Vary: Castle Ruins and Fortified Church

Vary brings together several distinct historical themes. Borzhava Castle represents an old fortification, whose surviving remains are of interest today primarily from an archaeological perspective. The Reformed Church offers a different perspective: it was formerly Catholic, bears features of a fortified church and dates to the 15th century. Another glimpse of folk culture came at the Days of Folk Culture and Preservation of Traditions, held in Vary in August 2026.

Borzhava Castle and its remains

Borzhava Castle is considered one of the oldest fortifications in Ukraine. Fragments of ditches and ramparts remain at the site of an old castle mound. Today, the remains are of interest primarily from an archaeological perspective and can hardly still be described as an architectural structure. The historical focus is therefore on the fortified site and its surviving traces, not on largely preserved castle architecture. Ditches and ramparts are distinct elements of a fortification: a ditch is a depression, while a rampart is a raised earthwork. This distinction helps identify the fragments mentioned as the remains of a fortification.

A planned castle route in the region

In the wider travel region, Borzhava Castle is part of a planned route covering twelve medieval castles and castle ruins in Zakarpattia Oblast. This context broadens the view beyond the village itself to the region’s castle landscape. Two scales can thus be distinguished: the archaeological fragments describe the specific heritage in Vary, while the route lists the castle as part of a planned collection of historic sites in the oblast.

The Reformed Church

The Reformed Church is considered the village’s most significant monument. It was formerly Catholic, bears features of a fortified church and dates to the 15th century. The term “fortified church” combines religious use with a defensive character; in Vary’s case, the reference is to features of this architectural style. The three details concern different aspects of the village’s history: its former Catholic character, the building’s architectural description and its dating. This makes the church distinct from the castle, whose surviving remains today are of interest primarily from an archaeological perspective.

Folk culture and traditions

The Days of Folk Culture and Preservation of Traditions were held in Vary for the sixth time from 27 to 29 August 2026. The three-day event took place in Vary. Around 50 children learned about folk dance, folk music, singing, folk games and traditional crafts at the event. The activities mentioned ranged from dance, music and singing to games and practical crafts. The event therefore covered more than one art form and offers a concrete glimpse of the content of this edition.

Distinct historical themes

These themes offer different historical points of interest to consider when planning your trip. The castle represents the history of fortifications, viewed through archaeology; the church offers insights into religious history and architecture; and the tradition days add a specifically dated cultural event to these two enduring features of the village. If you are considering Vary as a destination, you can weigh up in advance whether you are more interested in castle ruins, church architecture or folk culture.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lalovo, Lazeshchyna, Kosson, Chorna Tysa, Volovec, Nelipyno, Kvasy, Sredneye

For the broader travel overview: Zakarpattia Oblast.