Page 13 - veszp25

Walk in the fortresses

and castles

The roads of the county are bordered by fortresses and reconstructed the fortress-like building into a real castle
castles. They used to symbolize power and provided shelter during the 15th century. The ruins of the Szarvaskő Castle

and protection for their lords who controlled their estates are found in Döbrönte, in the Bakony Mountains. Th e For-
from there. The castles’ intriguing stories are not just about tress of Csesznek was built during the great castle-building

heroism and determination but also about intrigues and period after the Mongol invasion.

betrayal. Their ruins remind us of the builders, the defend- The baroque Esterházy Castle, and the former fortifi cation

ers, and the simple people who lived nearby. system, built in 1784, played an important role in the his-
Szigliget Castle stands on the cone of a volcanic hill that tory and development of the town of Pápa, also known as
used to be an island of Lake Balaton; its oldest parts were the Athens of Transdanubia. The renovated castle is again

built by the Benedictines of Pannonhalma in the middle a prominent tourist attraction in Pápa. The beautifully re-

of the 13th century. stored castle houses a chapel, exhibition halls, a puppet
The landmark of Devecser is the baroque castle with both theatre, a cinema and a café.

Gothic and Renaissance features; the Esterházy family
11