Description

The Castle of Diósgyőr stands atop a rocky hill, overlooking the Szinva Stream valley. Anonymus, a 13th-century chronicler, notes the presence of a fortification here during the Hungarian conquest, potentially destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1241. King Béla IV awarded the site to Ban Ernye after the invasion, and his son, Stephen the Palatine, initiated construction of the stone castle with an oval ring and two circular towers.

In the prosperous medieval era, King Louis I, known as the "Great King," expanded the castle in 1364, creating a grand, four-cornered, Gothic-style fortress inspired by Italian architecture. Diósgyőr Castle featured moats, four imposing towers, interconnected living quarters, and Central Europe's largest knight's hall, becoming a symbol of magnificence in the country.

After King Louis's reign, Diósgyőr passed to queens, serving as the dowry residence for six queens until the Battle of Mohács in 1526. Queen Mary of Austria, wife of King Louis II, owned the castle as part of her queenly estates. Following Mohács, the castle changed hands multiple times, eventually falling into ruin by the 19th century.

In 2014, the renovated Diósgyőr Castle was unveiled, showcasing period furnishings, costumed animators, historical games, and heritage preservation programs, breathing new life into its ancient walls.

Engraver: Enikő Szöllőssy