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Historical Past
Esterházy Castle, Fertőd
Thebaroquecastle located in thenorth-westernpart of thecountryachieved itspresent
form in the second half of the 18th century, by Miklós Esterházy’s architectural de-
sign. It took almost 20 years to build an establishment that stands up to the Castles of
SchönbrunneandVersailles. After the firstmonumental event in1770 it quicklybecame
one of Hungary’s main cultural centres. This was also the time when it received the
“Hungarian Versailles” label. Joseph Haydn used to vitalize the musical life here, and
the tradition remained, since classical philharmonic concerts are frequently held in the
upstairs ceremonial hall. Haydn’s is commemorated with a permanent exhibition, too,
titled “Haydn and Europe”. In several of the altogether 125 room beautiful pieces of
furniture, mirrors and stuccos of the era are exhibited. Moreover, the well-kept and
organized castle park offers entrance to the room that once accommodated Queen
Maria Theresa.
Available from 380 EUR + VAT*
Festetics Palace, Keszthely
The construction of the baroque palace,
located in the north-western corner of Lake
Balaton started at the beginning of the 18th
century, but it reached its final formonly after
numerous reconstructions, at around 1800.
The Second World War did not cause too
muchdamage in thepalace,mainlybecause
the library and some of the furniture pieces
were blocked up. Unfortunately this solution
did not prove to be utterly effective either, as
during the post war era some of these treasures mysteriously disappeared or were
stolen. In spite of everything the Festetics Palace is still one of our baroque palaces
containing the highest number of untouched, original furnishing pieces, hosting
Europe’s most intact aristocrat library. The building altogether has 101 rooms, out of
which in 20 can visitors have a glimpse at the lifestyle of the former aristocracy. In the
Mirror Hall operetta concerts are held every week. Its 500-year-old cellar systemhosts
the Borok Háza (Wines’ House) event, and it – along with the Wine-tasting option –
offers a guided art-exhibition tour. The surrounding park stretches on 42 hectares,
and is a national preserve, where a 400-year-old swamp Spanish oak further enriches
the already wide range of special plants.
Available from 380 EUR + VAT*
Grassalkovich Mansion, Hatvan
Hatvan’s oldest building was constructed
from the debris of the Hatvan Castle and
the tavern erected on the castle’s site later
between 1754–1763. The neo-baroque
stuccos in the hallway and in the ceremonial
hall upstairs were only added later, by the
order of the Hatvany-Deutsch family. The
furnishing was stolen or destroyed during
the Second World War, and unfortunately
the post war barbarian act of “country
planning” further deteriorated the situation.
The rare bushes and garden-trees were
chopped out, and they were replaced
by buildings of different functions. The mansion was declared life-threateningly
dangerous in 1979. Later there were several attempts to renovate it, but the final
solution only came in 2014, when after a full reconstruction the mansion’s rooms
gave home to a huntingmuseum, which along with the hunting procedures provides
insight into the Hungarian fishing tradition from as early as the marshmanship habits
at the time of the first Millennium, when the early Hungarian tribes finally settled
in Hungary. Since its opening to the public interactive game and exhibition halls,
stimulation games and highly entertaining technical solutions have been awaiting
visitors. It is an extra pleasure that the surrounding garden, which at the same time
also functions as a public park, was reconstructed in the garden-culture spirit of the
Hatvany family’s era.
Available from 150 EUR + VAT!*
Hortobágy
One of Hungary’s micro-regions, Hortobágy stretches on a 1700 square meter
grassland, which is mainly a national park. The Hortobágy National Park was
inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1999, and its 82.000 hectares
contain four protected regions, and 19 separate nature reservation. The absolute
flatland is scattered by saline lands, steppes, fishponds, swamps, billabongs and
reed-beds. It is an excellent habitat for its rich flora and fauna; the steppes give home
to such famous animal species as the long-wooled Racka sheep, the Hungarian
gray cattle or the sakeret. But we must not forget about its architectural treasures,
either, among which the most outstanding is the Nine-holed Bridge (Kilenclyukú
híd), built between 1827 and 1833. In the course of time many wayhouses were
erected, where visitors even nowadays can try the typical Hungarian dishes.
Available from 320 EUR + VAT*
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Source: wikipedia.hu
Source: wikipedia.hu