Visegrád
Located on the right bank of the Danube and at the foot of the Visegrád Mountains, it is one of the oldest towns of Hungary and a picturesque gem of the Danube Bend. The ruins Upper Castle, standing on a 328 meters high hill, still show the former glory of the city. In the Middle Ages, Visegrád was the seat of kings and Matthias Corvinus built a Renaissance palace here which was known all over Europe. Due to its monuments and the unique natural area, the city is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country.
Attractions
Royal Palace Built originally in the 14th century, the Gothic style palace became one of the most beautiful royal residences in Europe during the reign of Sigismund. King Matthias turned into a Renaissance palace with Hungarian and Italian masters. It marked the first appearance of the style outside Italy.
Solomon Tower The Solomon Tower was built by Béla IV as part of the double fortification system after the Mongolian invasion. The building is 34 meters tall with a hexagonal plan. Its name is a result of a mistake as when King Solomon was held prisoner in Visegrád the building was not even built yet.
Citadel After the destruction of the Mongol Invasion of 1241-42, Béla IV commissioned the building of a fort in Visegrád. Part of this is the Citadel on the 328 m tall hill where the royal congress of 1335 was held and the Holy Crown was also kept here. It fell to ruin during the Ottoman wars.
Pálinka Museum The exhibition shows the history of pálinka starting from the Etruscans and visitors can learn about the prohibited pálinka cooking in Hungary. In the interactive museum, we can design and print our very own pálinka label.
Görgey House Artúr Görgei, the leader of the Hungarian army during the Revolution of 1848 lived in Visegrád at the end of his life, and his house can still be seen here.
Sibrik Hill The hill preserves the remains of multiple different historical eras. The ruins of a Roman camp of Pannonia Province can be found here which was built in the 320's. Later Saint Stephan made the hill andadministrative center of the area and it was the center of the settlement for many years.
Church of St. John the Baptist The Baroque church was designed by Lénárd Schade and was built between 1773 and 1782. Its 18th century altarpiece was originally in the Sigismund Chapel in Buda until the 1930's.
Maria Chapel The small, Baroque chapel with a facade tower was built on the bank of the Danube, probably by the armies reconquering the city from the Ottomans or by the German settlers after them.
Calvary Chapel and stations The Baroque chapel and the original calvary was built by the German settlers in the 1770's. The stations seen today were sculpted by Ernő Szakály in 1961.
Go-kart and Adventure Park The Go-kart and Adventure Park in Visegrád offers many sports options and a beer garden with video projector.
Funextreme Canopy The Funextreme Canopy cable track is located at the picturesque Danube Bend. The track is intended for groups so it is the perfect choice for a team building exercise.
Nagyvillám Ski Slope This ski slope has a spectacular panorama to the Upper Castle and Visegrád. Due to the grassy surface and snow cannons, the ski season starts early with only a little snow needed. The wide, gradually inclining track is suitable for beginners.
Other sights: Water Bastion, Nagy-Villám Hill, Zsitvay Lookout, Apát-kúti Valley, botanical garden
Festivals
Since 1985, the International Palace Games of Visegrád commemorates one of the most important events of medieval history, the Congress of Visegrád in 1335. Throughout the three days of the event, there are knight's tournaments, pompous royal marching, market, concerts, the king's wine court.
History
Many of the the Roman Empire's outposts on Danube were preserved for centuries, the city of Visegrád was founded near one of these fortresses of the ancient times. Its name was first used in 1009 as the seat and castle of Visegrád County. The Árpád era settlement on the Sibrik Hill was destroyed during the Mongolian invasion.
The rebuilding took place during the reign of Béla IV, and, paid partly from the dowry of his wife, the double fortification system with the Citadel, the Lower Castle and the Water Bastion was also built during this period.
In 1323 Charles Robert relocated the royal seat to Visegrád which caused the settlement began to develop and later to have an important role during the reigns of Louis the Great, Sigismund of Luxemburg and Matthias Corvinus. The Royal Palace built by Louis and Sigismundus was one of the most spectacular royal residences of the period. Later, it was redesigned in Renaissance style by King Matthias.
The most important event in the history of the medieval Visegrád was the two-month royal congress of 1335 which was attended by the Hungarian king, Charles Robert, the Bohemian king, John of Luxembourg, and the Polish king, Casimir III. The agreements of the congress are the first written, international treaties in European history which have defined Central European history for a long time.
During the Ottoman Wars, the city began to decline and became virtually abandoned, and due to the constant siege, the castle system became ruined.
After the expulsion of the Ottoman conquerors, Swabians settled in Visegrád, and due to their work, Visegrád started to grow once again.
Visegrád became known in the country again during Romanticism and it has been popular ever since, partly due to the beauty of the landscape and the architectural heritage.
In the 20th century, the former location of the royal congress was the place for an important historical event again: in 1991, the founding pact of the Visegrád Group was signed in the Royal Palace.