The jungle awaits: palm houses where the high humidity refreshes the soul

Exotic and tropical plants are now readily available at almost any florist’s, but this was not always the case. Since the second half of the 1800s, more and more large glasshouses have been built in Europe to bring the strange plants of distant and unknown parts of the world to the general public. In addition to botanical knowledge, other aesthetic considerations were also taken into account when creating the more and more beautiful glass buildings. By the turn of the century, every major European city boasted a palm house. The most famous establishments of the time were in Paris, Vienna, Berlin and London. The fashion of the time also caught up with Hungary, the first small palm house was created in the botanical garden of the capital's university, and after a short time botanical collections and their beautiful buildings appeared in other parts of the country.

The palm house in the park of Festetics Castle in Keszthely was founded in 1880. Parts of the building's structure were made in the famous Parisian workshop of Gustave Eiffel. The greenhouse at the time was home to large palms and other potted plants. Renovated in the early 1990s, it is now considered one of the most beautiful palm houses in Central Europe. What makes the tropical greenhouse unique is not only the special collection of plants, but also the lavish rock garden surrounding the building, the beautiful garden pond and the bird park, which is home to species from different continents. The palm house is a spectacular part of the imposing castle, so be sure to take a glimpse at the lifestyle of the aristocracy in the permanent exhibitions.

The palm house in Gödöllő Castle Park was built more than 150 years ago. The majestic, double-winged and glass-covered structure was designed on the Western model. Unfortunately, the decades following the Second World War stripped it of its original splendour. The renovation was a long time coming, but in 2015 the baroque-style palm house reopened its doors. Besides the wide variety of ornamental plants, visitors can choose from a selection of handcrafted delicacies. During the Advent period, there is a special magic, as the glass building is transformed and a lavish, festive atmosphere is created among the plants. If you are in the area, be sure to take a stroll through the castle park, which is beautiful in all seasons and captivated the heart of Empress Elisabeth of Austria.

A well-kept, fairy-tale-like park with romantic artificial ruins. Mysterious paths and small lakes give the arboretum a sentimental feel, and the palm house in the northern part of the park immediately transports you to the tropics. The complex of three greenhouses is home to exotic plants. The cactus house collection evokes the atmosphere of the desert, while the tropical palm house is a real jungle. In the third modern building, the Carbon House, an interactive exhibition will explain the ecological footprint and climate change, and give you useful advice on how to live a more sustainable and conscious life.

The Amazonian water lily, exotic insect-hunting flowers, water hyacinths. This is not the beginning of a Verne adventure, but reality itself. The collection of plants in the tropical greenhouses of the “Szegedi Füvészkert” (Szeged Botanical Garden) is not only spectacular, but you can also feel the humidity of the rainforest and the scorching dryness of the desert. The Amazonian rainforest environment is also perfect for butterfly species native to the South American tropics. Colourful butterflies fluttering among exotic plants will amaze young and old alike. It is not only greenhouses that boast a rich botanical collection. The carefully-themed botanical garden is home to thousands of plant species, so you can travel around the world in a day.