Castle Castle of Eger is part of our Itinerary Castle tours with knight tournament in Hungary

Castle of Eger

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The Castle of Eger is a castle in the town of Eger in Northern Hungary. It is known for its repelling of the Turkish attack in 1552 during the Siege of Eger and that’s where Hungarian Bull's Blood wine is produced.


The first castle was built on the high hill named Várhegy at Felsőtárkány near Eger.


During the Mongol invasion in 1241, this castle was ruined, and the bishop of Eger moved it to a rocky hill in the city of Eger. On the hill, a new castle was built, and it developed rapidly, followed by a Gothic palace. 

It won its true fame in 1552 when 2,000 heroic people under the lead of captain István Dobó fought off the besieging Turkish army of many tens of thousands. The castle and its valiant soldiers became legendary when Géza Gárdonyi wrote his novel titled 'Eclipse of the Crescent Moon' ('Egri csillagok') in the 20th century. This book was voted the most popular novel in a Hungarian TV show in 2006. The writer was buried in the castle.


Archaelogical excavations only started in 1925 and the castle was used by the army as barracks until 1957.


The fortress of Eger, now a protected historic monument, is the site of the István Dobó Castle Museum. Permanent exhibitions cover the history of the castle, the underground fortification system (Casemates), while another exhibits the medieval forms of punishment. Carvings from the destroyed cathedral can be seen in the lapidarium, while the marble sarcophagus of István Dobó, the heroic captain of the fortress during the 1552 siege, can be found in the Heroes’ Hall. The Art Gallery, also hosted in the castle, has one of the finest art collections in Hungary with works by Dutch, Italian, Austrian, and Hungarian masters.


There are also various programmes offered to visitors alongside the exhibitions to illustrate the historical traditions of the fortress all year around.


There are several museums in the castle:


Dobó István Vármúzeum - This shows the history of the castle


Egri Képtár - A painting exhibition


Kazamaták - A system of cellars under the castle


Panoptikum - A wax museum


Vase exhibition 


We are organising Eger wine and castle tours from Budapest daily. To see details and to sign up click on the link: http://www.undiscoveredhungary.com/tours/10-eger-town-wine-and-castle-tour-northern-hungary


If you are looking for accommodation near the castle click "book now" for prices and availability. You don't have to pay in advance but when you arrive. Free cancellation.

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