Siklos

The main attraction in Siklós is the castle, the appearance of which dates from the 18th century. It is one of the best-preserved castles in Hungary. The town's Turkish and ecclesiastic heritage sites are also noteworthy.

There was a military camp called Serena established during Roman times on the site of today's town. The earliest record of the fortress is in a charter dated 1190.

The first record of the settlement's existence dates from 1294. From that point onward, it became the seat of the estates of some of the most prominent noble families of Hungarian history. In 1394, the Garai family purchased the castle, who extended it over decades. The Gothic wing and the chapel with its rich Gothic vaulting, among the most beautiful of its kind in Hungary, bear witness to that era. From 1515, the Perényi family continued construction of the castle, adding the Renaissance refurbishments.

Under the Ottoman occupation, the Turkish used the castle as a fortress. They had mosques built in the outskirts of the town, such as the Bey Malkoch mosque set in a rose garden. In acknowledgment of the restoration works on the mosque, the heritage building was awarded the international Europa Nostra award in 1992.

In the 18th century, the Batthyány family redeveloped and expanded the castle in the Baroque style. It had completely lost its military role by the 19th century.

The former market town continued to exist as a large village. It received city rights in 1977.

Máriagyűd, a renowned site of pilgrimage, belongs to Siklós.

How to get there:
By public transport, Volán buses serve the town from Pécs. By railway, Siklós is served on the Sellye-Villány railway line. By car, take Route 58 and turn east at Harkány.