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This grand Gothic border fortress was once one of the three strongest in the country. It was not built from rocks and stones, but from bricks fired from clay dug up from the Körös Rivers. After the 129 years of Ottoman rule, it was used as a brewery, pálinka house, archives and even a prison. Today, it functions as a museum with 24 rooms, presenting relics from the rich past of the town.
A chance to get to know the castle in a truly unique fashion, and even have a peek behind the scenes. The exhibition is a very different experience: in addition to information on the life of the noblemen who lived in the vast rooms of this aristocratic home, you can also learn about how the staff of the house lived in the past and what secrets the castle hides. You will also have a chance to meet the butler, the shoeshine-boy and the former housekeeper in an exciting, interactive experience.
Why not choose a comfortable way to discover the town? The train on wheels is very popular in Gyula: Thomas, the engine, leaves from the entrance of the castle and visits the most important sights in the town, returning to the start after a 30-minute ride. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the experience.
Take a pleasant stroll from the castle to reach the Gyula Castle Spa and AquaPalace. This is one of the most pleasant and highest-quality spas and baths in the Great Plain area. It’s an outstanding destination for anyone looking to relax and enjoy themselves, no matter what time of the year you visit. The special sauna park, the wellness centre with its many fun attractions, the wave pool and the swimming pool are situated in the middle of an ancient park full of rare plants.
One of the essential places to visit if you are in Gyula. The name is no exaggeration. Established 180 years ago, it was the first of such confectioneries in the town, and the second in Hungary. This lovely, fine-smelling cake shop was set up in a beautiful building built for the upper middle class. Today, you will find a Confectionery Museum where the old pastry-making shop was in the past. Beware, you may have a hard time choosing from the many mouth-watering delicacies: the Erkel and Munkácsy cakes are the confectionery’s specialities, but traditional cakes and handmade chocolates and ice-creams are also temptingly delicious.
The memorial house established as a tribute to Hungary’s best-known painter is home to 21 original Munkácsy paintings. The building was built in a Classicist style and served as the home of Munkácsy’s relatives. It was also where the painter himself spent much of his time painting the portraits of members of his family. The history of the manor has been adventurous: the building has been used as a milk collection point and even as a political party centre, while today it is home to the Munkácsy collection and an exhibition that presents the life of the aristocratic and middle classes of the 19th century.
The largest Munkácsy collection in the world can now be found in Békéscsaba, in the renovated building of the museum. In addition to the world-famous original paintings, the personal belongings of the artist are also part of the exhibition. Mihály Munkácsy spent his childhood in Békéscsaba. The museum has an extensive ethnographic, archaeological and natural science collection, and a rich photo gallery.
When in Békéscsaba, you cannot avoid learning or hearing about Csaba sausages. However, if you visit CsabaPark, this is all you will be hearing about because here everything is about the Hungarikum. The exhibition gives you an insight into the process of sausage-making, with everything from the attractions of the playground called “The kitchen of giants” to the walkable sausage-filler and mincer, reminding you of the dinners on pig-killing day people once enjoyed in the country. By the time you get to the end, you’ll definitely have worked up an appetite!
Ferenc Erkel, the composer of the National Anthem and the creator of the Hungarian national opera, was born in this house on 7 November 1810. The house was originally built as a school, where Ferenc Erkel’s father worked and lived as a teacher with his family. The exhibition includes relics that tell the tale of the National Anthem, and there is also a memorial room with the personal belongings of the great composer. Walk around the house and you’ll soon become intimately familiar with the life of the Erkel family in Gyula.
The exhibition combines three large scientific areas by presenting the ethnographic, cultural and natural treasures of the southern part of the Hungarian Great Plain. Traditions, culture and sustainable development are the principles that the exhibitions and activities follow in presenting the treasures of the region to tourists. Rather than merely presenting objects, they also show how people around here live or lived their life. In the building dedicated to sustainability, you can learn about organic farming, land use and environmental awareness.
The castle was designed by Miklós Ybl for the wealthy Wenckheim family. Legend has it that the main character of one of Jókai’s novels (A Hungarian Nabob) was based on the most famous member of the family, Earl József Wenckheim. The castle was once surrounded by a large estate, which has now been replaced by a spectacular garden. In 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth of Hungary visited the castle and the family that lived in it.
No matter which direction you go in, it will only take you an hour to get to Szarvas, or if you cross the border, to Oradea. The Szarvas Botanical Garden lies on the bank of Holt Körös, and is definitely one of the items on the bucket list for tourists visiting Szarvas. The historic town centre in Oradea is also worth a trip for its many historical monuments, with Art Nouveau, Baroque, Classicist and Gothic Revival buildings on every corner. Discover the town centre with a pleasant walk around it.
Gyula and the surrounding area