Veszprém’s Castle Quarter doesn’t hibernate for winter. It glows. Baroque façades catch a soft halo, Holy Trinity Square rests in hush, and bells float down the lanes. The Archdiocesan Tourism Center keeps the gates open for those who want more than a stroll down Vár Street: think palaces, chapels, exhibitions, and hidden spaces that open only with a guide. The Biró–Giczey House, the quarter’s baroque gateway, is the starting point—home to the gift shop and a set of free exhibitions, including the 2025 Exhibition of the Year, Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai (Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of the Magdalens).
Guided Castle Walks: Stories from the City’s Heart
Three daily departures make weekends the sweet spot: 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. These walks unlock places you can’t enter alone. The Archbishop’s Palace (Érseki Palota) reveals lavish baroque interiors and renovated spaces packed with singular artworks. The Gizella Chapel, among the oldest and quietest sacred corners of the quarter, wraps you in an intimate medieval mood beneath surviving fresco fragments. St. Michael’s Cathedral (Szent Mihály Főszékesegyház) and its crypt lay out a layered portrait of Veszprém’s past—one of the city’s defining silhouettes above ground, medieval details below. And the St. George Chapel (Szent György-kápolna), an ancient shrine at the core of the castle district, is visitable only with a guide.
Start outside the Biró–Giczey House; check the events calendar for any timetable tweaks—liturgical services can alter access and timing.
Free Exhibitions Inside the Biró–Giczey House
All displays are free during opening hours. Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai, crowned Exhibition of the Year 2025, explores Mary Magdalene through artifacts, engravings, and contemporary reflections, paired with the thoughts of Blessed Mária Magdolna Bódi. The “Pantry Exhibition” pulls baroque objects, liturgical elements, and 100-year-old photos from the cathedral’s story. “Nem káptalan a fejem” is interactive, playful, and clear-eyed about who the canons were and how the Veszprém chapter operated. The archaeology show maps the hill’s evolving settlement history across centuries with striking installations.
New Underground Chapters: Crypt and Chapel
The guided castle tours expand with two standout additions. Visitors now descend into the crypt of St. Michael’s Cathedral and explore the excavated remains of the St. George Chapel—places where a thousand years become visible. In the cathedral, the route dives into the deep layers of its millennium: a 14th-century Gothic sanctuary, the baroque tomb of Bishop Márton Padányi Bíró, and a gorgeously restored interior. The crypt’s hush—arches overhead, time in stone—delivers one of this year’s most atmospheric tour moments.
The St. George Chapel, just north of the cathedral, belongs to the oldest strands of Hungarian Christianity. Archaeology has uncovered the foundations of a 10th-century rotunda. Tradition says Prince St. Emeric (Szent Imre) made his vow here before the Virgin’s altar, raising the site’s sacred resonance. In the Middle Ages, the chapel was a prime pilgrimage stop, once guarding the head relic of St. George—a gift from the Byzantine emperor to King St. Stephen.
Two Themes, One Meeting Point
Pick your path. The Light and Devotion Walk pairs the Archbishop’s Palace with the Gizella Chapel. The Thousand Years Route connects the cathedral, the crypt, and the St. George Chapel. Both run about 60 minutes, with a cap of 25 per group. Meet at the Biró–Giczey House, Vár utca (Vár Street) 31. Arrive 10–15 minutes early; spots are limited.
Weekend schedule: 11:30 and 16:00 for the Light and Devotion Walk; 14:00 for the Thousand Years Route. Guided tours run all year; exact dates and any changes appear in the events calendar. Special winter slots run December 27–30, 10:00–18:00; December 31, 10:00–15:00. Closed December 22–26.
Tickets, Prices, Opening Hours
Buy tickets in the Biró–Giczey House gift shop (cash and card accepted). Prices: Adult 3,500 HUF (about 9.60 USD), Student/Senior 3,200 HUF (about 8.80 USD), Family (2 adults + 1–3 children) 7,000 HUF (about 19.20 USD), Pilgrim ticket with parish endorsement 2,500 HUF (about 6.80 USD).
Free exhibition hours at the Biró–Giczey House: Tuesday–Friday 17:00–19:00; Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00; Monday closed. Gift shop: Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00.
Year-End Program Highlights
December 27–30 in Veszprém: guided tours at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. The Light and Devotion Walk runs at 11:30 and 16:00; the Thousand Years Route at 14:00. All depart from the Biró–Giczey House. December 31 trims to two departures: 11:30 for Light and Devotion, 14:00 for Thousand Years. Group size stays capped at 25. Exhibitions remain free.
Veszprém’s Castle Quarter flaunts its treasures in full this season. Walk the spaces, and you won’t just learn about buildings. You’ll feel the line of thought that’s been shaping the city—Queen City, to be exact—for a thousand years.
