Vynohradiv, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine

🇺🇦 Vynohradiv (Виноградів) is a city in western Ukraine, Zakarpattia Oblast. It was the centre of Vynohradiv Raion and since 2020 it has been incorporated into Berehove Raion.

Names There are multiple alternative names used for this city due to its location and history: Hungarian: Nagyszőlős, Romanian: Seleușu Mare, Rusyn: Cивлюш (Syvlyush), Ukrainian: Cивлюш (Syvlyush), Russian: Виноградов (Vinogradov), Belarusian: Вінаградаў (Vinahradaŭ), Yiddish: סעליש (Seylesh, Selish), Slovak: Vinohradov (Veľká Sevljuš during Czechoslovak rule), German: Wynohradiw, Polish: Wynohradiw (hist. Sewlusz).

Geography: Location The city lies near the river Tisza on the border with Romania. It is 35 km (22 mi) from Berehove.

History It was first mentioned in 1262 by the name Zceuleus. Its Hungarian name, Nagyszőlős ("Great Vineyard"), stems from the area being an important wine district. The city was called Sevlush (the Rusyn transliteration of the Hungarian word szőlős, meaning vineyard.

The town was one of the oldest in Ugocsa county, and was inhabited by winemakers of the royal court. In 1329, Hungarian King Charles Robert granted privileges to the town, which became the seat of the Comitatus (the city held this rank until the Treaty of Trianon was signed in 1920).

In 1717, most of the citizens of the town were killed by an invading Tatar horde. By 1880, the population was about 4,400 (with 500 native Romanians). In 1881 a secondary school was opened.

In 1910 it had a population of 7,811 (5,943 or 76% Hungarians, 1,266 or 16% Ruthenians (Rusyns) and 540 or 7% Germans). The religious make-up was 3,311 Greek Catholics (42.5%), 2,237 Jews (28.6%) and 1,124 Calvinists (14.4%).

This city had a Jewish ghetto in 1944. At its height from May to June 1944, most of the Jews of this section of northern Transylvania were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp to be gassed shortly after arrival. Jews from the area typically spent about two weeks in the ghetto before being deported. Conditions were extremely cramped with many families housed in a single room, a deliberate arrangement meant to cause suffering and disease.

In 1944, Carpathian Ruthenia was occupied by Soviet Union and was formally incorporated into Ukrainian SSR in 1946. The city name became Vinogradovo (Russian), Vynohradiv (Ukrainian), or Vynohradovo (Rusyn). All mean "Grape Town".

A local newspaper is published here since December 1945.

Demographics According to the 2001 census, the population included: • Ukrainians (82.13%) • Hungarians (13.54%) • Russians (3.82%) • Roma (0.6%).

Tourist sights • Ugocsa Castle "Kankó" (ruins; 13th century). It was first mentioned in 1308. In 1315 King Charles Robert attacked and destroyed it. In the 15th century the area was given to monks of the Franciscan order, they built a monastery there, which was inhabited until 1558. There is a small 14th century chapel south of the ruins. • Perényi Castle. It was built by the Perényi noble family from 1399, later rebuilt in baroque style into a mansion. • Franciscan church and monastery (built in 1744, rebuilt in 1889). • Our Lady's Church (13th century, rebuilt in the 15th century in Gothic style, restored in the early 20th century. Its furniture was destroyed after 1945. The Church got it back in 1989. • Franciscan monastery (founded in the 15th century). In 1556 local Protestants attacked the monastery, killed the monks and threw the body of St. John Capistrano into a well. The Perényi family invited monks of the order to the town again, but the monastery burnt down in 1747. Its current building was erected in 1889. • Protestant church (Neoclassical, 1828). • Old county hall (now the building of the Zsigmond Perényi Secondary School) and statue of Perényi (1906).

Economy One of the biggest employers in Vynohradiv is the Gentherm.