Transcarpathian Christmas Adventure

Transcarpathian Christmas Tour schedule:

Jan 4, Afternoon

Afternoon meeting at Mukachevo train station, private car transfer and hotel check-in
-2:30 – 5:30pm – Group Excursion “Town over the Latorytsa river”
During the excursion you’ll get acquainted with an ancient (1122) and ever-young town of Mukachevo, its amazing history and architecture. Tourists will visit wrapped in legends Palanok Castle connected with history of almost all European countries, then continue to historic downtown which back in the old days was surrounded by walls, see original Cyril & Methodius monument (its copy you might see in Kiev Pechersk Lavra), make a wish while rubbing the Chimney sweep bronze button and a finger of Prince Koryiatovych.

Jan 4-7

Mukachevo downtown accommodation
 Hotel-RETRO*** or Premier Hotel Star****

Premier Hotel Star is located in the very center, opposite the Town Hall, in an ancient building once owned by the Strauss-Hungarian dynasty von Schoenborn, and now belongs to the American billionaire Alex Rovt, a native of Mukachevo.

Jan 4, Evening

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm – “Transcarpathian evening in the Castle of Love”
The program of the evening starts from an excursion along the road leading from Rus Gates Pass to Sancti Nicolai Castle (15th century). You will see Chynadiyovo castle by flickering torchlight which will spot out mysteries and riddles of its famous owners, romantic stories about stalwart knights and alluring beauties. You will learn Chardash dance, study a few Transcarpathian folk songs, taste Bogracs — national Hungarian dish — and rinse it down with the tastiest wine from Transcarpathian cellars. And all these to the accompaniment of Ruthenian, Hungarian and Slovak songs sung by a multi-ethnic folk ensemble.

Jan 5

07:00 – Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00 am – 7:00 pm – Group excursion “Tasty Sevlush”. On the way to Vynohradiv town tourists will be able to see some regional attractions like famous lakes of Mukachevo and Irshava districts, “greenhouse valley” near Siltse and 100-year-old mill in Velyki Komiaty village. During the visit to a farm where local enthusiasts work on Carpathian buffalo recruitment you’ll degust dairy foods produced there. In Vynohradiv (former Sevliush) the tourist will be met by “parade of churches” of different confessions built in 15-17th centuries, ruins of Kanko Castle (14th century), baron Pereni’s Palace and remarkable monument of the winemaker. Then we’ll visit the only Ukraine’s tasting room of lekvar (traditional fruit butter) in Botar village and taste 6 types of lekvar made from wild berries and wash them down with apple juice. Also this village is famous by breeding rare hairy pigs whose meat is considered exceptionally healthy. You will assure yourself how tasty it is when you degust cold cuts of 3 sorts of local sausages and cured fat.
On the way to Bene village we’ll cross the greatest river of Transcarpathia – mighty Tisza, eat some miles along Ukrainian-Hungarian border, see “Salt House” (15th century) in Chetfolvo village and make a photo where in one shot will be an ancient Reformed church with Ukraine’s highest wooden belfry and present-day Catholic church of quite unusual modern shape. In addition in Bene we’ll see an interesting medieval defensive church. Then we’ll continue our way to Berehovo and see gardens of the warmest Transcarpathian region and renowned Muzhievo gold mine. In Berehovo we’ll visit thermal pool with mineral water called “Skylark”.

7:30pm – Degustation of the best Transcarpathian wines in 300-year-old “Old Cellar” held by a genuine winemaker who has an eye not only for the wine itself but for the truth hidden in it…

Jan 6

08:00 – Breakfast at the hotel
09:00 am – 10:30 pm – Group Excursion “Maramorosh – weird land” with festive Christmas dinner in “Kolyba Opryshkiv” (rebels’ hut).
Our route goes along the longest Transcarpathian river Tisza and its confluent Rika. You will degust different sorts of cheeses at Iza dairy and at pleasure you can pat a sheep, make a photo with a goat or a horse. Iza village is also an eminent center of willow weaving. You will be definitely amazed by workmanship of its inhabitants and buy some souvenirs from them. In Khust town which once was a capital of Carpatho-Ukraine our tourists will see the buildings related to the Carpathian Sich along with its President’s house. It is difficult to retrain delight standing in front of a 14th century church surrounded by defensive walls. Besides, we’ll see Castle Hill with ruins of puissant Khust Castle which in times gone by belonged to ancestors of legendary Dracula.
In Danylovo village your breath will be taken away by solemn splendor and space-rocket dynamic silhouette of St. Nicolas Church (1779), the highest wooden church in Ukraine. To wrap our excursion we’ll bathe in “Warm Waters” pool in Veliatyno village where thermal water will wash away all the fatigue accumulated during the day. And finally you’ll enjoy a great festive Christmas dinner in “Kolyba Opryshkiv”, Hutsul restaurant in Nyzhnie Selyshche village.

Jan 7 Merry Christmas!

08:00 – Breakfast. Check-out from the hotel.
– 09:00 am -7:00 pm – Group Excursion “Lumshory + Ungvar, the ancient town”
Our first stop is Lumshory which is a dandy place to spend time in subalpine meadow in Carpathians to the accompaniment of flashy river Turytsa. Some of the tourists can choose to bathe in campfire heated tabs, others to drink some herbal tea in traditional kolyba hut or to take some great photo shots in front of a picturesque waterfall. Then we continue to Uzhhorod — administrative center of Transcarpathian region, town of unique look, interesting past and plenty of well-preserved historical and architectural landmarks. Our excursionists will familiarize themselves with downtown, see the ancient Korzo street, several noticeable monuments, Catholic St. George church, Greek-Catholic Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and former synagogue of orthodox Jewish community.

An exciting meeting with Uzhhorod Castel is reserved for you. This is the only castle in Transcarpathia having bastions with orillons. Right here in the armory of the Museum of Local Lore our tourists will see some perfect examples of arms including two-handed sword of 16th century, spears, battle-axes, cuirasses and even own sabre of Stephen Bathory who once knocked out forces of Ivan the Terrible himself.
Car transfer to Uzhhorod train station and boarding your train to Lviv or Kyiv