Vajdahunyad Castle

Budapest, Hungary

Although the Vajdahunyad Castle in the City Park may look like a historical building, dating back to the medieval times, it was in fact built over for the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian State in 1896 for the Millennial Exhibition.

The original building of the Vajdahunyad Castle was just a temporary structure made of wooden planks and cardboard designs. Even its plain name was descriptive signifying that it is nothing more than a complex of various historical buildings. Ignac Alpar designed the building of Vajdahunyad Var, which is actually the name of an old Hungarian Gothic Castle in Hunyadvar.

But the Hungarians loved the building so much that it was eventually built from permanent materials (between 1904 and 1908), much to our great pleasure: now you can see stained windows, elaborately painted vaulted ceilings, marble staircases, etc.

The concept of Vajdahunyad Castle Budapest was to blend the various architectural styles into one composite castle. The design of Ignac Alpar contains the architectural details of 21 buildings, some only in minor additions, while others as main characters.

Today the castle is the home of several festivals, concerts and the exhibitions of the Hungarian Agricultural Museum.

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Details

Founded: 1896
Category: Castles and fortifications in Hungary

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Spase Manev (2 months ago)
Vajdahunyad Castle caught my special attention. It is located next to the lake, in a beautiful setting. It was built in 1896 on the 1,000th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state. The castle is a combination of 4 styles of architecture: Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque. According to many, this castle is a copy of Corwin Castle in Romania. Unfortunately I was late and the castle was closed. Since a few months ago, one of the hidden mini statues of Kolodko, a vampire sitting and reading a book, has been placed here, but I haven't been able to find it. What is interesting about this castle is that it was originally built of wood, and then it was added with stronger materials in the period of 1904-1908.
Sarah Townsend (2 months ago)
Stunning place from the outside! Looks like a fairytale castle! Easy to find within Budapest city park (the Pest side of the river, where Szechenyi baths and house of music can also be found).
Cj Jacobs (3 months ago)
A beautiful castle in the most picturesque park in Budapest! The intricate design shows the dedication and workmanship of those who designed it. Very close to the city's ice skating rink and it is in the park with the thermal baths not far away also. Worth a visit for sure if you are interested in nature and a lover of architect. Beautifull in all seasons and worth taking some pictures.
jan kowalski (3 months ago)
A place with a fascinating history, definitely worth a visit. The castle was built especially for an architectural exhibition and aims to show different styles of construction from all over Hungary. Built in the middle of a park, it is definitely one of the most interesting attractions in the park itself.
Steve anastasiadis (3 months ago)
You cannot miss this castle in one the most amazing parks in the city of Budapest. It is a long way from the Center of the city so you need to choose a public transportation or a taxi to take you there. Inside the castle the atmosphere is very different and takes you back in time.
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