Veszprém’s castle district throws open every doorway and crypt in 2025, inviting visitors to step into a thousand years of royal, sacred, and stone-cold history. Stroll the cobbled ridge where queens once walked, and descend into spaces where time moves more slowly under vaulted ceilings. Guided tours run on weekends with two themes, new underground stops, and small groups that keep things intimate and quietly stunning. Meeting point for all walks: Biró–Giczey House, Vár utca 31, Veszprém. Duration: about 60 minutes. Maximum 25 people per group.
Two Routes, Two Moods
The Light and Devotion Walk pairs the Archbishop’s Palace with the jewel-like Gizella Chapel, where filtered light finds frescoes and silence. A Thousand Years’ Path leads into St. Michael’s Cathedral, down to its crypt, and across to the remains of St. George’s Chapel (Szent György-kápolna)—a route that’s essentially a live timeline of Hungarian Christianity and royal memory.
New Underground Highlights
This year’s big expansion goes below ground level. The tour now enters the crypt beneath St. Michael’s Cathedral, revealing the building’s deep layers: a 14th-century Gothic sanctuary, the Baroque tomb of Bishop Márton Padányi Bíró, and a polished, restored interior that feels both fresh and ancient. The crypt’s hush sits heavy—in the best way—under low arches where stone keeps perfect time.
St. George’s Chapel (Szent György-kápolna), Where Legends Took Vows
On the cathedral’s north side, visitors encounter one of Hungary’s earliest Christian sites. Archaeology has uncovered the original 10th-century rotunda foundations. Tradition holds that Prince Emeric (Imre) made his vow before the Virgin’s altar here, which gives the place a distinct spiritual charge. In the Middle Ages it was a prime pilgrimage stop, guarding the head relic of Saint George—gifted by the Byzantine emperor to King Stephen. You don’t get much more pedigree than that.
When Tours Run
Tours operate year-round, with weekend schedules in November 2025 as follows: November 8: The Light and Devotion Walk at 16:00. November 9: Light and Devotion at 11:30 and 16:00. November 15–16, 22–23, 29: three slots daily—11:30 and 16:00 for Light and Devotion; 14:00 for A Thousand Years’ Path. November 30: tours at 14:00 and 16:00. Check the event calendar for up-to-date times; liturgical or other events may prompt changes.
Tickets and How to Buy
Pick up tickets at the Biró–Giczey House gift shop (cash and bank cards accepted). Prices: Adult 3,500 HUF (about 9.50 USD), Student/Senior 3,200 HUF (about 8.70 USD), Family (2 adults + 1–3 kids) 7,000 HUF (about 19 USD), Pilgrim ticket with parish recommendation 2,500 HUF (about 6.80 USD). Tip: groups are capped, so arriving 10–15 minutes early is smart.
Free Exhibitions and Opening Hours
The Biró–Giczey House hosts free exhibitions with these hours: Tuesday–Friday 17:00–19:00, Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00, Monday closed. Address and meeting point for tours: Biró–Giczey House, Vár u. 31, Veszprém.
What You’ll Actually Experience
Beyond dates and doorways, the castle district tells a complete story in a compact walk. One route chases light across sacred spaces; the other goes subterranean to trace the cathedral’s bedrock history and the memory of princes, bishops, and medieval pilgrims. Taken together, the tours deliver continuity—architecture layered on faith layered on power—that has shaped the face of the City of Queens for a millennium. The result feels less like a brochure loop and more like a well-paced conversation with stone, fresco, and legend.
