A castle for every era, this showcase for Hungary's architectural prowess also has links to the legend of Dracula.
There is much that is magical about Budapest's City Park, the famous 121 hectares of parkland in north-east Pest. But at the heart of it is the fantastical Vajdahunyad Castle, a busy forest of towers, spires, domes and turrets rearing up out of the park's lake. Made up of a brooding Gothic and Romanesque castle, nudging against elegant Renaissance and Baroque palaces, it looks like the rambling ancient home of a Hungarian noble.But Vajdahunyad Castle is actually less castle, and more showcase. It was built in 1896, as part of Hungary's celebrations of 1,000 years since the country's founding. Originally made only of wood panels, the idea was for it to be a temporary display for architectural styles of the Hungarian kingdom, down the ages. It proved so popular, though, that in 1908, it was rebuilt in brick and stone. And now, a century later, it still draws in the visitors, many intrigued by its ancient silhouette.That's because Vajdahunyad Castle is linked to the dark tales of Bram Stoker and Count Dracula. The Gothic part of the complex is modelled on the castle of the same name in Transylvania, which allegedly inspired Bram Stoker to write his famous novel. There is a statue here to Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi, who caused a sensation for his portrayal of Count Dracula in the 1920s film Nosferatu. This 'castle', though, is home not to old armour and tapestries, but to pitchforks and tractors. Since 1897, it has been the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, and one of the largest agricultural museums in Europe. Here you can learn about the many ways that Hungarians have provided for themselves from the Danube's fertile plains. Exhibits cover the history of fishing, animal rearing, forestry and farming. There a special focus on the country's wine industry, one of the most important in Europe since medieval times.There is still magic to be had at Vajdahunyad Castle, even if agricultural displays don't spark your interest. Each winter, the lake around the castle is frozen, and becomes a massive open-air ice rink. And that's when Vajdahunyad Castle can seem most fantastical – as a backdrop to Budapest's wintry wonderland.
