Festetics Palace, Keszthely, Hungary

The Festetics Family is one of the most significant ducal families in Hungary. The family, who was of Croatian origin, moved to Hungary in the 17th century. In 1739 Christopher Festetics (1696-1768) bought the Keszthely estate and its appurtenances, and chose it to be the centre of his estates. He began the construction of the Festetics Palacein 1745. The two-storey, U-shaped, 34-room Baroque palace was rebuilt several times in the 18th and 19th centuries. Between 1769 and 1770 Paul Festetics III, Christopher’s son had the building reconstructed. The wings were enlarged while the facades remained unaltered. His son, George Festetics I, started the next major reconstruction in 1792. He added the southern library wing to the palace.

Between 1883 and 1887 Tassilo Festetics II had the northern wing demolished and a new wing built which was joined to the old one by a turreted central part. Thus, he almost doubled the size of the palace. The building was covered with a mansard roof, and fitted with central heating and plumbing. After the modification of the facades and the interiors, especially the staircases, the palace acquired its present form.

The building is surrounded by a nature reserve park. The sights in the park include trees that are hundreds of years old, colourful flowerbeds, fountains, statues – among them the full-figure bronze statue of George Festetics I –, the garden pond and the fountain decorated with lions. The palm house and the former coach house with the coach exhibition can be found in the park, while the new building of the hunting exhibition and the historical model railway exhibition is opposite the back gate of the park.

References:

Helikon Kastélymúzeum

Palaces, manors and town halls in Hungary

User Reviews

Sixty Sixty (5 months ago)
It’s nice and everything but I think you don’t see enough…. I would like to see for example the kitchen where all the magic happened back in the day, where the stuff was living and also many other rooms of the palace . Otherwise it’s expensive I think. It’s worth it once but I wouldn’t go back again, unless they open more rooms for the public.

Felix A. Dörstelmann (6 months ago)
One of the main attractions in Keszthely, near Lake Balaton, is the beautifully preserved Festetics Palace. With its grand architecture, rich history, and magnificent library, the palace is a highly recommended stop for those interested in Hungary's cultural heritage.

Hao Phung (6 months ago)
Super nice place you must visit when travelling around Balaton. Im overwhelmed when coming with a lot of stunning rooms in the palace. Especially the library is super gorgeous. The staff are also friendly and able to help. They provide you a locker. It makes your experience better and more comfortable. I have a very good experience here.

Katalin (7 months ago)
I recently visited Festetics Castle, and it was absolutely stunning. With my entry ticket, I explored five special exhibitions, each offering unique insights into history and culture. The Hunting Exhibition featured an impressive collection of hunting weapons and trophies, while the Carriage Exhibition showcased beautifully crafted carriages from different eras. Additionally I visited the Helikon Library – Home to over 90,000 historical volumes. The Palm House and Bird Park – A lush greenhouse and charming bird park. The Historical Model Railway Exhibition . Each exhibition was meticulously curated and engaging. Exploring all of them took over five hours, but every moment was worth it. Festetics Castle is truly a gem, and I highly recommend visiting.

Rob the Nomad (7 months ago)
The most outstanding landmark in this part of Hungary. Built by Kristof in 1745 in Keszthely with 100 rooms in U shaped building full of opulance which can be seen as soon as reaching the entrance, acres of manicured gardens. Such a beautiful place to see

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