Renovation of one of the most iconic Hungarian castles started – PHOTOS

The Hungarian Esterházy Castle, also called Eszterháza, is located in Fertőd and is one of the most iconic castles in Hungary. It draws a great deal of tourists to the area with its enchanting garden and beautifully adorned interior.

Its sumptuous exterior and the golden decorations and furniture rival that of the Versailles and the Schönbrunn Palace. Some people even go as far as calling the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd the Hungarian Versailles.

We are reporting about this stunning castle because the next step of its renovation has started last week and if finished, it will become not only a popular tourist attraction but also an important gem of Hungarian heritage as well as the flagship of cultural life and the centre of the international music scene, says Infostart.

: Photo: Eszterháza Központ (Batár Zsolt)

: Photo: Eszterháza Központ (Batár Zsolt)

According to Magyarépítők, the renovation of this monument will be carried out by a consortium of ZÁÉV Építőipari Zrt and the Fertődi Építő és Szolgáltató Zrt (FÉSZ), Hungarian construction companies.

The current stage of renovation takes place in the left wing of the castle and it costs around 2.6 billion forints (€ 7 million) to renovate the three-storey wing.

The project started last week after the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone and in the renovation, the contractors will:

recreate 3,380 m2 decorative plaster
create a 540 m2 large exhibition space
manufacture 250 stone elements
lay 649 m2 worth of hardwood flooring
waterproof 194 m2 of area with post-injection technology
insulate 690 m2 of area against soil water
finish electrical circuitry

: Interior of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Monyesz

: Interior of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Karl Gruber

: Interior of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Karl Gruber

: Interior of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Monyesz

: Interior of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Monyesz

: Interior of the Esterházy Castle in Fertőd Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Dguendel

Dr. István György, State Secretary for Territorial Administration of the Prime Minister’s Office said that through the Hungarian National Castle Programme, a total of 18 castles and 12 fortresses are being renovated currently.

Thanks to the renovation works, tourists will not only find a renewed area, but a plethora of complex tourist programmes since one of the goals of the renovation is to elevate the castle’s overall touristic value.

Katalin Egresitné Firtl, the managing director of the Eszterháza Cultural, Research and Festival Center Public Benefit Nonprofit Ltd., emphasized that it is their responsibility, duty and mission to make this “common [Hungarian] heritage” known by as many and as comprehensively as possible, Magyarépítők reports.