The Veszprém Castle District is stepping into winter with calm lights, bell chimes, and plenty to explore. Baroque façades glow softly, Szentháromság Square settles into silence, and guided walks open doors that usually stay shut. The Archiepiscopal Tourism Center keeps things lively even in the cold months, welcoming anyone who wants more than a stroll down Vár Street—think palace interiors, chapels steeped in history, and award-winning exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House, the Baroque gateway to the district and the launch point for guided castle walks. It also hosts a gift shop and free-entry exhibitions, including Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai, crowned Exhibition of the Year 2025.
Holiday and Regular Opening Hours
The district operates with special December hours, then returns to its regular schedule. Holiday season: closed December 22–26; open December 27–30 from 10:00 to 18:00 (Saturday–Tuesday); and December 31 from 10:00 to 15:00 (Wednesday). Outside the holidays, exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House follow: Monday closed; Tuesday–Friday 17:00–19:00; Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00. The gift shop is open Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00.
Guided Castle Walks: Stories From the City’s Heart
Weekends feature the most popular program of all: guided walks at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. These tours unlock places not open for independent visits:
– Archiepiscopal Palace: Baroque interiors, refreshed spaces, and standout artworks.
– Gizella Chapel: one of the district’s oldest, most peaceful sacred sites, with fresco fragments that carry a distinct medieval atmosphere.
– St. Michael’s Cathedral and its crypt: the city’s defining building, where the basilica’s past and medieval details in the lower church create a vivid picture of Veszprém’s history.
– St. George’s Chapel: an ancient memorial space in the heart of the castle, accessible only with a guide.
Tours depart from the Biró–Giczey House; current times and any changes are posted in the event calendar. Tickets and information are available at the gift shop.
Free Exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House
All exhibitions are free during opening hours:
– Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai (Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of Magdalen): The 2025 Exhibition of the Year explores Mary Magdalene through objects, prints, and contemporary reflections, enriched with the thoughts of Blessed Mária Magdolna Bódi.
– Pantry Exhibition – Details from the Cathedral’s Past: Baroque-era objects, liturgical items, and photographs over 100 years old.
– My Head’s Not the Chapter – Interactive Show: a playful, clear look at who the canons were and how the Veszprém chapter functioned.
– Archaeological Exhibition: the castle hill’s evolving settlement history and finds presented with striking installations.
Key Dates in December
December 20, 19:00 – Advent Music Devotion: A highlight of Advent at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Conductor Pál Vikman leads the St. Michael Choir, joined by organist Tamás Kosóczki. The program sets the tone of expectation with Zoltán Kodály’s Adventi ének and Heinrich Schütz’s Rorate caeli. Four days before Christmas, choral and organ works guide the preparation, including Tibor Pikéthy’s Christmas Fantasy—primarily an organ work whose theme, Ó gyönyörűszép titokzatos éj, emerges through the choir as part of the piece. The selection carries quiet readiness, festive brightness, and the joy of the Redeemer’s coming. Admission to the cathedral is free.
December 20–21 – Guided Castle Walks at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. The Biró–Giczey House offers garden access, a gift shop, and exhibitions alongside thematic tours:
– The Walk of Light and Devotion: Archiepiscopal Palace + Gizella Chapel at 11:30 and 16:00 (Saturday–Sunday)
– A Thousand Years’ Path: Cathedral + crypt + St. George’s Chapel at 14:00 (Saturday–Sunday)
Depart from the Biró–Giczey House.
December 27 – Festive Harmonies: Concert by Ádám Tabajdi, István Horváth, and the Harmónia Chamber Ensemble at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
December 27–28 – Guided Castle Walks at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. Same thematic routes and departure point as above.
December 29 – Guided Castle Walks at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. Light and Devotion at 11:30 and 16:00; A Thousand Years’ Path at 14:00. Tickets and info at the gift shop.
December 30 – Guided Castle Walks at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. Light and Devotion at 11:30 and 16:00; A Thousand Years’ Path at 14:00. Tickets and info at the gift shop.
Winter Mood, Open Doors
The castle district thrives in winter: peaceful squares, resonant bells, and spaces layered with centuries. Whether you’re there for music, medieval chapels, or Baroque salons, the Biró–Giczey House is your starting point—and this season, it’s very much open.
