Episcopal Palace, Schloss in Ungarn
The Episcopal Palace at Püspökszentlászló is a castle dating to the 12th century with a blend of architectural styles in its rooms. Baroque, Biedermeier, Neo-Renaissance, and Neo-Baroque pieces, plus 17th-century tapestries and 18th-century oil paintings, fill the interior.
The building was first mentioned in 1235 when a king granted it to a bishop of Pécs. In the 18th century, Bishop Pál László Esterházy built a classical-style church and summer house, while later bishops added gardens, a park, and sports facilities.
The palace is named after Saint Ladislaus and reflects the deep role of the church in village life. Rooms filled with period furniture and artwork show how successive bishops shaped the space according to their own tastes and beliefs.
The estate sits quietly in a valley in the Kelet-Mecsek Mountains and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors can explore the palace and nearby church on a walk and stroll through the green spaces at their own pace.
A secret tunnel has connected the palace to a nearby granary since the Middle Ages and served as a safe underground path for church leaders during 20th-century religious persecution in Hungary. Part of the tunnel also functioned as a wine cellar, showing how the building was repurposed in times of hardship.
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