PHOTOS: Splendidly restored Hungarian castle inaugurated

The restored Boldogkő Castle on its opening day, 18 March 2024. MTI/Vajda János

One of the most beautiful castles in Hungary has been restored. A jewel of Zemplén is the Boldogkő Castle, which has now been restored with nearly HUF 650 million (EUR 1.65 million). What is more, a visitor centre has been built in the fortress.

On Tuesday, the restored Boldogkő Castle was inaugurated, the interior of which was renovated and restored to its original state with a budget of nearly HUF 650 million (EUR 1.65 million), and a visitor centre was also built, Startlap.hu reports.

Exhibitions in the castle, guided tour application

The restored Boldogkő Castle on its opening day, 18 March 2024. MTI/Vajda János

The restoration of medieval fortresses serves competitiveness, the Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development said at the opening of the restored Boldogkő Castle in Boldogkőváralja, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county.

New exhibition spaces have been opened in the cellars. The palace building has been extensively restored to its original medieval structure, with new exhibitions on the ground and first floors.

In addition, an app was created in seven languages, consisting of fourteen stations. The guided tour application, alongside the exhibitions, will show the living conditions and daily life of the former inhabitants of the stronghold, which is more than 700 years old, turizmus.com reports.

Old monuments being restored

The restored Boldogkő Castle on its opening day, 18 March 2024. MTI/Vajda János

Minister Tibor Navracsics stressed that the dusty and dilapidated monuments, which many people have forgotten, are being reopened one by one, providing entertainment, culture and educational opportunities for visitors. He added that the experience of Western countries shows that competitiveness starts when we can make the best use of our own traditions and heritage.

The Minister stressed that with the restoration of the monument, the region will also be revitalised and “leave behind decades of stagnation”.

Ferenc Zavodni, the mayor of Boldogkőváralja, pointed out that the castle has been run by the municipality for almost thirty years. The number of visitors has increased from 30,000 to 95,000 a year, and the tourism opportunities provide a source of income for local residents.