Rakoczi Castle, Sarospatak

Online szállásfoglalás

This historical building complex is amongst Hungary's most valuable late Renaissance architectural heritage. Built by Péter Perényi between 1534 and 1537, the castle's golden age was during the time of the Rákóczi family in the 1600's.

Visitors today can reach the gates of the palace wing of the castle through the historical castle district, or through the castle garden (várkert). Inside the spacious courtyard visitors are greeted by the oldest building of the complex, the Red Tower built around 1500. Although in 1656 it was extended with a new storey with cannon emplacement, a high pyramidal roof, and four small guard towers on its corners, it has retained its late Renaissance look to this day.

Bearing the name of its first owner and builder the Perényi Wing is in front of the Red Tower. The late Renaissance carved window frames are its most beautiful details. The Lorántffy Loggia, with the most precious ornamentation of the courtyard, was added in 1646.

In this period other significant constructions were also completed. It was at this time that the first floor of the south palace wing and the Bokályos House were finished. With the reconstruction of the latter a unique space came into existence: the walls of this room are covered with Turkish tiles, evoking the luxury of the East, and the atmosphere of the reception room of ruling prince George Rákóczi I.

The Sub Rosa turret room protruding with its bay window on the first floor of the northeast bastion is the result of 17th-century building work. This round turret room was named after the rose decorating the stylised copingstone of the painted vault. The painted ceiling is the only one wall paint in the castle remaining from the Baroque times.

On the left hand palace wing it is primarily the 19th-century facade renovations in Romantic and Eclectic taste which are recognisable.

From the castle courtyard there is free access to the curtain walls with bastions that run around the castle with astunning view of the River Bodrog. The interior rooms of the Castle Museum (vármúzeum) may be visited on purchase of a ticket.