Veszprém’s castle district is throwing open its doors — and vaults. This year’s guided walks weave through the hilltop stronghold and plunge below ground, letting visitors step into the layers of a city that’s been polishing its crown for a thousand years, the City of Queens in full voice.
What’s New in 2025
The wildly popular castle tours get two fresh, hard-to-access stops. First, the crypt beneath St. Michael’s Cathedral opens for guided visits. Second, the uncovered remains of St. George’s Chapel are now on the route. Together they sketch a timeline where stones speak: Romanesque bones, Gothic grace, Baroque flourish — all still breathing under Veszprém’s cobbles.
St. Michael’s Cathedral and Crypt
The new route dives into the deep layers of the cathedral’s story. Expect the 14th-century Gothic sanctuary, the Baroque tomb of Bishop Márton Padányi Bíró, and a gleaming, restored interior. In the crypt, silence hangs under the vaults like incense; time is mortared into the stone. It’s one of this season’s can’t-shake-it moments — a hush that follows you back to daylight.
St. George’s Chapel
North of the cathedral, St. George’s Chapel is among the oldest Christian landmarks in Hungary. Archaeologists have exposed the base walls of the original 10th-century rotunda. Tradition holds that Prince Emeric (Imre) took his vow here before the Virgin’s altar, giving the site rare spiritual weight. In the Middle Ages it drew pilgrims: this is where St. George’s head relic was kept, a gift from the Byzantine emperor to King Stephen.
When to Go
Guided castle walks run year-round, about 60 minutes per program, with limited group sizes. Meeting point for thematic tours: in front of the Biró–Giczey House, Veszprém.
November Dates
2025.11.08 — Guided Castle Walk at 16:00. Theme: The Walk of Light and Devotion: Archbishop’s Palace + Gizella Chapel, Sunday 16:00.
2025.11.09 — Guided Castle Walks at 11:30 and 16:00. Theme: The Walk of Light and Devotion at 11:30 and 16:00.
2025.11.15 — Guided Castle Walks at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00. Themes: The Walk of Light and Devotion; A Thousand Years’ Path: Cathedral + Crypt + St. George’s Chapel.
Organizers reserve the right to change times and programs.
