Time travel to 1552 Knights of tradition in the Eger Castle

What technical background is available for animators to faithfully convey historical events to the castle’s visitors?

Thanks to a tender grant, the 3D computer reconstruction of Eger Castle has been completed. The virtual model also included three significant construction periods for the castle (1500, 1552 and 1596) and summarized the research results so far. Moreover, new, unexpected discoveries were made during the work. Certainly the most significant were the depictions made in 1706 by the historian George Domokos in the Kriegsarchive in Vienna. The Zinzendorf drawings show several bastions of the castle, providing particularly interesting details about the defences and medieval buildings that have since been destroyed. It was a fantastic experience to be among the first people who could see depictions that had been dusting for centuries! As we could look back at the past from a time machine - that could even be our motto. From the very beginning, it motivates us to get to know a bygone age as much as possible - especially the military people of Eger Castle, and to present all this to those who are interested. This task is accomplished by 3D reconstruction.

We know from the novel Egri Csillagok how István Dobó, a farmer and merchant, became the captain of Eger Castle. How did a former IT professional become a traditional association leader?

I myself joined the association two years after its founding in 1996 and have been the leader of the team since 2001. I really detoured a little off my original profession. In 2009, I founded Egri Históriás Nonprofit Ltd., the aim of which was to organize traditional programs on a regular basis. It was a great success to have traditional knights welcome the guests arriving in Eger Castle every day of the year. Our staff (the so-called interpreters) lead nearly a hundred thousand visitors around the castle every year, introducing them to the secrets of the past. We dedicate our activities to our ancestors’ self-sacrificing perseverance and heroism, for which we, the tradition keepers, and the “descendants” of Eger can be justifiably proud.

What does the ‘Vitézlő School’ (Knights’ school) offer to the visitor to the castle?

Anyone who enters the castle gate faces a blend of the virtual world and reality. Thanks to digital technology, tradition keepers have entered the virtual castle and brought the computer backstage to life as a castle defender knight. The work of the association for more than two decades ensures that visitors to the current Eger castle can fly back in time for centuries. In a modern virtual space, contemporary heroes rush and live their daily lives, sometimes fight, which the visitor can experience as if he had dropped into Géza Gárdonyi's novel.

The biggest event of the year is the Border Crossing Fun. What role does this weekend play in the life of the School?

In fact, the completion of our year-round work is the three days at the end of the summer There we can present the repertoire that we have put together from knowledge and tools over the last two decades. At that time, all members of the school, regardless of age or gender, have a role to play, as they must and can take part not only in the battles, but in every aspect of the castle's life. And what makes the game even more special is that the event is usually attended by tradition keepers from other nations, bringing their own culture, weapons, special military attire, and together we can convey to the audience the military solidarity and cohesion we believe in.