The Castle District in Veszprém turns magnetic in winter. Soft light washes the Baroque facades, silence pools around Holy Trinity (Szentháromság) Square, and bell chimes drift through the narrow streets. The Archdiocesan Tourism Center keeps its doors open to anyone who wants more than a stroll down Castle (Vár) Street—inviting visitors into the real world of the palace, chapels, and exhibitions.
The Biró–Giczey House is the Baroque gateway to the district. Guided castle walks start here, there’s a gift shop, and several exhibitions are free to visit—including Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of Magdalen (Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai), crowned Exhibition of the Year 2025.
Guided Walks: Stories from the City’s Heart
Weekend favorites depart at three times: 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. These tours open doors to places not accessible on your own:
• Archbishop’s Palace – Baroque interiors, renewed spaces, and singular artifacts.
• Gisela (Gizella) Chapel – One of the oldest, quietest sacred rooms, where surviving fresco fragments tint the air with a medieval mood.
• St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica and Crypt – A defining landmark of the city, whose layered past and medieval crypt details sketch an authentic portrait of Veszprém’s history.
• St. George’s Chapel – An ancient memorial site in the heart of the castle, visitable only on guided walks.
Tours depart from the Biró–Giczey House. Current times and any changes are listed in the events calendar.
Exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House
All exhibitions are free during opening hours.
• Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of Magdalen (Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai): Award-winning in 2025, this show uses artifacts, engravings, and contemporary reflections to present Mary Magdalene, with thoughts from Blessed Magdolna Mária Bódi.
• Pantry Exhibition – Details from the Basilica’s Past: Baroque objects, liturgical elements, and photographs more than 100 years old.
• My Head’s Not a Chapter – Interactive Exhibit: A playful, clear look at who the canons were and how the Veszprém chapter worked.
• Archaeology Exhibition: Dramatic installations reveal the hill’s changing settlement history and archaeological finds across centuries.
January 24, 2026: Special Guided Walks
10:00–18:00, Hungarian Culture Day in the Castle District. Rarely seen spaces, open libraries, and living heritage. The program invites visitors into unusual historical interiors, with expert guidance through the district’s treasures.
• 11:30 – Guided tour: Archbishop’s Palace and Koller Library. Start: Biró–Giczey House. Dr. Balázs Karlinszky, director of the Archdiocesan Archive, presents the Koller Library, where centuries-old volumes preserve the story of Hungarian learning.
• 14:00 – Guided tour: St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica and St. George’s Chapel. Explore ecclesiastical architecture and liturgical spaces shaped from the Middle Ages to today.
• 16:00 – Guided tour: Archbishop’s Palace and Gisela (Gizella) Chapel. Baroque and medieval forms meet in a densely layered historical space.
Tours run with a maximum of 20 people. No registration. The Biró–Giczey House and exhibitions are freely visitable 10:00–18:00.
Good to Know
The Biró–Giczey House is closed at other times between January 1 and February 1, 2026. For groups over 15, weekend guided castle walks remain available by prior arrangement at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, St. George’s Chapel, the Archbishop’s Palace, and Gisela (Gizella) Chapel.
Location: Veszprém – Castle District (Biró–Giczey House, 31 Castle [Vár] Street.)
