2024. April 19. Friday
Károlyi Castle - Fehérvárcsurgó
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Address: 8052, Fehérvárcsurgó Petőfi utca 2.
Phone number: (21) 311-0426, (30) 725-8249
E-mail: info@karolyikastely.hu
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10-17
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The statelyhomewasbuiltbetween 1844 and 1850 byCount George Károlyi (1802-1877) in neo-classicalstyle. The architectwas the Austrian Heinrich Koch, assistedbythe Young Miklós Ybl, wholaterbecameone of hungary'sgreatarchitects of thecentury. Itunderwent a major refurbishing in the 1910 years, whenGeorge,'sgrandson, Count Joseph Károlyi (1884-1934), inheritedit and wantedtomakeit more suitabletothe "modern life" of thattime.
In 1945 thestatelyhome is nationalizedtogetherwiththewholeestate, and the Károlyi familyemigrates in France. Afterhavingescaped major damagefromwaroperations, theplace is occupiedforsomemonthsbytheHungarianPeople'sArmy, thenassignedtothe National gasCompanywhobeganto convert itinto a holidayplaceforitsemployees. In 1949 however, furthertothe end of theGreek civil war, theHungariangovernmentdecidesto re-assignthestatelyhomeas a homefortheGreekchildrenkidnappedbythecommunist partisans. In 1955, theGreekchildren'shome is closed and thestatelyhome is converted into an orphanageforHungarianabandonedchildren. Neither of theseinstitutionscaredtoperformonthe building the minimum necessarymaintenance Works, in consequence of whattheorphanage had toclose in turn and leavetheplace in 1979.
Between 1979 and theNineties, thestatelyhomewaskeptclosed and totallyabandoned. Itwasduringtheseyearsthatit is suffered major damage, withthe Wood fungusappearing and attackingthe main structures.
The Joseph Károlyi Foundationwascreated in 1994, itsaimwastoinstalltheactivities of the European Cultrual Meeting Centre in themansion.In 2000 a companybyshares, the Fehérvárcsurgó Károlyi-CastleRenovating and OperatingCompany Ltd. (FKKF Zrt.) wascreated,in 2001 itreceivedtheright of use of thecastlefor 99 years, onconditionthattherestoration is achievedwithin 10 years.The restorationwascompleted in 2011. Since 2013 a Hotel and Restaurant alsowelcomestheguests.
The statelyhome is visitedby more than 20 000 peopleon a yearlybasis. The currentdevelopmentsallowustoforecast a clearincrease of thisfigure in thenearfuture, togetherwithlimitlessnewactivities and programsonwhichweareworking.
In 1945 thestatelyhome is nationalizedtogetherwiththewholeestate, and the Károlyi familyemigrates in France. Afterhavingescaped major damagefromwaroperations, theplace is occupiedforsomemonthsbytheHungarianPeople'sArmy, thenassignedtothe National gasCompanywhobeganto convert itinto a holidayplaceforitsemployees. In 1949 however, furthertothe end of theGreek civil war, theHungariangovernmentdecidesto re-assignthestatelyhomeas a homefortheGreekchildrenkidnappedbythecommunist partisans. In 1955, theGreekchildren'shome is closed and thestatelyhome is converted into an orphanageforHungarianabandonedchildren. Neither of theseinstitutionscaredtoperformonthe building the minimum necessarymaintenance Works, in consequence of whattheorphanage had toclose in turn and leavetheplace in 1979.
Between 1979 and theNineties, thestatelyhomewaskeptclosed and totallyabandoned. Itwasduringtheseyearsthatit is suffered major damage, withthe Wood fungusappearing and attackingthe main structures.
The Joseph Károlyi Foundationwascreated in 1994, itsaimwastoinstalltheactivities of the European Cultrual Meeting Centre in themansion.In 2000 a companybyshares, the Fehérvárcsurgó Károlyi-CastleRenovating and OperatingCompany Ltd. (FKKF Zrt.) wascreated,in 2001 itreceivedtheright of use of thecastlefor 99 years, onconditionthattherestoration is achievedwithin 10 years.The restorationwascompleted in 2011. Since 2013 a Hotel and Restaurant alsowelcomestheguests.
The statelyhome is visitedby more than 20 000 peopleon a yearlybasis. The currentdevelopmentsallowustoforecast a clearincrease of thisfigure in thenearfuture, togetherwithlimitlessnewactivities and programsonwhichweareworking.
