Enchanting Castle Gardens in Full Bloom This May

What exactly will we be covering?

- Horse chestnut blossoms in the park of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő

- An English garden atmosphere at the Scharioth Estate

- The world-famous Silent Friend in the Sellye Castle Park

- A royal atmosphere indoors as well, with MoosMoos’s green walls

A fitting start to our list is Sisi’s – that is, Queen Elizabeth’s – residence in Hungary: the Royal Palace of Gödöllő and the vast English garden surrounding this magnificent building. In the spring, the 26-hectare palace park is enveloped in a magical feast of colours and scents: horse chestnut trees and flowering ornamental trees line our walk through the wooded areas.

In this garden bursting with greenery, it’s worth exploring not only the plants but also the smaller points of interest. Hidden among the trees is the Királydomb Pavilion, built by Antal Grassalkovich, whose interior walls are adorned with portraits of monarchs ranging from Attila to Ferdinand V. The family-friendly part of the park is the barefoot nature trail, where little ones can also climb aboard a special locomotive. It’s also worth spending some time on the bird-friendly nature trail: through the informational signs, feeders, and birdhouses placed in the shrubby grove area, you can get a closer look at the park’s rich wildlife. The site received Bird-Friendly Garden certification in 2023, a shining example of conservation efforts, and this year, the Gödöllő Royal Palace project won a silver award in the Social Engagement, Education, and Awareness-Raising category at the European Route of Historic Gardens’ Acanthus Awards. This new European award recognizes outstanding European initiatives that contribute to the preservation, restoration, and promotion of historic gardens.

During the walk, there are several spots where you can rest and take photos. Visiting the garden is free of charge, but, if possible, sign up for a guided tour, where you can explore the estate with “Her Majesty” as your guide.

The Scharioth Estate in Nagyréde evokes a small-scale yet richly detailed English landscape garden, where you can stroll along bridges, pavilions, and ponds and breathe in the scent of blooming linden trees. Combined with a hearty trip to the Mátra Mountains, it’s an ideal stop if you’re looking for a leisurely stroll and a castle garden experience. The carefully designed park and unique architectural elements – such as the bridge adorned with railings from the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest – give the park a distinctive character.

At the end of the walk, you can rest in the Garden of Flavours, an authentic log cabin, where you can relax with refreshments, coffee, and light snacks.

The Sellye Castle Park is one of the most beautiful green spaces in the Ormánság region. In the garden surrounding the 18th-century Draskovich Castle – partly geometric, partly landscape-style – you can take a long stroll; in May, flowering ornamental trees and shrubs add colour to the wooded areas. Locals know well that the park is a true magical world, but the arboretum has also gained wider recognition in recent times: it was here that Ildikó Enyedi filmed her movie *Silent Friend*, one of whose main characters is the 200-year-old ginkgo tree (Ginkgo Biloba). This superstar tree is one of the oldest of its kind in Hungary and offers a stunning sight in every season.

The area is home to more than 400 tree species and varieties, including centuries-old oaks and unique ornamental trees. You can find trees as old as 300 years in the park, but there are also swamp cypresses, orange trees, silver lindens, Swiss pines, and horse chestnuts. The garden, which is free to visit, is protected for its botanical value, making it not only spectacular but also significant from a conservation perspective. In addition to the giant trees, the interplay of winding paths and open spaces makes it a pleasant place to linger. In the spring, the lush greenery and blooming flowers combine to create an amazing atmosphere in the park.

If you’d like to enjoy the noble ambiance of castle gardens indoors, you can’t go wrong with MoosMoos’s premium-quality moss or plant murals and living walls. These wonderful installations are not only spectacular but also durable: they are colour-fast, UV-resistant, and crafted using technology that helps preserve their natural look over the long term. The carefully designed plant surfaces require little maintenance yet give the space a lively, fresh feel. Much like a spring stroll through a castle garden, the sight of natural green surfaces can reduce stress, and moss has been proven to create a unique microclimate, reduce noise, purify the air, and regulate humidity. If you’re looking for a durable, high-quality solution that retains its character for years to come, MoosMoos’s products are a great source of inspiration!