Thury-vár

About the museum

The present castle developed from a late 14th-century residential building of the Újlaki family; it is first mentioned in 1397 under the name “Palota”. In the 15th century the Újlakis expanded it into a corner-towered castle, which they held until their extinction in 1524. The castle was taken in 1533 after the siege against Móré László, and then came into the possession of the Podmaniczky family. During the Ottoman conquest, after the fall of Veszprém in 1552, Palota became an important fortress of the northern Transdanubian border-fortress system.

The castle’s most famous captain was Thury György, after whom the castle is still named. Under his leadership the garrison carried out successful raids against the surrounding Ottoman frontier fortresses, and in 1566 it repulsed the siege by the Pasha of Buda. Later the castle became known as Thury-vár; in the 19th and 20th centuries it was used for residential and office purposes.

The renovated building today houses exhibitions on castle and local history, hunting, a Turkish room, a torture chamber, a medieval kitchen, an arms exhibition, a witch exhibition and an observatory. The Vegyészeti Múzeum (Chemistry Museum) and a mining-history collection are also located in the building; the castle surroundings include a spice herb garden and children’s programmes.

Highlights

• Castle and local history exhibition from the era of the Várpalota frontier fortress
• Turkish room, torture chamber and medieval kitchen
• Hunting exhibition with trophy collection and arms exhibition
• Witch exhibition and observatory on the third floor
• Guided tour with Captain Thury, historical games for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Vártörténeti és helytörténeti kiállítás – The ground-floor rooms present the history of the castle and of Várpalota, everyday life on the frontier, the medieval kitchen, the chapel and the torture chamber.
• Vadászati kiállítás, török szoba és fegyverkiállítás – On the upper floors: a trophy collection, a Turkish room, a Renaissance painting workshop, a flatiron exhibition and a weapons collection.
• Boszorkánykiállítás és csillagda – On the third floor: an exhibition on witch beliefs, a medieval observatory and the Darabont Room.

Operated by

Thury-Vár Rendezvényközpont és Intézményei, Várpalota

Admission & discounts

All residents of Várpalota receive a 50 per cent discount on admission; from 1 July 2026, residents of Litér, Balatonfűzfő and Zirc are entitled to a 15 per cent discount with their address card.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Knightly trials and hands-on games for children, historical archery, escape room.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Gift shop on the ground floor.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Event rooms in the castle.

Plan your visit