Attractions of Uzhhorod

Photo museum cafe "OttoFoto" was opened in Uzhhorod in 2023 by the wife of the famous Uzhhorod collector Attila Runyanin Kseniya. The collection was formed and replenished for about 7 years and now includes more than half a thousand different cameras and more.

About three hundred cameras, two motorcycles and about one hundred rarities are presented in the cafe-photo museum "OttoFoto". The exposition of the cafe mainly consists of cameras of Soviet, European and American production since 1920. There are also other old things here: a gramophone, a Soviet radio, a landline telephone that was used in the last century, various antiques.

Photo exhibitions, workshops and creative meetings can be held in the coffee shop.

"OttoFoto" is located in the central part of the city, not far from Koryatovycha Square.

The Horyanska Rotunda (Church of Saint Anna) in Uzhhorod is the oldest temple in Transcarpathia, a unique monument of Romano-Byzantine architecture, in which experts see features of Great Moravian architecture.

The most probable time of construction is considered to be the 13th century, but there are also earlier datings - up to the 10th century. The rotunda temple in Horyany is made in the shape of a hexagon with powerful walls 2-2.5 meters thick and narrow windows, made of bricks similar to the ancient Rus plinth. Probably, the church of Saint  Anna was the chapel of the fortified castle and performed defensive functions.

According to legend, the Horyanska Rotunda was built by Princess Gragissa, who owned the Horyansky Castle in the 13th century. When the castle was captured by the tycoon Matush Chuck Trenchynsky, escaping from dishonor, Gragissa went forever to the castle dungeons, where her soul still awaits release.

In the 15th century, the nave of the Nicholas Church was attached to the rotunda.

The frescoes created in 1360-1370 by Italian masters of the Giotto school have been preserved inside the Horyanska Rotunda. On the eastern wall of the nave there are paintings of the 15th century, executed in the "sal secco" technique in the manner of the Tyrolean and Czech schools of painting.

The oldest sakura alley in Uzhhorod stretches along Brashchaykiv Street from Pushkina Square on Nezalezhnosti Embankment to the intersection with Ferentsa Rakotsi Street. This is the most popular tourist location in the city during the cherry blossoms in the second half of April.

Sakura is recognized as a tourist card of Uzhhorod. The ornamental Japanese cherry was brought here in 1923 from Vienna, and now it grows all over the city. But the first sakura alley was planted along Braschaykiv Street and on the adjacent streets - in the so-called Czech quarters, which were built in the 1920s in the style of interwar modernism. In the spring, hundreds of sakura trees bloom here in an incredibly lush pink and white color. This fascinating sight attracts thousands of tourists to Uzhhorod every year.

New sakura alleys in Uzhhorod were planted in 2009-2011 on the opposite bank of the Uzh River, on the Slovyanska, Kyivska and Pravoslavna embankments.

Almost at the same time as cherry blossoms, magnolias bloom, flowers of Japanese quince and Nedzvetskyi, Florida and Chinese apple trees bloom.

The museum of the Transcarpathian artist Andriy Kotska was opened in the Uzhhorod house where he had lived since 1945.

The exposition is based on materials collected by the artist's sister Anna. In his studio some of Kotska's works are presented - portraits and landscapes of the post-war period.

Other works of the master can be found in the memorial part of the museum, where the living conditions of the house are preserved.

The garden around the house grows fruit trees and shrubs, as well as rare ornamental species of European and local flora.

Andriy Kotska Memorial House-Museum is a branch of the Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum named after Yosyp Bokshay.

The Archaeological Museum named after Professor Eduard Balahuri is located on the first floor of the rectorate building of the Uzhhorod National University.

It was founded in 2004 on the basis of the archaeological laboratory of the History Faculty of UzhNU. It bears the name of historian, archaeologist, professor of Uzhhorod University Eduard Balahuri, on whose initiative the first museum was opened at the university in 1984, which became the predecessor of the current one.

The exhibition presents historical and cultural values from the Paleolithic to the late Middle Ages, which were collected by the archeological expedition of UzhNU during the decades.

The most interesting exhibits come from the excavations of the Dacian hillfort near the village of Mala Kopania, the model of which can be seen in the exposition. Among them are samples of Dacian pottery, tools, weapons, jewelry, coins, as well as cult objects, including a ritual ram vessel and a Dacian burial urn.

The Museum of History of the Uzhhorod National University is located in a separate exhibition hall, which presents the achievements of higher education in Transcarpathia, from the founding of the Jesuit collegium in the 17th century to the modern achievements of UzhNU.

The Botanical Garden of the Uzhhorod National University was created in 1946, occupies 4.5 hectares of area.

The boat garden is a monument of garden and park architecture of state importance. Maintains relations with 155 botanical gardens of the world.

The park is spread over three levels: one third of it is located on the first and second terraces above the river, and two thirds descends into a part of the valley. The height difference is 22 meters. Volcanic parent rocks covered with a coarse layer of loamy cultured soil. Landings are placed according to the geographical principle. The following areas of exotic plants are located here: American, Caucasian, Central Asian, Chinese, Far Eastern.

About 3,800 species of plants are collected in the garden. The flora of Transcarpathia is represented by 400 species of plants, including: Hungarian lilac, Carpathian cornflower. There are about 800 species of trees and shrubs in the arboretum. 130 species of conifers grow: yew, swamp cypress and others. The alpine slide represents the flora of the mountains separately. 150 species of plants grow here, including the wonderful edelweiss. Decorative floriculture is represented by 1200 species of plants, including: 120 species of roses, 50 species of gladiolus, 25 species of chrysanthemums, 20 species of lilies.

Tropical and subtropical plants grow in the greenhouse of the Uzhhorod Botanical Garden: banana, mimosa, laurel, eucalyptus, papaya, 10 types of palm trees, 250 types of cacti.

The Chardonnay wine tasting hall was opened in 2007 in the old center of Uzhhorod by Oleksandr Kovach, a private winemaker from the village of Kontsovo.

A 19th century wine press is installed at the entrance.

The tasting room can accommodate 60 visitors at the same time. At the beginning, visitors are shown a film about Transcarpathian winemaking "The Divine Gift of Bacchus". At the tasting, the best products of the most famous wineries of Transcarpathia are presented: ”Skilur”, ”Kotnar”, ”Bobovyshchansky”, ”Leanka”, ”Zakarpatsky sad”.

Visitors can taste such famous Transcarpathian wines as "Troyanda Zakarpattya" in 1986, "Kahor", Serednyanske”, ”Shardone”, ”Spokusnytsya”, ”Starovynnyy zamok”, as well as "Zakarpatsky" cognac.

Cheeses from Selyska's private cheese factory are offered as snacks.

The Cross and Exaltation Greek-Catholic Cathedral has long been the main Christian temple of Uzhhorod.

The initiator of its creation in 1640 was Count Yanosh X Druhet, who invited Jesuit monks for this purpose. Construction was carried out for 6 years. After the liquidation of the Jesuit order in 1773, the Cross and Exaltation Cathedral was transferred to the Greek Catholic diocese. In 1779, Bishop Andriy Bachynsky rebuilt it in the Baroque style according to the Eastern rite. The church acquired its current forms, combining classicism and neo-baroque, after the reconstruction in 1878.

Rococo-style interiors are painted by Transcarpathian artists. Many religious figures are buried in the crypts, including Bishop Teodor Romzha, who was killed by the Soviet special services.

In 1991, the Cross and Exaltation Cathedral was returned to the Greek Catholics.

Nearby is the former episcopal residence, in which the first Transcarpathian higher education institution - the Jesuit college - was opened. Until recently, the library of the Uzhhorod State University was located here, but now the building has been returned to the church. Restoration is in progress, the opening of the diocesan museum is planned.

The ancient building of the "Sovyne Hnizdo" brewery, located in the center of Uzhhorod opposite the city council building, is sometimes called "Rakotsi cellars", "wine cellar", "Boholvar" or simply "ambar".

The brewery building with beer barrel cellars is believed to have been built in the 17th century under Prince Ferents II Rakotsi, although the date "1781" can now be seen on the facade. The construction of the brewery is associated with a surge in industry, trade and winemaking in Transcarpathia. The warehouse was used to store food and beverages until the end of the 20th century.

Until recently, the building was abandoned, but in 2011 the premises were cleared and prepared for the "Transcarpathian Beaujolais" wine festival. After the restoration, the Uzhhorod cultural and historical center "Sovyne Hnizdo" was located here, which quickly became a popular venue for holding various festivals, fairs and wine tastings.

During the Russian-Ukrainian war of 2022, the "Sovyne Hnizdo" housed the Center for Humanitarian Aid for IDPs.

The Ethnographic Museum "Svitlytsya" was founded in Uzhhorod in 1991 by Transcarpathian ethnographers, folklorists and teachers as an ethnographic corner of the Transcarpathian Regional Center for Children's and Youth Creativity "PADIUN".

The exhibition "Transcarpathian House" reproduces the interior of a traditional residence of the inhabitants of the region. The tools of peasant work and everyday life, folk costumes of Transcarpathia are exhibited.

The exhibition "Past by hands of the future" presents historical miniatures of the life, everyday life, trades and crafts of the residents of the Eurocarpathian region, models of architectural monuments of Transcarpathia.

The house-museum of the artist Fedir Manaylo is dedicated to the life and work of one of the founders of the Transcarpathian school of painting.

The museum was opened in 1981 in the house where Manaylo lived in the middle of the XX century in Uzhhorod. Here he taught decorative arts at the Uzhhorod School of Crafts and the Uzhhorod School of Applied Arts, worked as the chief artist of the Transcarpathian Regional House of Folk Art.

The museum exposition includes more than 2,000 exhibits, including personal belongings of the artist, documents from his personal archive, as well as works of art that acquaint with the work of Fedir Manaylo: paintings, graphics, scenery, etc.

The interior of the artist's workshop and living room has been preserved.

Fedir Manaylo Memorial House-Museum is a branch of the Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum named after Yosyp Bokshay.

The cobbled pedestrian street Korzo in the center of Uzhhorod connects Koryatovycha Square with Avhustyna Voloshyna Street.

Translated from Italian, "corso" means "place for walks". The name given to the street by the Druhets, the former owners of the city, is justified even now. This is a favorite place for walks of the citizens and guests of Uzhhorod - there are many cafes and shops, the facades of the old buildings have been restored, and the city services carefully maintain cleanliness.

The longest linden alley in Europe stretched for 2.2 kilometers along the Uzh River in the city of Uzhhorod. The alley starts from Teatralna Square and stretches along Nezalezhnosti and Studentska embankments to the Avangard stadium.

The park-monument of horticultural art of local importance "Linden Alley" (Lypova Aleya) with an area of 1 hectare was laid out in 1928 by Czech botanists during the construction of the Uzh embankment. Currently, the alley has 191 linden trees, as well as 4 western thuja and 2 oaks. Due to the fact that lindens of various varieties are collected here, the alley blooms throughout the summer from the beginning of June, filling the air with honey aromas.

A separate botanical monument of nature of local importance is Masaryk's Ash, which grows at the beginning of the Independence embankment. The 120-year-old common ash tree, 30 meters high, wrapped in vines, is named in honor of Tomasz Masaryk, the first president of the Czechoslovak Republic, who defended the rights of Ukrainians.

The Mini-Statue of Freedom in Uzhhorod, which is also the smallest functioning lighthouse in Ukraine, was made by sculptor Mykhailo Kolodko in the style of Fernando Botero and installed in 2011 in honor of the Uzhhorod River Regatta.

The 17-centimeter-tall figure holds a lamp with a flashing LED. Little Freedom Lighthouse (Svobodka lighthouse) is installed on the railing of the bridge over the Uzh River.

A monument to the Transcarpathian artist Ihnatiy Roshkovych in Uzhhorod is located on the embankment, which used to bear his name, next to the pedestrian bridge.

At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Roshkovych became famous for his sacred paintings of many churches in Europe, in particular. St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest and the Transfiguration Church in Uzhhorod.

Sculptor Mykhaylo Kolodko depicted the artist at work on the cityscape of Uzhhorod with the embankment and the bridge over the river. Moreover, the bridge in the picture looks as it was during Roshkoviych's time.

A similar monument will be erected in Budapest.