Godollo Castle - Mariabesnyo Basilica Minor - Holloko Castle - Holloko

Route: Budapest - Godollo Castle - Mariabesnyo Basilica Minor - Holloko Castle - Holloko - Budapest
Duration: 9 h
Our tour we will start from visit to the former Summer residence of Queen Elizabeth (Sisi) in Godollo, the second largest baroque chateau of the world.  Travel back in time through three generations of the Grassalkovich family as you pass through the rooms of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, built in the 18th century. Get a glimpse into the Habsburg Dynasty and all its splendor.  Explore the royal palace as it was when residence to Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph. See for yourself why it was the couple’s favorite summer residence. The elaborate baroque furnishings, private chambers, and myriad paintings on display promise to take you back to the time of the monarchy. Next we will visit to the Upper Church, the Basilica Minor of Our Lady the Holy Virgin which Pope Benedict XVI voted and proclaimed a Basilica Minor in 2008.  It is the only two-storied baroque temple in the country where two altars of this unique monument hold two Virgin Mary Statues. The 11 cm tall statue, the smallest in Hungary, was miraculously found in 1759, and since then, because of miraculous happenings attributed to the Virgin Mary, Máriabesnyő Basilica Minor has become a pilgrimage site. You'll be greeted by a large Székely-style Transylvanian gate from 1942 as you walk toward the temple. Next we will visit to the Castle of Hollókő is just a stone throw away from the centre of the village, situated on a peak of Cserhát Hills. The castle was built in the end of the 13th century. Its history is both hectic and legendary, at the same time, just like the scenery of a fairy tale becoming reality. During the centuries, the castle switched lords on several occasions, Mate Csak, Robert Karoly, Tamas Szechenyi, and Giskra, the leader of the Hussites were among the owners. The Hungarians and the Turks struggled a lot over this territory, as well; nevertheless, Leopold I. had it destroyed after the peace treaty of Satu Mare in 1711. The exterior courtyard of the fortress could once only be accessed through a drawbridge and the cistern carved into the rock used to attract numerous treasure hunters and, according to the myths, Mate Csak and the Turks hid a lot of treasures inside. Between the thick and cool walls of the fortress, the visitors are awaited by a wax exhibition presenting the first lord of the castle and his family, the armoury exhibiting weapons originating from the 11th to the 16th centuries, the castle chapel with its intimate atmosphere and the stone collection evoking the plans of the castle’s renovation and the reconstruction works. Despite all that, the most exciting thing here is the view that welcomes us after ascending to the tower, with the hills of Cserhat and the nice panorama of the village. Next we will stop at the Hollókő which is undoubtedly the country’s best-known village, and for no insignificant reason: in 1987, it was first together with Budapest to be included in the list of World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO World Heritage Commission. Its unique and universal significance lies in the fact that the village, which gained its present shape in the 17th and 18th centuries, is an unparalleled example of traditional architecture and village life before the 20th century which has been preserved in its original form. Hollókő is still very much alive and not an open-air museum; its ancient houses remain inhabited until the present day. The village of Hollókő (means raven-stone) has two main parts, the old village and the new village. The older part has 58 traditional houses built in the architecture style of the palóces (pr. pah-lotz) after 1909, but in the original style of the 17th century. The temple of the village has written memories from 1343, but the well known wooden tower of it was built in 1889. You will also find in the old village the Doll Museum and the Village Museum, both worth it to visit. After we return to Budapest.
Price: Per person