Gyula Castle Aims to Transform into a Tourist-magnet

The specialists of the company operating the exhibition in the Gyula Castle are planning several stages of renovations in the former fortress. This also includes updating the castle exhibition, announced the company in charge of operating the castle, Erkel Ferenc Nonprofit Kft.

They closed down the building’s Roundel section this Tuesday. The ticket office that had been operating there was relocated into one of the prison rooms in the castle building. The entrance has been moved to the Kerecsényi Gate, “which will provide a completely new sight. At the previous location, visitors immediately found themselves on the first floor after entering, but

in the future they will have to go through an imposing gate. This way they can experience the strength of the 2,5-3 meter thick brick walls of the fortress towering above them,”

said Ildikó Fekete-Dombi, the managing director of Erkel Ferenc Nonprofit Kft. This means that from now on tickets can be purchased separately for the castle exhibition and the castle tower.

Gyula Castle in 1965; Photo: Fortepan/Antal Kotnyek

In the tower a small exhibition will take place about the Hungarian-born Bavarian painter and graphic artist Albrecht Dürer’s connection to Gyula. In addition, the building will also function as a sightseeing point. A telescope will be set up and the 16th-century parts of the fortress will be displayed.

Gyula Castle in 1968; Photo: Fortepan/György Faragó

The experts are also planning to rethink and update the almost 20-year-old permanent exhibition. The castle wine cellar will also be in operation soon as a continuously open catering facility. The gift shop will also move and the pantry will be given a new function as well. The saber fencing that started last year and quickly became popular will be given a new space too.

The exhibition will be provided with more meaningful information than before, not only in Hungarian, but also in English and Romanian.

Gyula Castle nowadays; Photo: gyulavara.hu

The managing director said that one of the reasons for the multi-stage implementation is that the developments are primarily self-funded. In addition, they would like to carry out the modernization while maintaining the continuous accessibility of the Gyula Castle.