The Veszprém Castle District is embracing winter with candlelit calm, open chapels, and award-winning exhibitions. Under the soft glow on the Baroque facades and the quiet ring of bells around Trinity Square (Szentháromság tér), the Veszprém Archiepiscopal Tourism Center invites visitors who want more than a stroll down Castle Street (Vár utca): guided castle walks, intimate sacred spaces, and free exhibitions reveal the heart of the palace and the district’s hidden corners.
The Biró–Giczey House is the Baroque gateway to the district. This is where guided walks set off, the gift shop welcomes you, and all exhibitions are free, including Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai (Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of the Magdalens), crowned Exhibition of the Year 2025.
Holiday and Regular Opening Hours
In December, the district operates special holiday hours. Closed December 22–26. Open December 27–30 (Saturday–Tuesday) from 10:00 to 18:00, and on December 31 (Wednesday) from 10:00 to 15:00.
Outside the holidays, regular hours apply for the Biró–Giczey House exhibitions: Monday closed; Tuesday–Friday 17:00–19:00; Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00. The gift shop is open Saturday–Sunday 10:00–18:00.
Guided Castle Walks
The district’s most popular weekend program departs three times daily at 11:30, 14:00, and 16:00, unlocking spaces otherwise closed to the public:
• Archbishop’s Palace — Baroque interiors, renewed spaces, and distinctive artworks.
• Gizella Chapel — One of the oldest, quietest sacred sites, where surviving fresco fragments conjure a medieval mood.
• St. Michael’s Cathedral and its crypt — A defining city landmark; the basilica’s past and the crypt’s medieval details trace an authentic arc of Veszprém’s story.
• St. George’s Chapel — An ancient memorial site in the heart of the castle, accessible only on guided tours.
All walks depart from the Biró–Giczey House; check the events calendar for live updates. Group size is capped at 25. Tickets and information are available at the gift shop.
Themed Weekend Routes
Two curated routes run Saturdays and Sundays:
• The Walk of Light and Devotion: Archbishop’s Palace + Gizella Chapel at 11:30 and 16:00 (on 2025.12.07 at 11:30 and 14:00).
• A Thousand Years’ Path: Cathedral + crypt + St. George’s Chapel at 14:00.
Dates and times:
• 2025.12.06 — Walks at 11:30, 14:00, 16:00 (Veszprém).
• 2025.12.07 — Walks at 11:30, 14:00 (Veszprém).
• 2025.12.13–14 — Walks at 11:30, 14:00, 16:00 (Veszprém).
• 2025.12.20–21 — Walks at 11:30, 14:00, 16:00 (Veszprém).
• 2025.12.27–28 — Walks at 11:30, 14:00, 16:00 (Veszprém).
Exhibitions at the Biró–Giczey House
Entry is free during opening hours.
• Bogáncs és liliom – Magdolnák virágai (Thistle and Lily – The Flowers of the Magdalens) — Exhibition of the Year 2025. Objects, prints, and contemporary reflections explore Mary Magdalene, enriched by the thoughts of Blessed Magdolna Mária Bódi (Bódi Mária Magdolna).
• Pantry Exhibition — Snapshots from the cathedral’s past with Baroque items, liturgical elements, and photographs over 100 years old.
• My Head Is Not a Chapter — An interactive, playful explanation of who the canons were and how the Veszprém chapter functioned.
• Archaeology Exhibition — The hill’s evolving settlement history across centuries, shown with striking installations and excavated finds.
Music in the Cathedral
On 2025.12.27, St. Michael’s Cathedral hosts Festive Harmonies (Ünnepi harmóniák) with Ádám Tabajdi, István Horváth, and the Harmónia Chamber Ensemble, bringing resonant year-end music to the basilica’s vaulted space in Veszprém.
Plan Your Visit
The winter season favors slow looking and unhurried discovery: garden paths at the Biró–Giczey House, a well-stocked gift shop for thoughtful presents, and routes that pair devotion with architectural drama. On holidays, remember the special schedule; otherwise, swing by on weekends for the full experience or drop in on weekday evenings. Exhibitions remain free, groups are intimate, and the city’s most storied rooms await behind Baroque doors.
