Schönborn palace (Berehove)

48°12′40″N 22°39′31″E / 48.211153°N 22.658539°E / 48.211153; 22.658539

The Schönborn Palace is located in Berehove, a city in Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine, near the Hungary–Ukraine border. Originally built in the 19th century as a summer residence and winery for the Schönborn family, the estate became a symbol of their influence in the region. Following the Second World War, the property was confiscated and repurposed as a state-owned winery. In recent years, however, wine production at the estate has nearly come to a halt.

History

In 1728, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor granted the former estates of Prince Francis II Rákóczi to Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655–1729), the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz, who had played a key role in defeating Rákóczi.^[1] Consequently, the Schönborn family came into possession of Mukacheve, Chynadiyovo, and approximately 200 other villages, including Berehove. The estate, a so-called Majorat, was one of the largest in Eastern Europe.

In 1817, the Mukachevo-Chynadiyovo estate became the property of the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family, the Counts of Schönborn-Buchheim. During the second half of the 19th century, Count Erwein-Friedrich von Schönborn-Buchheim (1842–1903) built a summer residence in Berehove in the neo-romantic style.^[2] Situated at the foot of a mountain on the northeastern outskirts of the city, the residence featured a tall tower with a pointed roof, giving it the appearance of a medieval castle.^[2] A park was also designed nearby.^[2]

In 1913, the Hungarian state established a wine farm at this site, which became the property of the Czechoslovak Union of Winemakers in 1920.^[2] In 1954, the state-owned winery "Berehove" was founded in the residence, producing renowned vintage wines such as "Troyanda Zakarpattya," "Promenyste," and "Berehoveske".^[2] Today, the winery STOV "Berehoveske" has largely ceased production.^[2]