Museum - Kuny Domokos Museum

The building of the castle is of a special interest. It was built from 1397 to 1409 on the territory of the Lackffy family where the Hills Vértes and Gerecse meet, on a cliff surrounded by swamps and water.

The castle belonged to the king from 1397. During the reign of Zsigmond of Luxemburg and Mathias Rex, it mainly served as a holiday chalet. Under Turkish reign, from the 16th century, Tata was tried to be included in the border fortress system defending the town of Győr. After 1568, the Italian fortress with bastions was built, however, it never became a real fortress.

In 1727, the count Eszterházy József (1682-1748) bought it. The royal architect Fellner Jakab (1722-1780) built the entrance in 1755. It is still the entrance to the fortress nowadays.

The so-called court magistrate house is situated above the bridge, along with the prison cellars and the chapel built for the inmates in the 19th century.

The Kuny Domokos Museum has been open since 1954 in the fortress. Its collection includes the Piarist collection established in 1912, as well as a significant archeology, natural science, local history, applied- and fine arts collection.

In 13 wards permanent exhibitions are open, of the Roman to the 19th century, including the history of the fortress. Two wards host temporary exhibitions.

Programmes

Secrets of the Roman Room

further programmes

Permanent exhibitions

Royal castle and monastery

Finds from excavations at the Benedictine Monastery of Vértesszentkereszt are shown in this room. Among the objects, the visitors can find enamelled stove tiles, book covers, ornament glasses made in one of the royal workshops, as well as burial finds related to the monastery.

The history of he guilds of Tata

The exhibition presents memoirs of the operation of the body of guilds: guild chests, jugs etc. A uniform interior presents the memoirs of the shoemaker guild with all the tools of a convivial gathering. We show the open guild chess, the seal, cups, pot belonging to the guild. There is a masterpiece made by an apprentice set to be inaugurated master, a little pair of boots.

The history of pottery in Tata

Pottery has been practiced from the 18th century in Tata. Pottery products from Tata were exported to far away lands but could also be found in households around and in town. Décor written in blue and green was a typical way of ornamenting pottery.

The history of the market-towns Tata and Tóváros in the 18-19th centuries

The room introducing the 18th century presents contemporary objects and documents, as well as portraits of the judge, József Esterházy. The section related to the 19th century introduces the heydays of the estate after 1867, derbies organized there, as well as memoirs of the theatre built on the estate.

further exhibitions