Part of the Hredls Palace restored for the visitor centre «Skolivski Beskydy»
For the first time in 150 years, Hredliv Palace in Skole is becoming a tourist destination. On August 23, the visitor centre of Skole Beskids National Park was officially opened here. So far, around 200 m² of the palace has been restored. The restoration began with the left oriel — the most structurally unsafe part of the building.
The Frankfurt Zoological Society in Ukraine (FZS) has played an important role in giving the palace a new lease of life. When the condition of the roof deteriorated to a critical level during the full-scale war, we supported the urgent restoration of the roof. The work began in 2023 and was completed the following summer. It gradually became clear that the building had much greater potential — to bring together nature conservation and cultural heritage.
“The palace is located literally on the way to the mountains and has every chance of becoming a true ‘gateway to the Carpathians’. What began as an urgent roof repair gradually grew into a much deeper project. Our vision for the palace is a space centred around the national park, with three important components interacting around it: natural and cultural heritage, and the local community,” — says Iryna Burbylo, Head of the Protected Areas Infrastructure Department at FZS.
“We understood that it had to become a tourism hub, but at that point we still didn’t have a full picture of how it should develop,” — recalls Vasyl Pryndak, Director of National Park «Skolivski Beskydy».
For such a hub to thrive and develop, it will also need supporting services — including guest rooms, a food service facility and an event space. With more than 2,000 m² of space, the palace can accommodate all these functions.
The revitalisation of Hredliv Palace is a long journey that requires a comprehensive approach, committed partners and, of course, resources. The first step has already been taken: the visitor centre has opened, bringing new life to the site and helping transform the palace into a vibrant hub for the national park, the local community and everyone who comes to discover the Skole Beskids and the nature of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
For now, the visitor centre will operate in test mode from Friday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 20:00. Here, the national park will introduce visitors to its work and host temporary exhibitions. However, the opening of the visitor centre is only the first step in a large-scale reimagining of the site.
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