Illuminated castles and palaces under the cover of night

Would you like to go on an adventure to a place where you can experience the turning points of history up close, visit the magnificent homes of those who ruled centuries ago, and see the scenes of their former lives? Then add the following destinations to your bucket list, where the magnificent castles and picturesque palaces of our country will take you back to the past! And once you have seen them all, come back after sunset, as these magnificent buildings are adorned in a decorative cloak of light in the darkness of the night. Take a long walk in the park and look for the seasonal night programmes at the locations! We will show you a few, just to give you a taste!

It is perhaps the most emblematic building of Visegrád, which is mostly referred to in colloquial language only as Visegrád Castle, thus highlighting the cultural significance of the imposing building complex towering on the top of Castle Hill. Every year, tens of thousands of people visit the Citadel, located at the highest point of the town, from the terrace of which there is an extraordinary panorama of the Danube Bend, and which is home to several exciting exhibitions, primarily about the Middle Ages. You can also walk through the Royal Palace where Beatrix of Aragon and Matthias Hunyadi once walked hand in hand. In addition to the walk, there is a truly special opportunity to enjoy the evening panorama: a boat trip. Anyone who has been lucky enough to sail to the Danube Bend even once will probably never forget the experience: you can admire the sunset twice in a few minutes, as the Börzsöny mountain ranges and the winding riverbed even tame the Sun. As the boat glides on the Danube, it seems as if the landscape is slowly running past us, as if the mountains and trees, the small houses are moving along, while you are rocked by the old river – a fascinating experience!

If you love aristocratic splendour, you should definitely visit here one evening! The Palm House, built in the 1880s, with its exotic plants, has been evoking the tradition of orangeries and tropical greenhouses, that were part of the aristocratic lifestyle, since 2012. The building of the Palm House is surrounded by a rock garden, aquarium, garden pond and bird park. The castle park, which is a nature reserve, offers a view designed by the English garden designer Henry Ernest Milner in the 1880s with the renovated lake, the Lion Well and fountains, as well as the Princess's Chamber Garden.

The Sümeg Castle, one of the country's most beautiful, relatively intact medieval fortresses, is located not far from Lake Balaton, built on a hilltop that stands out high above the surrounding area. The Castle Tavern is also worth a visit during the evening walk.

If you would like to see the castle known as the “Hungarian Versailles”, head to Fertőd! The beautiful Baroque-Rococo building of the Esterházy Castle is enchanting in itself, but it is worth taking an evening walk in the vast French park, surrounded by fountains, a waterfall and well-kept promenades, and do not miss the Ornamental Courtyard, English Garden, Rose Garden and Lime Tree Lane!

What better way to experience the magic of a castle at night than by spending the night there? Among the nationally significant monuments managed by the National Heritage Protection Development Non-profit Ltd. (NÖF), there are several castles where you can not only visit as a visitor, but also stay. The impressive classicist building of the Festetics Castle in Dég and the largest English park in our country are top-list attractions – the Park Guest-house attached to it can comfortably accommodate up to six people. The Szántódpuszta Manor is a different atmosphere, but also an excellent choice, where you can sleep in renovated, authentic thatched-roof farmhouses: four apartments, each for four people, are available. The Ozora Castle is a real journey through time – wandering between the walls of Pipo Castle, you can feel like you have fallen into the Renaissance era. Here, five guest rooms furnished with period furniture await those interested. Last but not least, you can also stay in the park of the Károlyi Castle in Füzérradvány: here, nine elegant apartments for 2-7 people have been created in the former pavilions.