The Veszprém Castle District feels tailor-made for winter. Soft light grazes the Baroque facades, silence settles around Trinity (Szentháromság) Square, and bell chimes ripple through the streets. The Veszprém Archdiocesan Tourism Center welcomes anyone who wants more than a stroll along Vár Street, opening doors to the palace, chapels, and exhibitions that reveal the district’s real character.
The Biró–Giczey House serves as the Baroque gateway to the quarter: guided castle walks start here, the gift shop is here, and several free exhibitions are on show — including 2025’s Exhibition of the Year, Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai (Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of the Magdalens).
Guided Castle Walks
Weekends bring the top draw: guided tours at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. These routes unlock spaces that aren’t open independently:
– Archiepiscopal Palace: Baroque interiors, renewed rooms, and choice artworks.
– Gizella Chapel: one of the oldest, quietest sacred sites in the district, where surviving fresco fragments conjure a distinctly medieval mood.
– St. Michael’s Cathedral and crypt: a defining landmark, where the basilica’s past and the medieval details of the crypt together sketch a vivid portrait of Veszprém’s history.
– St. George’s Chapel: an ancient memorial space in the heart of the castle, accessible only with a guided walk.
Tours set off from the Biró–Giczey House; check the events calendar for current times and updates.
Free Exhibitions at Biró–Giczey House
All exhibitions are free during opening hours.
– Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai (Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of the Magdalens): the award-winning 2025 show frames Mary Magdalene through artifacts, engravings, and contemporary reflections, enriched by the thoughts of Blessed Magdolna Mária Bódi.
– Pantry Exhibition – Details from the Cathedral’s Past: Baroque objects, liturgical items, and photos over 100 years old.
– Nem káptalan a fejem (My Head Isn’t a Chapter) – interactive: a playful, clear look at who the canons were and how the Veszprém chapter functioned.
– Archaeology Exhibition: the hill’s shifting settlement history and finds, presented with eye-catching installations.
January 24, 2026: Day of Hungarian Culture
On Saturday, January 24, from 10:00 to 18:00, the Castle District opens rarely seen spaces, libraries, and living heritage with expert-led access.
– 11:30 – Guided tour: Archiepiscopal Palace and Koller Library. Start: Biró–Giczey House. Dr. Balázs Karlinszky, Director of the Veszprém Archdiocesan Archives, introduces the Koller Library, where centuries-old volumes preserve the story of Hungarian learning.
– 14:00 – Guided tour: St. Michael’s Cathedral and St. George’s Chapel. Explore ecclesiastical spaces shaped from the Middle Ages to today.
– 16:00 – Guided tour: Archiepiscopal Palace and Gizella Chapel. Baroque and medieval forms meet in a history-rich setting.
Each tour runs with a maximum of 20 people; no registration required. The Biró–Giczey House and its exhibitions are freely visitable 10:00–18:00 this day.
Practical Info
The Biró–Giczey House is otherwise closed from January 1 to February 1, 2026. With advance arrangement, guided castle walks remain available on weekends for groups of more than 15 at St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. George’s Chapel, the Archiepiscopal Palace, and Gizella Chapel.
Location: Veszprém – Castle District (Biró–Giczey House, Vár Street 31).
