From stable to castle: selling for EUR 2 million

Kunbaracs, located half an hour’s drive from Kecskemét, boasts one of the biggest attractions of the county: the Vörös Kastély (Red Castle). After 10 years, the castle is once again up for sale.

Modest beginnings

The oldest part of the building, the ground-floor vaulted hall, may have been built in the 1780s as a cattle or sheep stable, initially owned by the Teleki family. József Zeyk inherited the estate from the family in the early years of the 1860s. He mainly owned estates in Transylvania, so this was an unexpected addition to his wealth.  However, the property didn’t remain in the possession of József Zeyk for long. In a military survey done in 1872, it was already mentioned as Tavaszi Manor.

From stable to castle

In the 1870s, the estate underwent major changes. Through the addition of an upper floor and the creation of new wings, what was once a stable became a proud castle. The year of the changes was most likely 1873, which is the engraving that marks the corridor wall on the ground floor.

The transformation not only included the completion of the upper floor but also the construction of tower-like protrusions on the southwest façade, giving the castle a unique appearance. Additionally, during this period, the two-winged door was created in the center of the main façade, above which a looming dome was added. Over time, the central tower of the building, which had undergone several renovations, was covered with a red minium plate, giving the castle its name, turizmus.com writes.

The castle in the 20th century

The first mention of the ‘Red Castle’ dates back to the 1910s, when it was under the ownership of Dr. Béla Kelemes. He carried out some major renovations in 1920. Most notable is the transformation of the previously open, domed entrance tower and the construction of two semi-circular staircases on either side of the new tower’s entrance doors.

The second half of the century brought some great changes in the history of the ‘Red Castle’. Ownerhip of the castle passed to the Michels family in 1948. Luckily, it was not nationalised in the socialist era, because the owners were of peasant origin and contributed significantly to the development of agriculture in the surrounding area.

However, the family decided to sell the building in 1979 to the Kunbaracs Agricultural Cooperative. The most beautiful room in the castle, the “knight’s hall” with its rib-vaulted ceiling served as a tractor storage and repair workshop during the era, with a thick layer of oil covering the floor. The building’s condition only deteriorated over time, and in 1991, even its roof caved in. Luckily, restoration began just in time, and by the 2000s, the castle was once again in its prime form.

Current standing

In 2010, a family from Pest County purchased the then-castle and transformed it into a lovely guesthouse. The marble-engraved inscription “Vörös Kastély”, which can still be seen on the façade of the mansion, welcomes guests to 9 guest rooms, three of which are furnished with period furniture. Complete comfort and entertainment of guests was also ensured by the installment of a swimming pool, a bathhouse by the lake, and a mini fitness room. Now, it stands as one of the most beautiful castles of Bács-Kiskun County. The 776-square-meter, 12-room castle is now on sale for HUF 765 million (EUR 2 million).

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