Thury-castle

In our neighboring town, Várpalota, you’ll find three castles. One is little more than a ruin hidden in the forest: Bátorkő Castle. Another one has been turned into the Trianon Museum. And the third stands right in the middle of the town center: Thury Castle itself.

The castle is still actively used for cultural events — we’ve already been here for a concert and a choir performance — but it also houses a small museum.

Near the entrance, you’ll spot several medieval costumes hanging on display. Visitors are actually allowed to dress up as princesses or counts and stroll through the castle like real nobility.

The collection itself is quite varied, and the connection with Várpalota isn’t always obvious. One room contains dozens of antique smoking pipes, another displays hunting trophies, while yet another lets you admire the famous Mechanical Turk. Part of the museum also focuses on the coal mines that remained active in this region until the early 1990s.

This isn’t a museum you absolutely have to see during a trip to Hungary. But on a rainy afternoon, it makes for a pleasant and interesting visit, especially with children.