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Мукачеве (Mukačeve) (in Ruthenian dialect: Мукачів/Mukačiv) is situated of the Latoritsija river in a lowland of the Carpathian mountains in the Transcarpathia province of western Ukraine. Mukačeve is the administrative centre of the Mukačeve raion (district) and is also designated as its own district (city municipality) within that district. Its population is about 77,300 (2004).

It was first mentioned in the 'Gesta Hungarorum' (the Deeds of the Hungarians), a Latin text of 1282/85. The town was founded as a military fortress and settlement in the 9th century. During the 9th and 10th centuries it was part of the Kyiv Rus' state. In 1018 it was taken by the Hungarians and became a dominion centre of the Hungarian kings. The Polovtsian tribes devastated Mukačeve in 1241, the armies of Khan Baty followed in 1241. By 1320 it was under Hungarian rule again. From the 15th century onward, Mukačeve was a prominent trade and crafts centre. Since the 16th century it was part of the Transylvaian duchy. In 1867, Transcarpathia became Austrian and was made a key fortress of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. After World War I it became part of Czechoslovakia. After a brief period of independence in 1938, Transcarpathia was occupied by Germany-Hungary in 1939. In 1944 it was ceded to the Ukrainian SSR.

Palanok castle [top] on a rocky hill in Mukačeve dates back to the 9th century. In 1393, the Hungarian king presented Mukačeve to Prince Podillja Korjatović who fortified the castle and made it his residence. From 1789 on, it served as a prison. Since 1926 it was used as military barracks and later became an agricultural college. Today it houses a museum. The picture on the glass also shows the tall column, that was erected in 1896 as a monument commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the area that later became the Kingdom of Hungary. It is likely that this monument has been removed after 1918.

Mukačeve's Town Hall [bottom] was built in Secessionist style in 1899–1904.

The well-known Hungarian painter, Mihály MUNKÁCSY (1884–1900; real name Michael Lieb) was born in Munkács/Mukačeve .
 

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