PHOTOS: The ruined castle of the “most Hungarian” Habsburg near Budapest

Archduke Joseph is remembered as the “most Hungarian” Habsburg due to his monumental contributions to the advancement of the Hungarian Kingdom during the Reform Era. While he was born Austrian, many say he died as a Hungarian in both spirit and deed.

The legacy of Archduke Joseph, “the most Hungarian Habsburg”

Archduke Joseph is remembered as “the most Hungarian Habsburg” due to his monumental contributions to the advancement of the Hungarian Kingdom during the Reform Era. While he was born Austrian, many say he died as a Hungarian in both spirit and deed. More precisely, he was born as an Austrian archduke but passed away as a Hungarian citizen.

In 1818, he exchanged his estate in Püspökladány for the Alcsút property—a neglected and overgrown land where he began executing his ambitious plans. He developed nine farming settlements, transforming the area for agricultural purposes and animal husbandry.

The centerpiece of his vision was a grand neoclassical palace, designed by Mihály Pollack, and completed between 1820 and 1827. The palace was surrounded by an expansive English-style landscaped garden, a popular trend of the time. Due to Archduke Joseph’s passion for horticulture and successful efforts in naturalizing foreign plant species, the park evolved into one of Hungary’s most magnificent arboretums. The garden was planned in collaboration with Karl Tost, the head gardener of Schönbrunn, with active input from the archduke himself.

Lavishly decorated halls and private apartments filled the palace’s interior, adorned with artworks, decorative furnishings, and rare antiques. Within its walls were housed the archduke’s extensive arms collection, a family portrait gallery, a library, and an archive. Additionally, the estate featured a neo-Romanesque chapel designed by Ferenc Storno and a massive greenhouse planned by Miklós Ybl, including dedicated sections for oranges and cacti.

The Alcsút garden earned the nickname “The Mecca of Hungarian Plant Naturalization.” Several exotic tree species, which were previously unknown in Hungary, found a home here. Many of Budapest’s notable plane trees—such as those in City Park, Margaret Island, and along Andrássy Avenue—were originally transplanted from Alcsút.

A picturesque lake was created within the park, featuring a shoreline with graceful curves. The figure-eight-shaped Klotild Island, with its winding paths, hydrangea beds, and cypress trees, became a beloved retreat for the archduke’s family.