Vynohradiv

Vynohradiv
Виноградів
Central Vynohradiv looking towards Black Mountain

Coat of arms
Map of Zakarpattia Oblast with Vynohradiv.
Vynohradiv
Location of Vynohradiv
Coordinates:
Country
Oblast
Raion
Ukraine
Zakarpattia Oblast
Vynohradiv Raion
Founded 1262 as Sevliush
Incorporated 1946
Government
 • Mayor Stepan Bochkaj (István Bocskai)
Area
 • Total 32.09 km2 (12.4 sq mi)
Elevation 134 m (440 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 27,600
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 90300
Website http://www.rada.vynogradiv.com.ua/

Vynohradiv (Ukrainian: Виноградів, Hungarian: Nagyszőlős, Romanian: Seleuşu Mare, Rusyn: Cивлюш (Syvlyush), Russian: Виноградово (Vinogradovo), Yiddish: סעליש (Seylesh, Selish)) is a city in western Ukraine, Zakarpattia Oblast. It has 27,600 inhabitants (2010). It is center of Vynohradiv Raion.

Contents

Location

The city lies near the river Tisza and the border with Romania. It is 35 kilometres from Berehove.

Name

The city was called Sevlush (the Rusyn transliteration of szőllős) in 1946, then became Vynohradiv. Vinogradovo, Vynohradiv, and Nagyszőlős all mean 'Grape City' in Russian, Ukrainian, and Hungarian respectively. It was also known as Vynohradovo in the Old Ukrainian language (Ruthenian language).

History

It was first mentioned in 1262 by the name Zceuleus. Its Hungarian name, Nagyszőlős comes from the word szőlő meaning grape, since the area is an important wine district. The town was one of the oldest in Ugocsa comitatus, and was inhabited by winemakers of the royal court. In 1329 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 Tartar 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 (5943 or 76% Hungarians, 1266 or 16% Ruthenians (Rusyns) and 540 or 7% Germans). The religious make-up was 3311 Greek Catholics (42.5%), 2237 Jewish (28.6%) and 1124 Calvinists (14.4%).

This city had a Jewish ghetto in 1944, at its height from May to June 1944 when 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 2 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 became part of the Soviet Union.

Today 26% of the population is Hungarian (census of 2001).

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the population included: [1]

Tourist sights

Famous people

Other Names

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Vynohradiv is twinned with:

See also