Siroki vár

About the museum

The fortification on the top of the Vár-hegy has a history going back to the period following the Hungarian conquest (honfoglalás). After the Tatar invasion it was built up by the Bodon family; later it became a royal castle and then came into the possession of the Országh family. In the 16th century it was part of the northern chain of border fortresses and one of the most important forward positions of Eger; for a time it was also in Ottoman hands.

The special feature of the castle is the system of passages cut into the rock: staircases, corridors and halls were formed inside the rhyolite-tuff hill, and they can still be explored today. The oldest part of the fortress is the residential tower in the upper castle, and the old tower, which served as the garrison's dwelling, was built onto it. Within the walls one can still see the former stable, the grain storage pit and the drinking well.

After the Rákóczi War of Independence, in 1713, Imperial troops demolished the castle. Today it also houses a permanent exhibition on the Ottoman era, and at the foot of the hill a village heritage house (tájház) can be visited. The site is run by the Nemzeti Örökségvédelmi Fejlesztési Nonprofit Kft.

Highlights

• Rock-cut casemate and passage system
• Panorama over the forests of the Bükk and the Mátra
• Permanent exhibition on everyday life in the Ottoman era
• Village heritage house with furnished rooms
• Residential tower and old tower

Permanent exhibition

• A török hódoltság kora – Three interiors – a kitchen, a living room and a space furnished with military equipment – show everyday life in the Ottoman era; a film and guided tours complement the display. The archaeological material belongs to the Dobó István Vármúzeum (Dobó István Castle Museum) in Eger.

Operated by

Nemzeti Örökségvédelmi Fejlesztési Nonprofit Kft. (NÖF)

Admission & discounts

Free admission for children under 6 and for visitors who have reached the age of 70. SZÉP cards are accepted; a stamp can be obtained with the Kajla-útlevél (Kajla passport).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The castle is reached from the car park at the foot of the hill by a footpath of roughly 20 minutes, in places steep; it is difficult to reach with a pram or a bicycle.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

There is a car park at the foot of the castle hill; from there it takes about 20 minutes to reach the castle on foot.

Amenities & 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