Must-see castles of Hungary

Travelo.hu listed the most beautiful castles in the country; the trick lies in deciding which one you want to see first. Do you want to take a carriage ride along the black pines in Keszthely, maybe have a picnic and treat yourself to a wine tasting? Or do you want to get a glimpse of the life of count Almásy and his servants in Gyula? Or maybe you would rather start by experiencing the extravagance of 19^th century aristocratic balls in Tolcsva? History lessons have never been this fun!

Széchenyi castle in Nagycenk

This castle is on our list mainly because its park was once the most popular venue for taking wedding pictures. Also, the rows of linden-trees in front of the entrance are so unique that they made it onto the UNESCO world heritage list. One and a half years ago a permanent exhibition was opened. This lets the visitors walk through the castle, room by room, and experience a day in the Count’s life. The exhibition has a separate section showing Széchenyi’s role in the social organisations of that era and all his initiatives connected to water. Another room is decorated to show his travels, the inventions and customs of people he met abroad.

After almost 60 years the chapel has regained its original purpose. The chapel was the first thing built in this castle, and the Széchenyi family used it for 200 years. But in case you have already seen the castle, do not miss the mausoleum that was renovated during the summer of 2015. You can find it in the municipal cemetery of Nagycenk, where the burial vaults contain not only the remains of István Széchenyi, but also the remains of his 46 descendants.

If you are looking for a thematic playground, look no further than the Saint Stephen Church.

Here you can find Széchenyi balancing on top of the see-saw, a wooden version of the Chain Bridge and a labyrinth symbolizing the Széchenyi family-tree.

If you are planning to visit during the spring or summer, you can even try the Széchenyi Museum Railway. The train is available for travel between the 1^st of May and the 30^th of September on the route Fertőboz—Barátság—Castle (Nagycenk). The little steam locomotive could be the perfect thing that helps us travel back in time and experience the castle and the museum thoroughly, through the eyes of a 19th-century aristocrat.

Business hours: during the spring and summer, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm.

Entrance fee: adults 1400 Ft, students (26 years old and under) and seniors 700 Ft.

Festetics Castle in Keszthely

The Festetics castle is both a museum and an event centre. Kristóf Festetics started building it in 1745, and 140 years later, after the demolition of the north wing, Tasziló Festetics II. made plans to have a new wing built. Which is why the castle is now twice the size of the original construction. It also has central heating and running water.

Interestingly, Tasziló is like the protagonist of a love story. Mary-Victoria Douglas-Hamilton, the princess of Monaco, decided not to go through with her arranged marriage, she moved to Keszthely instead.

The castle was renovated two years ago, and the former living spaces were transformed into the Festetics Portrait Gallery. It is worth walking through every single room, because there are not many places that have this level of splendour: chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, antique furniture and a home library with 80 thousand Helikon books. Of course, the life of the nobility does not stop at the magnificent castle: visitors can look through exhibitions featuring chariots and hunting.

After your tour, head down to the 500-year-old wine cellar and try the wine tasting offered by the House of Balaton Wines (Balatoni Borok Háza).

The Festetics Castle is the first Hungarian castle that offers some unique services.

You can buy whole picnic baskets, filled with local foods, and head out to the grassy areas around the castle and have a nice meal, experiencing some new tastes, all the while having a magnificent castle in the background.