Visegrád Castle, Medieval castle complex on Várhegy Mountain in Visegrád, Hungary.
Visegrád Castle is a fortress complex rising from the Danube bank to a rocky peak of the Visegrád Mountains. It has two parts: the lower castle, with Solomon's Tower, a hexagonal residential tower built of stone from the ruined county castle, and the upper castle, or citadel, on the summit. A closing wall runs down the steep hillside to the Water Castle on the river.
After the Mongol invasion of 1242, King Béla IV ordered this fortress built to protect his realm. It later developed into a royal residence and served as a seat of power for centuries.
The castle served as a seat of royal authority for centuries and now displays medieval weapons and hunting equipment from that period. Walking through the rooms gives a sense of how the ruling family lived in the Middle Ages.
It helps to arrive early in the day to explore the less crowded areas and enjoy the views in peace. Sturdy shoes are important since the grounds have steep paths and uneven surfaces throughout.
The pentagonal old tower of the upper castle once held the Holy Crown of Hungary. In 1440 Ilona Kottaner, a lady-in-waiting, removed it on the orders of the widowed Queen Elizabeth. A replica of the crown and the story of its keeping here are shown in the citadel's exhibitions.
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