The Archdiocese of Veszprém rolls into winter with Baroque charm, candlelit history, and a string of guided walks, commemorations, and heartfelt music. Anchoring the season: weekend castle walks through the Veszprém Castle Quarter, an intimate remembrance in the Várbörtön (Castle Prison) led by Archbishop György Udvardy, and a late-December chamber concert to wrap the year in a warm glow. Early 2026 brings a practical turn with a six-part marriage preparation course at Padányi School for couples looking to build solid ground before saying “I do.”
Guided Castle Walks: Light, Devotion, and a Millennium of Stone
On December 6 and 7, then across three Advent weekends—December 13–14, 20–21, and 27–28—guided “Várséták” depart at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00 from the Biró–Giczey House, the Baroque jewel of the Veszprém Castle Quarter with its garden, gift shop, and rotating exhibitions. Two themed routes set out from here:
– Walk of Light and Devotion: Archbishop’s Palace (Érseki Palota) + Gizella Chapel, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 and 16:00.
– Road of a Thousand Years: Metropolitan Cathedral + crypt + St. George’s Chapel, Saturdays and Sundays at 14:00.
Expect sweeping views and quiet corners layered with ritual and legend. All tours start outside the Biró–Giczey House.
December 10: Ordinations Remembered in the Várbörtön
At 15:30 on December 10, the Archdiocese of Veszprém honors József Mindszenty, the future cardinal who, as bishop of Veszprém, ordained priests in captivity in December 1944. A special, free but registration-only guided visit to the Várbörtön (Castle Prison) will be led by Archbishop György Udvardy, capped at 20 participants. Inside, the chamber exhibition Devictus Vincit—opened in November 2024 for the Mindszenty 80 memorial year—recreates the stark reality of his imprisonment and the spiritual resistance that marked his life.
Advent Continues: More Walks Through History
If you miss the first weekends, the guided castle walks repeat on December 13–14, 20–21, and 27–28 with the same schedule and themes. Winter light makes the stained glass and stone glow differently each hour, and the Gizella Chapel’s frescoes reward repeat visits. The pace is unhurried; the stories are rich. Departure remains from the Biró–Giczey House.
Holiday Harmonies on December 27
On December 27, wrap the season with Holiday Harmonies (Ünnepi harmóniák), featuring Ádám Tabajdi, István Horváth, and the Harmonia Chamber Ensemble. Expect a warm, classical-leaning program designed to move from the year’s hush to hope. Full details and exact time to be confirmed; organizers reserve the right to alter the schedule and program.
Early 2026: Marriage Prep Fridays in Veszprém
Starting February 6 and running on February 13, 20, 27, and March 6 and 13, the Archdiocese hosts a marriage preparation course at Padányi School, 6 Szeghlety J. Street, Veszprém. It’s a six-part series to help couples prepare for marriage and family life. Topics include:
– The spirituality of marriage
– The families we come from
– Relationship communication and conflict resolution
– Intimacy in marriage
– Differences between men and women and common marriage pitfalls
– Parenting and family life
Expect practical exercises, frank conversations, and faith-shaped insights—with time to ask questions.
Organizers reserve the right to change times and programs.
