Photos and videos of Borzhava castle ruins

A brief overview

History of Borzhava Castle near the village of Vary

Borzhava Castle is one of the oldest monuments in Transcarpathia. The history of the legendary fortress can often be found in numerous Transcarpathian legends and historical documents. Unfortunately, today there is little left of the castle, and only ancient ruins remind us of the cultic significance of the building, and it is of more archaeological than architectural interest.

Borzhava Fortress is located near the village of Vary in Beregovo district. To find the fortress, you need to walk 200 metres in the south-western direction. Visiting the fortress, you can clearly see that around the perimeter there are fortifications in the form of an earthen embankment, the so-called ramparts.

To date, there are no reliable facts, but it is quite possible that the nearby settlements of Vary and Borzhava were created thanks to the fortress. This is a common phenomenon, because settlements were almost always created around large castles to provide the inhabitants of the castle with food and clothing.

Location features of the Borzhava fortress

If you look at Borzhava Castle from above, you will see that it is located between two rivers: Borzhava and Tysa. They intersect each other, creating a triangle-like shape. The territory is surrounded by swamps to the west and north-east. This location created a natural defence, limiting access to the fortress.

To protect the fortress around the perimeter, a system of defensive structures was created: a wide deep ditch and a rampart, which, in turn, is additionally reinforced with protective wooden structures in the upper part. The fortification system follows the shape of the terrain, having a triangular shape with dimensions of 120 * 110 metres. Today, a wide moat (more than 10 metres wide) remains in the southeastern part of the castle, which is called the Iron Gate by the locals.

In addition to the remains of the castle, the village of Vary boasts a Reformed Church. The Protestant church with a high bell tower was built in the XIV century. On the facade of the church you can see a plaque commemorating the events of 1703-1711 (the Hungarian national liberation uprising against the Austrian Empire). The fact is that this heroic uprising began from the church in the village of Vary on 21 May 1703.

The village of Vary is also known for the traditions of artistic woodworking.

How to get to the village of Vary and Borzhava Castle?

The village of Vary is located in the Transcarpathian region near the border with Hungary. Distance by road to the district centre Beregovo – 16.3 km. The nearest village Borzhava is 4.5 km away.

Borzhava Castle is located 200-300 metres from the Hungarian border in the southern part of the village of Vary.

Coordinates of Borzhava Castle 48 ° 7 ’30 “N, 22 ° 42′ 38” E48.125 °, 22.710556 °.

The population speaks mainly Hungarian. This is due to the fact that this territory was part of the Hungarian state from the 14th century until 1918, and the village is also a border area, which contributes to internal migration. Quite a few indigenous Hungarians still live in Vary today. An interesting fact is that the name of the village itself comes from the word “Var” – a castle.

The locals call their village Váriety. The population in 2001 was 3,147 people.

Nearest transport hubs:

• Beregovo (bus station) – 9 km.
• Borzhava Bus Station is 5 km away.
• Muzhiyevo – 6 km.

 Walking route

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