PALACES IN EASTERN HUNGARY

This Gothic castle palace, which was built by Louis the Great in the 14th century stands at the foot of the Bükk Mountains, on a rocky hill protruding from the valley of the Szinva stream.

The Diósgyőr Castle is also called the castle of queens as it was owned by the wives of rulers for more than a hundred years, who received it as a gift and used it as a rural residence. The castle is now full of life again: authentic furnishings, costumed guides and historical games transport visitors back to the past.
Knightly tournaments, guided tours in authentic costumes, weapon demonstrations and archery. If you visit the Diósgyőr Castle there are countless activities to choose from.

The largest knight’s hall in Central Europe from the time of Louis the Great is located here.

Attractions in the area:

• Conquer the most majestic peaks of the National Blue Trail.
• Take a dip in the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath, which is unlike any other in Europe.
• Take part in a little adventure in Lillafüred, go up to Jávorhegy by chairlift or go boating on Lake Hámori.
  
  
  
  Designer:
  Date of construction: 14th century
  Style: Gothic 

Situated on the island of the River Bódva, the L’Huillier–Coburg Castle is one of the largest castles in Hungary. It is an outstanding monument of early Baroque architecture and is made special by its rooms decorated with fabulous murals.

The fabulous building and its park can be visited with a (sometimes costumed) guide. Children of all ages can enjoy the willow playground in the 12-hectare garden surrounding the palace. The construction of the castle was started by Jean-François L’Huillier, a military officer and a baron from Lorraine, and his wife in 1716. Its six rooms were later given a unique atmosphere by travelling painter Ferenc Lieb, which resulted in one of the largest connected Rococo murals in Hungary. The history of the builders and the inhabitants of the palace can be explored through a spectacular 3D feature film, and museum educational activities make the transfer of this knowledge a special experience for children.

The largest series of Rococo murals in Hungary was created by travelling painter Ferenc Lieb.

Attractions and activities in the area:

• Admire the 17-metre-high Fátyol (Veil) Waterfall in the Szalajka Valley.
• Discover the world heritage stalactite cave, the Baradla Cave in Aggtelek.
• See the authentic knightly tournaments at the Diósgyőr Castle.
  
  
  
  Date of construction: 1716–1730
  Style: Baroque 

In the centre of Eger you can find the legendary castle where the Hungarian defenders defeated the conquering Turkish army in 1552. In the excellent interactive castle exhibition you can learn about the history of the siege and the castle.
 

The core of the castle was built in the second half of the 13th century, following the Tatar invasion. It is of great importance in the history of Hungary: In 1552, István Dobó defeated the Sultan's army, which had about thirty times more soldiers. In the well-designed exhibition of the castle museum in the former Gothic episcopal palace, you can learn about the life of soldiers in border castles, you can go down to the dungeons, and you look around in the spectacular armoury. You can join a guided tour of the Zárkándy Bastion through the mine observation corridors of the dungeon, or you can simply admire the view from the walls and the bastions.

A cannon shot is fired from the castle every day at 15:52 in memory of the famous siege and the heroes, including the brave women of Eger who joined the defenders.

Attractions in the area:

• Discover the romantic landscapes of the Mátra and the Bükk on the National Blue Trail route.
• Taste Bull's Blood of Eger and Star of Eger wines at a modern wine bar or an excellent winery.
• Discover the area’s spas and thermal baths.
  
  
  
  Designer:
  Date of construction: The second half of the 13th century
  Style: Gothic

Since the Middle Ages, the snow-white Füzér castle has stood on top of the Castle Hill, one of the seven natural wonders of Hungary, in the easternmost part of the Zemplén Mountains.

The castle of Füzér is one of Hungary’s few private castles that probably stood before the Tatar invasion. It built by a member of the Aba clan. It was significantly reconstructed between 2014 and 2016, when the Lower Castle was rebuilt, and the castle chapel, the palace wing and the lower bastion of the Upper Castle were renovated. It is also a popular excursion destination due to its historical significance and because it’s a fascinating sight. It is also part of the National Blue Trail. With the help of trained guides, visitors can learn about the history of the castle. They can find out how people lived in the Middle Ages, who owned the castle and why it is considered one of the most beautifully located castles in Hungary.

The castle has stood on a steep volcanic cone since the Middle Ages.


Date of construction: 13th-17th centuries
Style: Gothic 

The Baroque and Revivalist castle is surrounded by forests. It has one of the most beautiful castle parks in the country with a unique climate and atmosphere and it is famous for its huge, ancient trees.

The construction of the Revivalist-style palace began in the 1860s according to the plans of Ede Károlyi and Miklós Ybl. The building exudes an atmosphere of romance on the outside and inside its halls visitors are welcomed by a real Italian renaissance feeling. It became the first palace hotel in the country in the 1930s, and it was operated by the Károlyi family itself. The palace has a huge park that is special for its unique climate, atmosphere and attractive English garden, where you can take a walk for several hours – even in form of a guided park tour – without touching a road section twice. The park is famous for its giant trees, you can see oaks and hornbeams that are 250-300 years old and a gigantic sycamore planted in 1721.

The building, reconstructed according to the plans of Miklós Ybl, later became the first palace hotel in the country.

Attractions in the area:

• Get to know the atmosphere of the Tokaj wine region and take part in a vineyard tour.
• Put your courage to the test and slide down the zipline in Sátoraljaújhely, which spans a gorge more than 100 metres deep.
• Discover the Tarn of Megyer-hegy formed in the excavation pit of the abandoned millstone mine.
  
  
  Designer: Ede Károlyi, Miklós Ybl
  Date of construction: End of the 16th century/middle of the 18th century/ second half of the 1880s
  Style: Baroque, Revivalist
  Opening date: The park has been open to visitors since mid-2021 

Almásy Castle and its park, which has been declared a nature reserve, is an ideal place for family activities. The interactive exhibition provides a special museum experience, combining modern technology such as a holoprojector with classic museum attractions. For example, it also shows how the chatelaine’s bed was warmed up.

Visitors will have a comprehensive experience: in the modern, interactive exhibition they won’t just get an insight into the everyday life of the lords who once lived in the building but also that of their service staff. The tower lookout offers beautiful views of the surrounding area, and the gate structure, known as the Turkish Tower, is home to temporary exhibitions. The palace is famous for many historical events: ten of the 13 martyrs of Arad laid down their arms here, Ferenc Erkel composed the details of several of his operas in the palace park, and Mihály Munkácsy worked here as a painter’s apprentice. In 1746, a theatre performance was held in the castle, the first such palace performance in Hungary.

You can also get to know the everyday life of the palace service staff.

Attractions in the area:

• Taste the famous Gyula and Csaba sausages.
• Discover the romantic backwaters of the Körös Rivers by kayak.
• Experience the romance of the 19th century with Munkácsy's paintings in Békéscsaba.
  
  
  Designer:
  Date of construction: around 1740/1766/1801-1810
  Style: Baroque, Neo-Baroque 

The Rákóczi Castle is the most important work of late Renaissance architecture in Hungary and the most significant monument in Sárospatak. A visit to the exceptional castle district on the shores of the River Bodrog will really take you back to the Renaissance.

The construction of the building complex began after the battle of Mohács, and its heyday was under the Rákóczi family. The castle palace is separated from the castle garden by a moat. You can also go out to the outer castle wall, which offers fantastic views of the Bodrog coast and the castle building. The five-storey Red Tower is the centre of the castle and also its oldest building. At the permanent exhibition entitled The glorious age of the Rákóczis you can learn about the family's history and rich historical and cultural heritage. Interesting temporary exhibitions are also organised in the unique building complex. An exciting programme series of the castle is the Siege Weekend, where visitors are invited to military and craft demonstrations.

You can admire the rooms of the palace with their contemporary-style furnishings and intact decorative elements.

Attractions in the area:

• Get to know the atmosphere of the Tokaj wine region and take part in a vineyard tour.
• Put your courage to the test and slide down the zipline in Sátoraljaújhely, which spans a gorge more than 100 metres deep.
• Go on a water tour on the River Bodrog.
  
  
  Date of construction: 16th-17th centuries
  Style: Renaissance 

The most romantic rock castle in the country rises above the village along the River Tarna in a picturesque setting. Visitors can look forward to an exciting and romantic tour.

The fortress was carved into the interior of a rock and built on top of it by our ancestors at the border of the forests of Bükk and Mátra, at the top of the Castle Hill. This special building can be approached on a hiking trail that is steep in some places but it is well worth the effort. Huge passages, stairs and halls, which you can walk around, were dug inside the mountain made of rhyolite tuff. From the cavities and the diverse dungeon system mysterious windows open to the road leading to the castle. The permanent exhibition of the fortress takes you back to the time of the Turkish occupation, presenting – in a unique manner – not the everyday life of the Hungarian soldiers of border castles but that of the Ottoman solders who lived in this castle between 1596 and 1686. You can enjoy an amazing panorama from the castle.

The castle is located at the top of the steep, volcanic Castle Hill.

Attractions in the area:

• Follow the traces of Turkish culture in Eger.
• Admire the 17-metre-high Fátyol (Veil) Waterfall in the Szalajka Valley.
• Visit the Matyó Museum in Mezőkövesd and learn about the local culture that is part of the world heritage.
  
  
  Date of construction: 13th century