Influential Rulers and Their Magnificent Residences

At first glance, the castle along the Tisza River might seem more like a setting from a French fairy tale. The historicist building was constructed by the Andrássy family at the end of the 19th century; an interesting feature is that it has four entrances corresponding to the four seasons, 12 towers aligned with the months, weeks, and days, 52 rooms, and 365 windows. The enchanting castle was built based on the vision of the elder Count Gyula Andrássy. As Prime Minister of Hungary and later as Foreign Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the count played a significant role in European diplomacy. After his death, the building passed to his son, Gyula Andrássy, to whom we owe the unique park.

The younger count completed the construction of the mansion and also finalized the design of the romantic English and French-style park. During the family’s heyday, the mansion became a central hub; Katinka Andrássy was born here; she later became known as the wife of Mihály Károlyi. The building’s fate was shattered by the looting of 1918; after the upheavals of the 20th century, it passed into state hands and has only recently regained its former splendour.

One of Hungary’s largest Baroque buildings came into the possession of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Queen Elisabeth after the Compromise of 1867. The Hungarian state presented the residence to the royal couple as a coronation gift in 1867, and it thus became one of Sisi’s favourite places to stay. The palace was particularly close to the queen’s heart: she often spent time in Gödöllő, where she enjoyed activities such as horseback riding. In the second half of the 19th century, it became an important center of court life, while offering the queen a peaceful refuge from the constraints of Viennese protocol.

Queen Elisabeth felt a special connection to Hungary: she studied the language diligently, and her sympathy for the Hungarians played a role in the establishment of the Compromise. She spent more than seven years of her life in Gödöllő, making the place one of the most important domestic centres of the Sisi cult. After her death, Franz Joseph I made visits here less and less frequently, but the building still preserves memories of royal daily life, from the furnished apartments to personal belongings; in fact, you can even sample the famous violet ice cream – one of Sisi’s great favourites – at Café Ida.

Located near the forests of the Zemplén Mountains, this castle is a magnificent testament to the era of the aristocracy and Romanticism. Rebuilt in the mid-19th century, the residence served as the estate center of Ede Károlyi. The nobleman, who was active in both political and economic life, had a building constructed that was suitable for both grand events and as a residence. The vast English-style park surrounding the castle still lends a special atmosphere to the estate today.

The design concept was determined by the count himself, and he enlisted the collaboration of Miklós Ybl for the construction work, resulting in the imposing, U-shaped building. One of the castle’s distinctive features is the octagonal tower, which was also created based on Ede Károlyi’s vision. By the end of the 19th century, the estate was surrounded by an extensive, landscape-style park, which was considered significant even by European standards. The castle’s interiors were further developed in later years: carvings, Italian Renaissance elements, and imposing fireplaces were incorporated into the building, giving the castle’s interiors an almost museum-like quality.

In the early 20th century, the residence also served as a luxury hotel, and after nationalization, it became a hospital and sanatorium. Thanks to recent renovations, it is once again open to visitors and evokes the former world of the Károlyi family.