Csesznek - Castle in the Bakony
The Castle of Csesznek is situated between Veszprém and Gyor. It is in Veszprémcounty in the Bakony Hills. It stands on the south-western side of Vár Hills on a picturesque limestone outcrop.
It is partly ruined but is still in maginificent condition compared to many castles in Hungary. It was built in the XIII. century. It was probably the centre for the bailiff of the territory of the Bakony Hills. It was built in a strategically important place at a meeting point of important channels of communication in the area. Presumably, it was built to secure and protect the anicent thoroughfares.The golden age of the more than 700 year old castle was under the rule of King Zsigmond in the XV. century. In this period the Garai family owned the castle and they built it into an impressive gothic knight's castle that used to be a low inside towered castle. Strategically, the castle had a significant role in the Turkish period. After the surrender Veszprém it was built in the first line of the Hungarian border castles.
Later it had another significant role in the Rákóczi war of independence when Kuruts groups nestled in the castle. They established a supply system for the other Kuruts groups fighting on the Transdanubian region and here the labanc company officers were under surveillance. The last owners were the Eszterházy family who extended it into a baroque fortified castle in the middle of the XVIII. century.
In 1820 fire caused by lightning burnt down its wooden pillars, the floors collapsed and finally it was demolished. The gorgeous ruins of the Castle of Csesznek is a preferred place for tourists' visits.The castle welcomes it's visitors every day from 9 o'clock the whole year.The gates are locked from spring to autumn from 7 pm and from autumn to spring one hour before nightfall.
The Csesznek Programme Office has been organizing different open-air programmes called CSESZNEK SUMMER which includes the Castle Festival, the Tarogato Festival, the Castle minstrel nights, the rock group Edda, Republic concerts and theatre performances such as 'King Stephen' the rock opera and 'Eger stars' musical etc. All of this can be enjoyed in this historically magnificent environment in the Castle of Csesznek and on the Csesznek "Kőbánya" Open-air Stage.
You can find further informations and photos from the castle here:
http://www.civertan.hu/legifoto/legifoto.php?page_level=80
http://www.csesznekivar.hu/varszoveg_angol.htm
