Beregovo is one of the most famous towns in Transcarpathia, which has gained fame due to a whole list of advantages and attractions. Many tourists, who have been here once, visit this unique town every year and even more often. Beautiful landscapes, healing air, vineyards, unique architecture, ancient palaces, thermal springs — these are just a few reasons why Beregovo leaves a deep trace in the heart of every guest.
Beregovo is a very ancient town, which was even a part of the Roman Empire as a part of the province of Dacia at the beginning of our era (in the I-st century). And although there are no traces of that time in the town, its incredible atmosphere leaves no doubt about the former belonging to the great empire — could it be otherwise, because this is an amazing, blooming and fertile region.
Beregovo is located in the south-west of Transcarpathia only 6 km from the Hungarian border at the foot of high mountains on the banks of the Werke River. Vineyards are spread on the endless slopes of the mountains. The best grapes, apricots and peaches in Transcarpathia grow in Beregovo, a warm town with a favorable microclimate, protected from winds and cold. Grapes and Beregovo wines made this region famous in the Middle Ages, and this fame has not waned until now. Every year in spring Beregovo hosts the International Wine Festival, which attracts guests not only from Ukraine, but also from Romania, Slovakia, Russia and, of course, Hungary. There is even a knightly order of St. Wencel winemakers registered in the town.
Zakarpattya is extremely generous with riches, and it is with treasures that the legend of the city’s foundation is connected. According to legend, it was founded by a shepherd named Sas.
One day this shepherd found a pot full of gold on the place where one of the brightest sights — the Roman Catholic Vozdvizhensky Church of the XI century — is located today. Disappointed by his find, Sas decided to thank the heavens by building a temple in the place where the miracle happened, and a city around it.
If we believe the documentary facts, the town was founded in 1063 by Prince Lambert, the son of the first king of Hungary Béla I. In a picturesque place in the river valley at the foot of the mountains, he built a manor house and called it Villa Lamperti, and the resulting village was called Lampertsas. For many centuries, the town, which changed its name several times, showed constancy only in the fact that it belonged to the Hungarians. From 1141, when the Saxons moved in, the town was called Sas, Lamperthase and Lumprechstsas, and only in 1504 it received the name Beregsas, which was transformed into Beregovo in the 20th century.
The beauty, charm and wealth of the small town became the cause of discord of the crowned persons more than once: Hungarians fought for it with Poland, Transylvania, Moldavia, Turkey, Austria, but only in the beginning of the XVIII century after a rebellion against the Habsburgs it fell into the hands of the latter. Beregovo became a part of Ukraine only in 1945.
The small town with a population of only about 25 thousand people is considered the most Hungarian in the whole Ukraine, the center of Hungarian culture. Most of its inhabitants are Hungarians, a little less — Russians, and Ukrainians in Beregovo are the least. Not only the people, but also the beautiful architecture and the local way of life, which is more Hungarian than Ukrainian, remind about the former belonging of the town to the kingdom of Huns. In the mornings, numerous cafes fill the ancient streets with the intoxicating aroma of coffee, and walking through them brings great pleasure to all guests — the city is well-maintained, clean and toy neat.
Many famous sights of Ukraine are located in Beregovo: Zakarpattya and the whole country is famous for its unique open-air thermal pool, filled with the waters of hot thermal springs, which give health and beauty; it is here that the two banks of the Verke River are connected by the oldest stone bridge in Zakarpattya, built in 1853. A unique tree on Rozhoshkert Street surprises and pleases lovers (the chestnut tree has a heart-shaped crown), and everyone is inspired by the strikingly beautiful and diverse architecture of Beregovo — nowhere in Transcarpathia is so abundant with architectural gems as here — The Church of the Exaltation of the XI century, Shenborna Castle of the XIX century, Graff’s Court of the XVII century, the building of the city court of the early XX century and many other unique buildings. Coming on vacation to this charming and unique city, its guests never forget it.