Explore the Hungarian “Taj Mahal”, an architectural tribute to love in Székesfehérvár

Featuring hundreds of sculptures and paintings made in a wide array of artistic styles, Bory Castle is an underrated gem of architecture with only an hour’s travel from Budapest.

Bory Castle is found in Maria Valley near Székesfehérvár, “the city of kings”, about 60 km southwest of Budapest. It is the work of sculptor Jenő Bory (1879–1959), a local resident who designed and built the castle over the course of his life as a large-scale artistic project and a tribute to his love for his wife Ilona Komócsin.

Bory purchased the land in 1912, which was home to a vineyard and a wine cellar at the time. He first transformed it into a summer house and art studio, but it was not until after the First World War that he started the construction of the castle itself.

Construction works started in 1923 and lasted until the death of the artist – from construction manager to bricklayer, he took on every single role during the project.

As Sokszínű Vidék writes, the castle even appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest castle built by one single person – even though he did have some helping hands over the years.

The landmark is often referred to as the “Taj Mahal” of Székesfehérvár, as similarly to the Indian building, it is also a tribute to marital love.

The “oversized apartment” is a rare example of Hungarian symbolic architecture. The castle is an eccentric mix of different architectural styles and is adorned with hundreds of sculptures, fountains, and paintings from Bory and other artists. The beautiful gardens, which are also very popular among wedding photographers, are surrounded by romantic arched gateways and towers lining the castle walls.

For more photos and information about the Bory Castle, visit their official website or Facebook page.

Source: sokszinuvidek.24.hu