2023-04-23 13:15:54
The municipality of Nagyvázsony (German: Großwashon) is surrounded by picturesque hills at the foot of the Bakony Mountains and, in cooperation with the North Balaton region, is a co-organizer of cultural offers around Veszprém, the nearby European Capital of Culture 2023.
The Nagyvázsony Castle, which was built in the mid to late 15th century, can definitely be described as a historic site with its more than 500-year history. It bears the name of probably the most famous legendary castle commander Pál Kinizsi, who was given the fortress by King Matthias. During the Turkish wars, the castle commander made a name for himself as a heroic fighter against the Ottoman army.
Restoration under the national castle program
Over the centuries, the castle often played an important role as a border fortress, was severely damaged and destroyed several times, which inevitably led to numerous structural changes. In the recent past, although the first reconstruction work began in the mid-1950s, it was not continued for decades.
In 2018, the preparations for the latest project began in the form of archaeological and art historical research activities, which were successfully completed in the spring of this year. The restoration of Kinizsi Castle was realized as part of the National Castle Program, which includes the reconstruction of a total of 17 palaces and 12 castles across Hungary.
After three years of work, which included the five-storey residential tower, the palace wing and the roof construction, the castle was ceremoniously reopened in mid-March. In the course of the reconstruction work, the consideration of monument protection and the preservation of the cultural heritage was always in the foreground. Nevertheless, the historic interior has been expanded with contemporary interactive museum equipment, new exhibition content and a state-of-the-art event and conference room. This clearly demonstrated that the historic cultural heritage is perfectly compatible with modernity.
Offer available all year round
According to the idea of the operator, the municipality of Nagyvázsony, the castle should become a tourist attraction with quality services and program offers. Thanks to the extensive renovation measures, the castle now offers an exhibition area of 2,300 square meters for experience-based, culturally valuable leisure activities. The offer, which is now accessible all year round, is also intended to counteract the seasonality that is typical of the Balaton region.
Mayor Szabolcs Fábry told the Budapester Zeitung that the castle’s renovation was funded by 1.6 billion forints in EU funds. With the reopening of the castle complex, local tourism will be stimulated at the same time and the village will also be given a noticeable boost. In the immediate vicinity of the castle, 20 new small commercial companies have been founded with the help of state subsidies and the renovation of 70 single-family houses in the historic town center has begun. In addition, 16 new jobs were created in the castle.
Nagyvázsony’s Kinizsi Castle is half an hour’s drive from Veszprém, the European Capital of Culture. It can be reached in about 20 minutes from Balatonfüred. From the west of Keszthely, the journey takes just under an hour. The village is embedded in the charming hilly landscape north of Lake Balaton, the striking tower of the castle can be seen from afar, and the access to the visitor parking lot is well signposted.
A short walk from the parking lot takes you to the information center, where the ticket office, a museum shop with the usual souvenir offers, washrooms and, since the beginning of April, a café can also be found. Admission prices may seem a bit high by Hungarian standards at first glance, but the visit is worth every forint.
Suitable for all ages
The individual exterior and interior parts of the castle have been attractively reconstructed with interesting details, the history of the castle complex is presented with the help of modern technical solutions. The exhibition rooms are equipped with interactive showcases that show, for example, models of the different levels of the castle in different eras. Visitors of all ages will find something for their taste here, and there are even play areas for the little ones.
Particularly impressive is the event and concert hall, which impresses with its simplicity and functionality. Here, the history of the castle is shown on film at regular intervals. The five-storey tower is absolutely worth seeing, on each level of which a living area has been faithfully reproduced and furnished.
At the bottom of the tower is the pantry, which contains everything needed in a medieval kitchen. A steep spiral staircase then leads up to the bedchamber of the lords of the castle and the guards. Even if the ascent is relatively difficult, it is worth it, not least because of the breathtaking view over the Balaton Uplands and the Bakony Mountains.
Lots of interesting and exciting stuff
There are also many interesting and exciting things to see outside of the castle complex. The castle walls, the various courtyards, bay windows and balconies are almost all accessible, which of course involves climbing stairs, but then offers unique insights and views. The spring that fed the moat and used to provide drinking water is also impressive.
Display boards with detailed descriptions are clearly visible everywhere, all exhibits are informatively labeled, bilingual, Hungarian and English.
Overall, the Kinizsi Castle in Nagyvázsony is highly recommended as a destination for the whole family. Although away from the hustle and bustle of Lake Balaton or other tourist hotspots, the castle is easy to reach by car.
The year-round program of the castle and the town of Nagyvázsony includes historical horse and knight games, concerts of various styles, a postal museum, a center with draft horses and carriages, a Pauline monastery and the Catholic Church of Szent István from the Árpád dynasty. Round trips with an electric bus are offered from April to October.
More photos in our gallery.
#Spectacular #renaissance #comprehensive #reconstruction