Khust

The ruins of the medieval Khust Castle can be seen on the Castle Hill near the center of Khust.

The castle was built in the 11th-12th centuries to control the "salt road" from Solotvyno. The legend connects the name with a voivode named Khust. The castle on the top of a 150-meter mountain stood out for its power, which was provided by 14-meter walls, high towers and a siege well.

In 1378, the Hungarian king presented the Khust castle to cousins Balko and Drago from the Moldavian family of Drahosh. Legend connects them with the Wallachian lord Vlad III Tsepesh (Drakula), who became the prototype of the hero of Bram Stoker's popular novel.

After 1526, the Khust Castle passed to the Principality of Transylvania, and was one of the strongholds of the rebels during the Hungarian War of Independence. It existed until 1776, when a powder cellar exploded due to a lightning strike. Since then, it has not recovered.

Access is free.

The exposition of the Khust Museum of Local Lore is housed in six halls of a modern building in the city center.

2.5 thousand exhibits tell about the history of the region. There are departments of nature and general history, a picture gallery. Also original is the symbolic map of Europe during the First World War, on which the countries of the world are depicted in the form of animals.

Of particular interest is the exposition on the history of Carpathian Ukraine, the capital of which was the city of Khust for some time.

Museum employees conduct tours of the city and its surroundings.

The legendary Narcissus Valley is located in the Kireshi tract between the Tysa and Khustets rivers on the outskirts of Khust.

The nature of this relict valley has been preserved since the Ice Age. The narrow-leaved narcissus population growing here is unique in that it is not in the mountains, but on the plain (180-200 meters above sea level). Similar thickets, but of a smaller area, remained in a few places - the Alps, mountainous regions of Romania and some Balkan countries.

There is an adapted legend about the ancient Greek god Narcissus, who allegedly saw his reflection in the mirror waters of Khustets, fell in love and died of longing, turning into a flower.

Protection of the valley began during the times of Austria-Hungary. Under the Soviet government, they wanted to plow the land, reclamation work began, but thanks to the efforts of Professor Vasyl Komendar, the territory ended up under the protection of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve.

The mass flowering of Narcissus Valley usually begins in the first half of May and lasts about two weeks (the exact date depends on the weather). The earth is covered with a white flower carpet of unusual beauty, which thousands of tourists come to see.

There is an ecological and educational center "Narcissus Museum", which tells about the unique flora and fauna of the valley, the history of its preservation.

The austere Gothic former church of Saint Elizabeth is located in the very center of Khust.

Built in the 13th-14th centuries as a Catholic church, it was rebuilt and surrounded by a defensive wall in the 15th century. In 1524, when the local residents accepted the Protestant faith, the church became a Reformation church.

The complex consists of a strict quadrangular bell tower with a high spire and a stone church building attached to it with powerful buttresses.

In the interior, a large pointed arch separates the choirs and the nave covered with cross-shaped vaults. Arrow windows and doorways, characteristic of Gothic, attract attention. On the wall you can see a fresco with the image of the Hungarian kings Vladyslav, Stefan and Irma, who are considered saints.

Now it is the Khust Reformed Church.

The ostrich farm in Khust was opened in 2002 on the northern outskirts of the city, near the district road.

Entrepreneur Vasyl Perets bought his first ostriches in neighboring Slovakia. Currently, the population is 40 birds. Birds are bred for sale, but they also conduct tours for tourists.

An ostrich hatches about 60 eggs per year, each one weighs about 1.5-2 kilograms (one ostrich egg replaces 36 chicken eggs). The taste of ostrich eggs is identical to chicken, and the meat is similar to veal.

You can buy ostrich eggs and feathers at the farm. Since the birds are omnivorous, you can bring any food with you, including bread, apples and cabbage.