Baron Perényi Palace

The Palace of Baron Perényi, which is one of the most ancient monuments of the palace architecture in the territory of modern Transcarpathia, can truly be regarded as one of the important sights of Vynohradiv (obs.: Sevlyush).

The first building of the palace was built in the XIV century, and since then it has been rebuilt several times. In the XVII century the palace was considerably rebuilt in a "Baroque" style, but the original plan of it was preserved. This building is what we see nowadays. The palace is a rectangular building with turrets with helmet-like completions in the corners. The entrance is organized as a pediment with divergent from it in two sides of arched galleries, situated in two floors. The emblem of Perényi barons is hanging above the entrance. A memorial plaque (1989) in honor of Perényi Zsigmond is on the right wing. The inscription on the plate is made in two languages (Hungarian and Ukrainian): "Perényi Zsigmond (1783 - 1849), who was executed for taking part in the Hungarian revolution of 1848-1849, lived in this house". The walls of the palace are made of stone. The rooms of the palace are rather small and with low ceilings. The main hall contains a fresco depicting Esther and Ahasuerus.

Ahasuerus (Latin: Ahasverus) or the Wandering Jew - a legendary character, who, according to the legend, was doomed to eternal wandering on earth until the Second Coming of Christ. The figure of the Wandering Jew is often used in European literature and painting.

Esther - the queen, the main character of the biblical book with the same name (in Old Testament) and of the events associated with the holiday of Purim. One of the famous biblical women.

The old name was returned to the palace only in 1991. Nevertheless, at present... the Department for Education of Vynohradiv Regional State Administration is situated in a unique architectural sight. Different plaques and road prohibiting signs hang all around. It seems like desolation reigns here. The facade of the palace is more or less repaired, but if you pass it and walk in the park, the neglect becomes even more vivid.

The palace is located deep in the old park, which was planted in 1848 and contains exotic trees. By the way, a monument to Maxim Gorky in whose name the park was named in the times of the Soviet Union still stands in the park.

The Perényi family is one of the most noble and richest families of Transcarpathia. In 1399, Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund I (not to be confused with Sigismund I the Old, Grand Duke of Lithuania), granted the city Sevlyush with the surrounding area to the Perényi family for their active and effective participation in the battle against the Turks. Later, for the suppression of the rebellion, the castle "Nyalyab" (modern Korolevo village) with its surrounding area was added to the “gift”. The castle was built on the place of an old Slavic settlement in the second half of the XIII century by the Hungarian King Bela IV in order to strengthen the boundaries. The Perényi family were the owners of the Vynohradiv area for approximately four centuries. It was they who gave the "Kankov" castle to Franciscans and drove the Catholics from Sevlyush in the middle of the XII century. In 1556 the Perényis had a quarrel with the Emperor Ferdinand and began to support the side of the Transylvanian prince Zsigmond, that’s why the castle “Kankov” was destroyed. Incidentally, after the anti-Habsburg conspiracy (Middle Ages), in which the Perényi family took part, the castle “Nyalyab” was also destroyed according to the order of Emperor Leopold I.

Baron Zsigmond Perényi, the owner of the palace this article is about, was one of the most prominent representatives of the Perényi family. All his life he held important positions in Budapest and Vienna. In 1833 he was a prince of the Ugochansky county. He actively participated in the 1848-1849 Hungarian Revolution and was the father of the Declaration of Independence of Hungary. In October 1849 he was convicted and executed for the participation in the revolution.

And now some photo material. The facade of the Palace is in the picture below.



This is the main entrance with the plaque of the Vynohradiv department of education...



The emblem of the family on a massive pediment.



The memorial plaque to the right of the entrance.



The building with the caved-in roof and walls, which are 20 meters away from the entrance to the palace...



A view at the palace from behind. Everything is overgrown with undergrowth of the trees. If you look closely, you can see the dilapidated walls with exfoliated plaster and stones sticking out from under it...



These are the trees in the park.



And this is a monument to Aleksey Maksimovich Peshkov. It is strange that it has been preserved.

26.05.2010. 10:10

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