Bory-vár
The castle built by the sculptor and architect Bory Jenő in Máriavölgy, Székesfehérvár, which can be visited as a private museum.
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About the museum
In 1912 the sculptor and architect Bory Jenő bought one hold of land in Máriavölgy, Székesfehérvár, on which at first only a small wine-press house stood. He spent his summers here with his family. After the First World War, a missed architectural commission – the plan for the Ferenc Ferdinánd-emléktemplom (Franz Ferdinand Memorial Church) in Sarajevo and the Zsófia-otthon (Zsófia Home) – gave him the idea of building his own home.
Construction began in 1923 and lasted until Bory Jenő’s death in 1959. He designed, directed and built the castle himself with a few simple workers, without a finished plan, continuously expanding it. He regarded the building as his own work of art, more a sculpture than a house.
The castle is about 30 metres high, has seven towers, and contains thirty smaller and larger rooms, including three studios. Two symbolic centres of its ground plan are the chapel of conjugal love and the studio. Today it welcomes visitors as a private museum: the works of Bory Jenő and his wife, Komócsin Ilona, the hundred-column courtyard, the gardens and the picture gallery can be viewed.
Highlights
- The hundred-column courtyard with the pointed and flag towers
- Chapel of Conjugal Love (Hitvesi szeretet kápolnája)
- Picture gallery with thematic rooms: Kandallós, Rádiós, Sárga szoba and Műterem
- Sculptures by Bory Jenő: female figures, portraits, memorials
- Lower garden, rose garden and Elefántudvar (Elephant Courtyard)
Permanent exhibitions
- Képtár – The thematic rooms of the picture gallery (Kandallós, Rádiós, Sárga szoba and the Műterem) present the works of Bory Jenő and Komócsin Ilona.
- Százoszlopos udvar – Sculptures depicting great figures of Hungarian history line the arcades of the courtyard, beside the pointed and flag towers.
- Bory Jenő szobrászi életműve – A thematic presentation of female figures, portraits, depictions of children and animals, church sculptures and memorials.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | HUF 4,000 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | HUF 3,000students with a valid student card and pensioners over 65 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 5 · Admission is free under the age of six. |
| Seniors | HUF 3,000Ages 65 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · A visitor with disabilities and one companion may enter free of charge, with a valid card of the designated associations. |
| Students & apprentices | HUF 3,000With a valid student card. |
| Groups | –Group visits must be announced in advance. |
| Families | HUF 3,000Accompanying adult ticket: one or two parents or close relatives who accompany at least two children under 14. |
Teachers arriving with a group may enter free of charge.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | HUF 3,000 · Accompanying adult ticket: one or two parents or close relatives who accompany at least two children under 14. |
Families with young children receive a family discount: one or two adults accompanying at least two children under 14 may enter for HUF 3,000.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Vágújhelyi utca, Bicskei út
Bus 26A: Autóbusz-állomás – Vágújhelyi utca; bus 31: Vasútállomás – Bicskei út; bus 32: Vasútállomás – Vágújhelyi utca.
By car
Parking available
The area is a residential zone, so driveways and traffic routes must be kept clear. If there is no free parking nearby, the castle can also be reached from the Béla úti temető (Béla Road cemetery) side, with a short walk to the entrance. There is a separate information page on parking for coaches.
By car, the castle is reached from the direction of Máriavölgy. For current timetables, it is worth checking the Székesfehérvár city transport page.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group guided tours in Hungarian, English and German are available for a fee at idegenvezetes@bory-var.hu; the visit date, the number of visitors, the group leader’s contact details and the required language must be given. Dogs may be brought on a leash; inside the castle and the exhibition rooms, dogs may only be carried or held in the arms. |
Museums nearby
All 13 museums in Székesfehérvár All museums in Fejér County
