Schoenborn Palace

About

The Beregvar Hunting Lodge (Ukrainian: Палац графів Шенборнів or German: Schloss Beregvár or German: Jagdchloss Beregvár) is a palace in a neo-romantic style. It is located in Karpaty, which is part of Chynadiiovo in the Mukachevo Raion, Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine. Built between 1890 and 1895 by Erwein-Friedrich von Schönborn-Buchheim, the palace served as a hunting estate and a seasonal residence for the Schönborn family, a prominent Austro-Hungarian aristocratic dynasty. Surrounded by a picturesque dendrological park featuring rare tree species, a decorative lake, and sculptural compositions, the hunting lodge is renowned for its architectural elegance, blending Romanesque and Gothic motifs with French Renaissance influences. Since 1946, the building has housed the "Karpaty" sanatorium, specializing in cardiovascular and neurological treatments.

Between 1703 and 1711, there was an uprising aiming to topple the rule of the Habsburgs over Hungary. The war was led by prince Francis II Rákóczi ( Hungarian : II. Rákóczi Ferenc ) (1676–1735), the son of an old noble family and one of the richest landlords in the Kingdom of Hungary. Rákóczi's War of Independence was unsuccessful, ending with the Treaty of Szatmár. Although assured clemency, prince Francis II did not accept nor recognized the peace conditions, his estates and properties in Hungary were confiscated. As a result, Mukacheve including Palanok Castle, Szentmiklós (today named Chynadiyovo ), and 200 villages were transferred to the royal treasury.

Lothar Franz von Schónborn and his heir Friedrich Karl von Schönborn

In 1728, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor gifted the Mukachevo-Chinadiyiv estate to Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655–1729), the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz, who had helped to defeat Rákóczi by sending troops. The estate, a so-called Majorat, was one of the largest in Eastern Europe and Lothar-Franz entrusted the management of the estates to his nephew and heir, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (1674–1746), the Reichsvizekanzler (vice-chancellor) of the Holy Roman Empire from 1705 to 1734 and Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. Administrators were appointed to manage the day-to-day affairs and inspectors were sent from time to time to inspect.

To promote the economic development of the region, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn populated the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate with German immigrants, offering them passports, monetary incentives, land plots, and building materials to construct homes. Additionally, artisans were granted a ten-year tax exemption, while peasants were exempt for six years.

Szentmiklós Castle was renovated in 1734 to become a residence for the Schönborn family. Furthermore, between 1746 and 1747, the former palace of the Rákóczi princes in Mukacheve, known as the White Palace, was rebuilt and expanded with the assistance of architect Balthasar Neumann to serve as another residence for the family.

The Austrian Branch of the Schönborn family: Schönborn-Buchheim

After Friedrich Karl's death, the estate was inherited by his brother, Rudolf Franz Erwein von Schönborn (1677–1754), who sold it to his nephew, Eugen Erwein von Schönborn-Heusenstamm (1727–1801). Eugen had already inherited Friedrich Karl's Austrian properties, including Palais Schönborn-Batthyány and Schloss Schönborn. Since Eugen had only daughters and no sons, the estate passed to his cousin's son, Hugo Damian Erwein von Schönborn-Wiesentheid (1739–1817). Hugo divided his time between the Schönborner Hof in Mainz, the Franconian palaces of Wiesentheid and Weißenstein in Pommersfelden, and Vienna. Upon his death, his sons divided the estates, leading to the emergence of the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family under Franz Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1768–1841). In addition to the Austrian estates, this branch also inherited the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate experienced rapid development thanks to well-planned agricultural and economic policies. For instance, Count Eugen established a hosiery factory and a large stud farm. In 1782, he also oversaw the construction of a bridge over the Latorica River.

For the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family, visiting Szentmiklós each autumn and hosting hunting parties became a cherished tradition. To facilitate these gatherings, Erwein-Friedrich von Schönborn-Buchheim (1842–1903) constructed the Beregvár hunting lodge between 1890 and 1895, replacing a former wooden lodge. Both he and his son and heir, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1869–1932), frequently hosted distinguished guests from across Austria-Hungary.

Following the First World War, Transcarpathia became part of Czechoslovakia. In 1928, the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate was dissolved as part of a land reform implemented by the Czechoslovak government. To retain his holdings, Count Schönborn-Buchheim arranged a financial transaction whereby the company Bignon, funded by French, Swiss, and Czech capital, purchased the estate at a nominal price and immediately transferred them to the company Latoritsa, of which Count Schönborn-Buchheim was the main shareholder.

The last owner of the Beregvár hunting lodge was Count Georg-Erwein von Schönborn-Buchheim (1906–1989), who left Mukachevo in September 1944. The family took refuge in Sankt Gallenkirch in Montafon, Austria. After the end of the Russian occupation of Lower Austria in 1955, the family regained Schloss Schönborn and Weyerburg castle, where they to continue to live up to this day. Count Georg and his wife Christiane never lost contact with the region, even during the difficult times that followed. Until the very end, they collected donations for the population of the former estates, feeling not only a personal connection but also a sense of duty to support those in need. Thanks to the countess, in 1994, the Austrian budget included funds for the modernization of Mukachevo water management. The city received completed facilities of environmentally friendly pipes, automation and a device that detects damage to pipes underground. Also, she organized humanitarian aid to the victims of the floods of 1998 and 2001. In October 1997, Countess Christiane Schönborn-Buchheim was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Mukachevo" for her generous charitable assistance.

Gallery: The Beregvar hunting lodge seen from the air

Between 1703 and 1711, there was an uprising aiming to topple the rule of the Habsburgs over Hungary. The war was led by prince Francis II Rákóczi ( Hungarian : II. Rákóczi Ferenc ) (1676–1735), the son of an old noble family and one of the richest landlords in the Kingdom of Hungary. Rákóczi's War of Independence was unsuccessful, ending with the Treaty of Szatmár. Although assured clemency, prince Francis II did not accept nor recognized the peace conditions, his estates and properties in Hungary were confiscated. As a result, Mukacheve including Palanok Castle, Szentmiklós (today named Chynadiyovo ), and 200 villages were transferred to the royal treasury.

In 1728, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor gifted the Mukachevo-Chinadiyiv estate to Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655–1729), the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz, who had helped to defeat Rákóczi by sending troops. The estate, a so-called Majorat, was one of the largest in Eastern Europe and Lothar-Franz entrusted the management of the estates to his nephew and heir, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn (1674–1746), the Reichsvizekanzler (vice-chancellor) of the Holy Roman Empire from 1705 to 1734 and Prince-Bishop of Würzburg and Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1729 to 1746. Administrators were appointed to manage the day-to-day affairs and inspectors were sent from time to time to inspect.

To promote the economic development of the region, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn populated the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate with German immigrants, offering them passports, monetary incentives, land plots, and building materials to construct homes. Additionally, artisans were granted a ten-year tax exemption, while peasants were exempt for six years.

Szentmiklós Castle was renovated in 1734 to become a residence for the Schönborn family. Furthermore, between 1746 and 1747, the former palace of the Rákóczi princes in Mukacheve, known as the White Palace, was rebuilt and expanded with the assistance of architect Balthasar Neumann to serve as another residence for the family.

After Friedrich Karl's death, the estate was inherited by his brother, Rudolf Franz Erwein von Schönborn (1677–1754), who sold it to his nephew, Eugen Erwein von Schönborn-Heusenstamm (1727–1801). Eugen had already inherited Friedrich Karl's Austrian properties, including Palais Schönborn-Batthyány and Schloss Schönborn. Since Eugen had only daughters and no sons, the estate passed to his cousin's son, Hugo Damian Erwein von Schönborn-Wiesentheid (1739–1817). Hugo divided his time between the Schönborner Hof in Mainz, the Franconian palaces of Wiesentheid and Weißenstein in Pommersfelden, and Vienna. Upon his death, his sons divided the estates, leading to the emergence of the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family under Franz Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1768–1841). In addition to the Austrian estates, this branch also inherited the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mukachevo-Chinadiiv estate experienced rapid development thanks to well-planned agricultural and economic policies. For instance, Count Eugen established a hosiery factory and a large stud farm. In 1782, he also oversaw the construction of a bridge over the Latorica River.

For the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family, visiting Szentmiklós each autumn and hosting hunting parties became a cherished tradition. To facilitate these gatherings, Erwein-Friedrich von Schönborn-Buchheim (1842–1903) constructed the Beregvár hunting lodge between 1890 and 1895, replacing a former wooden lodge. Both he and his son and heir, Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1869–1932), frequently hosted distinguished guests from across Austria-Hungary.