Castle of Solymár, Medieval castle ruin in Solymár, Hungary.
Castle of Solymár is a medieval ruin sitting on a hilltop above the village of Solymár, northwest of Budapest. Stone walls and foundation remains are still visible on the ground, giving a clear sense of where the main structures of the stronghold once stood.
The Lackfi family bought the land in 1355 and built a small stone castle there as a residence for their stays in Buda. After the family opposed King Sigismund, the estate was confiscated in 1397 and later passed to Cillei Borbála, then through the Korbáviai, Rozgonyi, Garai and Corvin families. Turkish raiders caused damage after the 1526 Battle of Mohács, and the castle fell into final ruin after the Ottoman occupation of Buda in 1541.
The ruin is often labelled Szarkavár in tourist literature, a name the sources call mistaken; its real name ties it to Solymár. Since 1 July 2013 it has been visitable under official opening hours for an entrance fee, and since 4 June 2015 a key-operated tourist house has run at the foot of the castle hill.
The hill is accessible on foot from the village, and parking is available nearby for those arriving by car. The ground around the ruins is uneven and rocky in places, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before heading up.
The wooden lookout tower and gatehouse visible today were built in 2005–2006 to evoke the presumed form of the original tower and entrance. The same project also added a stage and raised sections of the walls to varying heights.
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