Step into a fairy tale this summer as Győr (Győr) transforms into a spectacle of passion and history for its 32nd Baroque Wedding. On August 8th and 9th, the city’s enchanting downtown will be filled with the flavors, colors, and melodies of 17th- and 18th-century Europe. No other era captures yearning, celebration, and pure romantic drama like the Baroque—this festival won’t let you forget it.
Historic streets and grand squares create the perfect living backdrop for an extravaganza where illusion, emotion, and spectacle collide. This event draws both locals and travelers with an immersive throwback: period music, majestic dances, flamboyant costumes, and lively theatrical troupes. The heart of the weekend is the Baroque Wedding parade—the ultimate pageant of passion, where a “just married” couple, surrounded by 200 swirling, costumed ladies and gentlemen, exchange vows amid cheers from the costumed crowd.
Friday: Drama, Dancing, and Baroque Beats
The festivities begin Friday afternoon as the sun warms Radó Island—here, “Camp Life at the Border Fortress” sets the stage, running from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Over at Vienna Gate Square (Bécsi kapu tér), you can join a special guided walking tour all about Győr’s (Győr) Baroque origins and allure (tickets are $8.25; students/pensioners just $5.50). Pick yours up at the Tourinform office on Gábor Baross Street (Baross Gábor utca).
At 5 p.m., Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi tér) becomes an open-air theater: witness the ceremonial handover of the royal city charter in full 18th-century regalia, complete with musicians from the local conservatory and soldiers of the Esterházy József Infantry Regiment (Esterházy József gyalogezred). For art lovers, the Győr Diocesan Collection Center (Győri Egyházmegyei Kincstár) hosts an exhibition on Bishop Francis Zichy’s (Ferenc Zichy) passion for Baroque arts.
Enjoy the first swirl of Baroque flamenco at 5:30 p.m. with the Győr Barocco Dance Group’s (Győri Barocco Tánccsoport) stylish performance. As dusk falls, the streets transform into a living timeline: a glorious, lively Baroque parade marches through Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi tér), Kazinczy Street (Kazinczy utca), Baross Street (Baross utca), and County Hall Square (Megyeház tér), looping back at 6:30 p.m. Or opt for a musical journey from the 18th century to today in the Baroque Garden.
At 7 p.m., set out on an adventure—join a stroll-and-boat sightseeing tour (walking only $8.25; combo $22, students/pensioners $17.80; boat only not available), departing from the Column of Mary (Mária-oszlop) in Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi tér). As night falls, serenades fill the air for the bride—culminating at 8 p.m. with the Budapest Chamber Opera’s comic play The Tricked Kadi (A rászedett kádi). Theater lovers can catch Donizetti’s The Bell (A csengő) at Dunakapu Square and join a lively Baroque dance party at 9 p.m. back in Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi tér).
Saturday: Markets, Music, and the Masterpiece Wedding
Saturday is packed from morning to night on Széchenyi Square (Széchenyi tér). A bustling artisan market and children’s craft workshops run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the Mare Temporis Heritage Group (Mare Temporis Hagyományőrző Egyesület) offers immersive Baroque lifestyle demonstrations until 6 p.m. Start your adventure with a morning walking tour ($12.40, students/pensioners $11), or bring the kids for a family quiz trail at Chapter Hill (Káptalandomb)—winners take home prizes.
Music and stories fill balconies and cathedrals: enjoy tower music from Lloyd Palace (Lloyd-palota) at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; take a guided stroll in Győr’s (Győr) stunning Cathedral of the Assumption (Nagyboldogasszony székesegyház); and see the Garabonciás Ensemble’s (Garabonciás Együttes) folk show outside Abbot House (Apátúr-ház). At 11 a.m., the State Room (Díszterem) hosts a magical harp concert by Adél Bélyei. Expect everything from commedia dell’arte parodies—don’t miss the “Crazy Wedding,” a playful Baroque wedding spoof at 5 p.m.—to dazzling dance, culminating with a 6:30 p.m. parade leading to the grand ceremony.
The formal wedding procession divides—the costumed crowd promenades through King Street (Király utca) to Dunakapu Square (Dunakapu tér), while the horses and carriages circle over bridges to rendezvous. The joyful feast continues with the Pannonia Superior Ensemble’s (Pannonia Superior Régizene Együttes) concert on period instruments at 7:10 p.m. and exuberant melodies by the Simplicissimus Chamber Orchestra (Simplicissimus Kamarazenekar) from 7:30 p.m.
As darkness falls, all eyes turn to Dunakapu Square (Dunakapu tér) for the grand Baroque Wedding at 8 p.m.—the pinnacle of romance in wigs, lace, and powdered cheeks. Stay for the dance party that follows!
Extras and Surprises
Saturday features bonus hands-on fun: from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Győr Herend Porcelain Shop (Győri Herendi Porcelánbolt), try porcelain painting or crafting porcelain roses alongside master decorators (kids 8+ welcome; advance registration required; take your creations home). Nearly everything’s free except the guided thematic walks—so there’s no excuse not to stroll around Győr (Győr), decked out in historic glamour.
It’s a weekend where fantasy and history collide, lovers pledge undying affection, and everyone is invited to join the dizzying, dazzling dream. Győr’s (Győr) Baroque Wedding: more than a festival, it’s a time-traveling love story you simply can’t miss.
