A newly renewed Veszprém Castle Quarter is opening its gates to winter wanderers with guided walks, award-winning exhibitions, and a festive schedule centered around the Baroque Biró–Giczey House, the quarter’s elegant gateway. In December, the façades glow softly, Holy Trinity Square (Szentháromság tér) settles into calm, and the bells carry across the cobbled streets—perfect for slow-paced discovery and hidden stories.
Holiday opening hours set the end-of-year rhythm: closed December 22–26; open December 27–30 from 10:00 to 18:00; and on December 31 from 10:00 to 15:00. Outside the holidays, normal hours apply: Monday closed; Tuesday–Friday 17:00–19:00; Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00. Exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House are free during opening times, and the gift shop welcomes weekend browsers from 10:00 to 18:00.
Guided Castle Walks
Weekend favorites depart three times a day—11:30, 14:00, and 16:00—from the Biró–Giczey House. These expert-led tours unlock spaces otherwise closed to the public:
– Archbishop’s Palace (Érseki Palota): Baroque interiors, restored halls, and standout artworks.
– Gizella Chapel (Gizella Kápolna): one of the oldest, quietest sacred corners, where fragile medieval fresco traces set the tone.
– St. Michael’s Cathedral (Szent Mihály Főszékesegyház) with its crypt: a defining city landmark that weaves together the basilica’s past and the crypt’s medieval details for a vivid portrait of Veszprém’s history.
– St. George’s Chapel (Szent György-kápolna): an ancient memorial site in the heart of the castle, accessible only with a guide.
Thematic routes sharpen the focus. The Walk of Light and Devotion combines the Archbishop’s Palace and the Gizella Chapel at 11:30 and 16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. A Thousand Years’ Path brings together the Cathedral, its crypt, and St. George’s Chapel at 14:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets and information are available at the gift shop.
Award-Winning and Immersive Exhibitions
Inside the Biró–Giczey House, free exhibitions anchor the winter program. Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of Magdalens (Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai), named Exhibition of the Year 2025, presents Mary Magdalene through artifacts, engravings, and contemporary reflections, interlaced with the thoughts of Blessed Mária Magdolna Bódi.
The Pantry Exhibition delves into the Cathedral’s past with Baroque objects, liturgical elements, and century-old photographs. Not a Chapter in My Head, an interactive show, explains who the canons were and how the Veszprém chapter worked—clear, playful, and historical in equal measure. The Archaeological Exhibition traces the hill’s evolving settlement story across the centuries, staging finds with cinematic installations.
Key Dates: Music and Walks
December 27 opens with Holiday Harmonies, a concert by Ádám Tabajdi, István Horváth, and the Harmónia Chamber Ensemble in St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Guided Castle Walks run December 27–30 at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00, with both thematic routes operating as listed above, departing from the Biró–Giczey House garden gate. Expect a Baroque jewel box with garden paths, a curated shop, and exhibitions that reward lingering.
Plan Your Visit
– Holiday hours: Dec 22–26 closed; Dec 27–30 10:00–18:00; Dec 31 10:00–15:00.
– Regular hours: Monday closed; Tue–Fri 17:00–19:00; Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00.
– All exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House are free; gift shop open weekends 10:00–18:00.
Veszprém’s winter is slower, quieter, and golden-lit. The Castle Quarter is very much alive.
