 1895 by
Erwein-Friedrich von Schönborn-Buchheim, the palace served as a
hunting estate and a seasonal residence for the
Schönborn family, a prominent Austro-Hungarian aristocratic dynasty. Surrounded by a picturesque dendrological park featuring rare tree species, a decorative lake, and sculptural compositions, the
hunting lodge is renowned for its architectural elegance, blending Romanesque and Gothic motifs with French Renaissance influences. Since 1946, the building has housed the "Karpaty" sanatorium, specializing in cardiovascular and neurological treatments.
History
Francis II Rákóczi
Between 1703 and 1711, there was an uprising aiming to topple the rule of the
Habsburgs
The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...
over
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
. The war was led by prince
Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi (, ; 27 March 1676 – 8 April 1735) was a Hungarian nobleman and leader of the Rákóczi's War of Independence against the Habsburgs in 1703–1711 as the prince () of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of ...
() (1676–1735), the son of an old noble family and one of the richest landlords in the
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...
.
Rákóczi's War of Independence
Rákóczi's War of Independence (1703–1711) was the first significant attempt to topple the rule of the Habsburgs over Royal Hungary, Hungary. The war was conducted by a group of noblemen, wealthy and high-ranking progressives and was led by F ...
was unsuccessful, ending with the
Treaty of Szatmár
The Treaty of Szatmár (or the Peace of Szatmár) was a peace treaty concluded at Szatmár (present-day Satu Mare, Romania) on 29 April 1711 between the House of Habsburg emperor Charles VI, the Hungarian estates and the Kuruc rebels. It formal ...
. Although assured clemency, prince Francis II did not accept nor recognized the peace conditions, his estates and properties in Hungary were confiscated. As a result,
Mukacheve including
Palanok Castle
The Palanok Castle or Mukachevo Castle (; or ; ) is a historic castle in the city of Mukacheve in the western Ukrainian oblast
An oblast ( or ) is a type of administrative division in Bulgaria and several post-Soviet states, including Belaru ...
, Szentmiklós (today named
Chynadiyovo), and 200 villages were transferred to the royal treasury.
Lothar Franz von Schónborn and his heir Friedrich Karl von Schönborn
In 1728,
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI (; ; 1 October 1685 – 20 October 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy from 1711 until his death, succeeding his elder brother, Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph I. He unsuccessfully War of ...
gifted the Mukachevo-Chinadiyiv estate to
Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655–1729), the
Archbishop-Elector of Mainz, who had helped to defeat Rákóczi by sending troops.
The estate, a so-called
Majorat
''Majorat'' () is a French term for an arrangement giving the right of succession to a specific parcel of property associated with a title of nobility to a single heir, based on male primogeniture. A majorat ( fideicommis) would be inherited by ...
, was one of the largest in Eastern Europe and Lothar-Franz entrusted the management of the estates to his nephew and heir,
Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (1674–1746), the 'Reichsvizekanzler'' (vice-chancellor) of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...
from 1705 to 1734 and
Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and
Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. Administrators were appointed to manage the day-to-day affairs and inspectors were sent from time to time to inspect.
To promote the economic development of the region, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn populated the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate with German immigrants, offering them passports, monetary incentives, land plots, and building materials to construct homes.
Additionally, artisans were granted a ten-year tax exemption, while peasants were exempt for six years.
Szentmiklós Castle was renovated in 1734 to become a residence for the Schönborn family. Furthermore, between 1746 and 1747, the former palace of the Rákóczi princes in Mukacheve, known as the White Palace, was rebuilt and expanded with the assistance of architect
Balthasar Neumann
Johann Balthasar Neumann (; c. 27 January 1687 – 19 August 1753), usually known as Balthasar Neumann, was a German architect and military artillery engineer who developed a refined brand of Baroque architecture, fusing Austrian, Bohemian, Ita ...
to serve as another residence for the family.
The Austrian Branch of the Schönborn family: Schönborn-Buchheim
After Friedrich Karl's death, the estate was inherited by his brother,
Rudolf Franz Erwein von Schönborn (1677–1754), who sold it to his nephew,
Eugen Erwein von Schönborn-Heusenstamm (1727–1801). Eugen had already inherited Friedrich Karl's Austrian properties, including
Palais Schönborn-Batthyány
Palais Schönborn-Batthyány is a Baroque palace in the Innere Stadt district of Vienna, Austria.
History
It was built by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (20 July 1656 – 5 April 1723) was an Austrian a ...
and
Schloss Schönborn. Since Eugen had only daughters and no sons, the estate passed to his cousin's son,
Hugo Damian Erwein von Schönborn-Wiesentheid (1739–1817). Hugo divided his time between the Schönborner Hof in
Mainz
Mainz (; #Names and etymology, see below) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and with around 223,000 inhabitants, it is List of cities in Germany by population, Germany's 35th-largest city. It lies in ...
, the Franconian palaces of
Wiesentheid and
Weißenstein in
Pommersfelden
Pommersfelden is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg in Germany.
Geography
The community lies north of Höchstadt an der Aisch on the river Reiche Ebrach.
Constituent communities
The community of Pommersfelden is subdivided ...
, and Vienna. Upon his death, his sons divided the estates, leading to the emergence of the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family under
Franz Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1768–1841). In addition to the Austrian estates, this branch also inherited the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate experienced rapid development thanks to well-planned agricultural and economic policies.
For instance, Count Eugen established a
hosiery
Hosiery, (, ) also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the foot, feet and human leg, legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also ...
factory and a large
stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud (animal), stud" comes from the Old English ''stod'' meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding". Historically, ...
. In 1782, he also oversaw the construction of a bridge over the
Latorica River.
For the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family, visiting Szentmiklós each autumn and hosting hunting parties became a cherished tradition.
To facilitate these gatherings,
Erwein-Friedrich von Schönborn-Buchheim (1842–1903) constructed the Beregvár hunting lodge between 1890 and 1895, replacing a former wooden lodge.
Both he and his son and heir, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1869–1932), frequently hosted distinguished guests from across Austria-Hungary.
Following the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
,
Transcarpathia
Transcarpathia (, ) is a historical region on the border between Central and Eastern Europe, mostly located in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast.
From the Hungarian Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin, conquest of the Carpathian Basin ...
became part of
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...
. In 1928, the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate was dissolved as part of a land reform implemented by the Czechoslovak government.
To retain his holdings, Count Schönborn-Buchheim arranged a financial transaction whereby the company ''Bignon'', funded by French, Swiss, and Czech capital, purchased the estate at a nominal price and immediately transferred them to the company ''Latoritsa'', of which Count Schönborn-Buchheim was the main shareholder.
The last owner of the Beregvár hunting lodge was Count Georg-Erwein von Schönborn-Buchheim (1906–1989), who left Mukachevo in September 1944.
The family took refuge in
Sankt Gallenkirch in Montafon,
Austria
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
. After the end of the Russian occupation of Lower Austria in 1955, the family regained
Schloss Schönborn and Weyerburg castle, where they to continue to live up to this day. Count Georg and his wife Christiane never lost contact with the region, even during the difficult times that followed.
[''Пагиря В. В., Федів Є. Т.'' Творці історії Мукачева. — Ужгород: ТДВ «Патент», 2011. — 120 с., іл. ] Until the very end, they collected donations for the population of the former estates, feeling not only a personal connection but also a sense of duty to support those in need.
Thanks to the countess, in 1994, the Austrian budget included funds for the modernization of Mukachevo water management.
The city received completed facilities of environmentally friendly pipes, automation and a device that detects damage to pipes underground.
Also, she organized humanitarian aid to the victims of the floods of 1998 and 2001. In October 1997, Countess Christiane Schönborn-Buchheim was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Mukachevo" for her generous charitable assistance.
Gallery: The Beregvar hunting lodge seen from the air
File: Scönborn Palace 2019 1.jpg
File: Scönborn Palace 2019 2.jpg
File:Палац графів Шенборнів Карпати 1.jpg
File:Палац графів Шенборнів Карпати 2.jpg
File:Палац графів Шенборнів Карпати 3.jpg
File:Палац Шенброн.jpg
After the Second World War up to Modern Times
After the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the Transcarpathian region was occupied and annexed by the
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
. The palace was confiscated and converted into a rest house.
In 1958, following a visit by
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (– 11 September 1971) was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and the Premier of the Soviet Union, Chai ...
, the first climatological sanatorium in Transcarpathia was established on the site, the ''Karpaty'' sanatorium, specializing in the treatment of cardiovascular (cardioneurological) diseases.
The hunting lodge became the central building of the complex. Since 2010, the sanatorium has expanded its services to include rehabilitation for musculoskeletal disorders, treatment for gastrointestinal conditions, and a department for managing pregnancy pathology.
Parts of the palace’s interior, including furniture and other valuable items, were transferred to the collections of the
Uzhhorod
Uzhhorod (, ; , ; , ) is a List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality on the Uzh, Uzh River in western Ukraine, at the border with Slovakia and near the border with Hungary. The city is approximately equidistan ...
Local History Museum.
Architecture
The hunting lodge was designed by the architect Z. Gresserson in a
neo-romantic
The term neo-romanticism is used to cover a variety of movements in philosophy, literature, music, painting, and architecture, as well as social movements, that exist after and incorporate elements from the era of Romanticism.
It has been used ...
style, blending Romanesque and Gothic motifs.
Constructed from brick and adorned with shaped tiles, its architecture closely resembles the French Renaissance castles of the "age of the musketeers." In this design, every element—whether a chimney, a tower, or other structural features—not only serves its practical purpose but also enhances the building's aesthetic appeal as an ornamental feature.
Interestingly, the palace initially lacked a chapel; in its place was a passageway.
The chapel was only added in the early 20th century.
A local legend (unsupported by evidence) claims that the palace has 366 windows (matching the number of days in a leap year, with the 366th window bricked up and reopened every four years), 52 rooms (for the weeks in a year), and 12 entrances (for the months).
The castle is richly decorated with intricate elements, including bas-reliefs, weather vanes, and stained glass, reflecting the Schönborn family heraldry. A tower clock with chimes remains functional. In the palace park, a commemorative plaque (inscribed in Hungarian) and two sculptural compositions—"The Deer" and "The Bear with Cubs"—can be found.
Gardens
Near the palace, under the count's direction, a dendrological garden (now the park of the "Karpaty" sanatorium) was created, featuring a decorative lake at its center. Rare tree species were planted, including boxwood, catalpa, Weymouth pine, Canadian spruce, Japanese cherry (sakura), pink beech, and Italian honey locust, as well as shrubs like deutzia and hydrangea. The palace park features a commemorative inscription stone (in Hungarian) and two sculptural compositions: "The Deer" and "The Bear with Cubs." The outline of the pond, dug at the end of the 19th century, was designed to symbolically represent the map of
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
.
References
See also: other Palaces and Stately Homes of the Counts of Schönborn-Buchheim
*
Palais Schönborn-Batthyány
Palais Schönborn-Batthyány is a Baroque palace in the Innere Stadt district of Vienna, Austria.
History
It was built by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (20 July 1656 – 5 April 1723) was an Austrian a ...
in
Vienna
Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
*
Schloss Schönborn
*
Schönborn palace (Berehove)
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schönborn palace (Beregvar)
Buildings and structures in Zakarpattia Oblast
Castles in Ukraine
Schönborn family
Palaces in Ukraine