About This Site

Nevytske Castle is a semi-ruined 13th century fortress near Uzhhorod, located on a volcanic hill overlooking the Uzh River. One of the oldest castles in Transcarpathia.

Nevytske Castle is a semi-ruined medieval fortress located 12 kilometers north of Uzhhorod near the villages Nevytske and Kamianytsia. The castle is located in the woods on a hill of volcanic origin with a relative elevation of 122 meters and a few hundred meters to the east of a road and river that flows along. This location of the castle gave it a good opportunity to control the Transcarpathian route over the Uzhok pass in the Bieszczady Mountains. The castle was first mentioned in 1274 belonging to the King of Hungary Laszlo IV as a donjon (keep). Completely rebuilt in the early 15th century, the castle, towering over the Uzh River, was the mighty citadel of the Drugeth family which supervised its continuous modernisation over the centuries. The keep, rebuilt in its present form in the early 16th century, passed from hand to hand during the internecine strife that convulsed Hungary in the early 17th century. In 1644, Prince of Transylvania George II Rákóczi ruined the castle, leaving it much as it stands today. A decline in defensive importance of the site as well as the remote and inaccessible situation of the castle have preserved it from complete demolition. Near the site is located an Uzhhorod Military Training Center. Parts of the castle (the roof of the donjon, the keep) collapsed in March 2019. Early 2021 Nevytske Castle was partly reconstructed. Today the castle is a popular tourist monument of Transcarpathia.

Historical Significance

The history of Nevytske Castle dates back to the 13th century. It was first mentioned in 1274 as property of Hungarian King Laszlo IV. At that time it was a simple donjon — a defensive tower. In the early 15th century, the castle was completely rebuilt and significantly strengthened. It became the residence of the powerful Drugeth family, who owned the castle for several centuries. The Drugeths constantly modernized the fortress, adapting it to new military technologies. In the early 16th century, the donjon was rebuilt in its present form. The castle had a two-story residential building, three towers and strong defensive walls with numerous loopholes. To the west were also defensive ramparts, at the end of which was an old castle, of which only fragments remain. In the 17th century, the castle became the arena of internecine wars that engulfed Hungary. It changed hands several times. In 1644, Prince George II Rákóczi of Transylvania captured and ruined the castle. Since then it has remained in ruins. During the 18th-19th centuries the castle was left unattended and decayed. Its remote location and loss of strategic importance saved it from complete dismantlement. In 2019, part of the structures collapsed, but in 2021 partial restoration began.

Highlights

• ✓One of the oldest castles in Transcarpathia (13th c.)
• ✓Location on a volcanic hill
• ✓Early 16th century donjon (main tower)
• ✓Partially restored in 2021
• ✓Panoramic views of Carpathians and Uzh River valley
• ✓Romantic ruins in forested area
• ✓Legends of ghosts and treasures

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