Festetics Palace in Keszthely
With perhaps the best-preserved original interiors and furnishings in the country, the Festetics Palace in Keszthely was home to the Festetics family for 200 years.
From the mid-18th century, the Festetics Palace in Keszthely served as the residence of the Festetics family, one of Hungary’s most significant noble families, first as counts and later as dukes. Today, the palace operates as a museum under the name Helikon Palace.
Over the generations, the Festetics family continuously expanded and modified the palace in Baroque, Neo-Baroque, and Rococo styles, resulting in the stunning appearance visitors can still admire today.
The Palace
Unlike most Hungarian palaces, the Festetics Palace’s structure, interiors, and furnishings partially survived the destruction of World War II. After the Festetics family left in September 1944, part of the collection fell victim to looting by German and Hungarian soldiers, as well as locals. However, many of the original furnishings, now on display, were saved.
After nationalization in 1948, only the library wing and a few rooms that had been sealed during the war were accessible to visitors under the name Helikon Library, operated by the National Széchényi Library.
Establishing the Palace Museum
The idea of a “palace museum” first emerged in the 1950s, but the full exterior and interior restoration progressed slowly and was only completed in the 1970s. In 1974, the Helikon Palace Museum was officially opened. Since 2012, the institution has operated under the name Helikon Palace, with the mission of preserving, researching, and presenting the Festetics heritage. The Helikon Palace welcomes visitors with six permanent exhibitions housed in five buildings.
Aristocratic Lifestyle and the Helikon Library – Interior Exhibition
The exhibition titled Aristocratic Lifestyle and the Helikon Library presents authentically restored interiors from the 18th–19th centuries. The palace’s greatest treasure is Hungary’s only aristocratic private library that has survived intact, with over 80,000 volumes.
Carriage Exhibition
Opened in 2002 in the former carriage house, the exhibition showcases over 50 carriages, coaches, and horse-drawn sleighs from the 18th–19th centuries, reflecting the lifestyle of the nobility, alongside various equestrian-related objects and artworks.
Hunting Exhibition
Since 2008, the hunting exhibition has been housed in a post-World War II military building, now repurposed. It displays trophies of game animals from five continents. Visitors can „walk through” natural habitats, enhancing the experience with ethnographic and fine art collections.
Historic Model Railway Exhibition
One of Europe’s largest, the Historic Model Railway Exhibition features an enormous model showcasing railways of Hungary, Austria, and Germany from the 19th to 21st centuries, with faithful reproductions of original station buildings, tracks, locomotives, and carriages.
Noble Journeys – Exhibition of Journeys and Adventures
Opened in 2016 in the Amazon House Visitor Center – once an estate guest house of the Festetics family – the exhibition presents 19th and early 20th-century travel culture and customs, with numerous interactive elements and hands-on exhibits.
Palm House
Built in the 1880s, the Palm House recalls the orangeries and tropical greenhouses typical of aristocratic lifestyles. Since 2012, it has hosted exotic plants and is surrounded by a rock garden, aquarium, ornamental pond, and bird park.
Castle Park
The castle park is a protected natural area. Following recent restoration, it once again reflects the vision of English landscape designer Henry Ernest Milner, as conceived in the 1880s. Visitors can enjoy the refurbished lake, the Lion Fountain, ornamental fountains, and the Princess’s private garden.
Source: keszthely.hu
BALATON MUSEUM
Located in an iconic building, the Balaton Museum in Keszthely hosts the most comprehensive collection related to Lake Balaton. With more than a dozen permanent exhibitions and a large number of temporary ones, the museum houses around 380,000 artifacts. Open year-round, the museum is interactive, child-friendly, and an ideal program for families.
GEORGIKON FARM MUSEUM
The Georgikon Farm History Exhibition Site is a branch of the Hungarian Agricultural Museum and Library. Located in the heart of Keszthely, its diverse exhibitions make it an ideal destination for visitors of all ages seeking meaningful leisure.
History of the Farm
Founded in 1797 by Count György Festetics, the Georgikon was Europe’s first independent agricultural higher education institution. The farm provided the practical agricultural training grounds for the school. Today, the museum’s exhibitions are located in the historic buildings spread over a two-hectare site. The museum was officially opened in 1972, on the 175th anniversary of the Georgikon’s founding.
The school was ceremoniously inaugurated in 1801 by Archduke Joseph, who even symbolically ploughed a small field – a moment commemorated on the first Georgikon medal.
Exhibitions and Attractions
Inside the granary, visitors can explore the lives of farm workers, study the viticultural and winemaking traditions of the Balaton Highlands, trace the evolution of agricultural education in Keszthely, and see tools used for grain cleaning, storage, measurement, and crop production. The exhibition on livestock farming is housed in the former horse stable. Reconstructed workshops of coopers, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights are also on display. Among the museum’s most valuable pieces are agricultural machines once used in traditional farming.
Source: keszthely.hu
KESZTHELY PROMENADE
Connecting the Festetics Palace with Keszthely’s Main Square, the turn-of-the-century-style pedestrian street (Sétálóutca) has always played a central role in the town’s life – both in the past and today.
“The Palace before me, the Square behind me…”
If you visit Keszthely, it’s almost impossible not to pass through or at least cross the promenade due to its central location. If time allows, don’t rush – stroll leisurely along the street, take a few minutes to admire the beautiful architecture, and read the commemorative plaques, which reveal valuable historical details.
The Promenade, Then and Now
As you wander the promenade, you’ll discover cultural treasures at every turn. Did you know that the famous composer Károly Goldmark was born here? Can you identify the building of the old town hall? Walking down one of the oldest streets in town is like walking through the pages of history.
The Balaton and Beyond…
If you think Lake Balaton is the coolest place around, then don’t miss the museum dedicated to it! The Balaton Museum offers an engaging overview of the lake’s formation, history, and the development of tourism in the region. What’s truly magical about the “Hungarian Sea” is that everyone loves it for different reasons. While most visitors flock to its shores during the summer for swimming and sailing, others come all year round to fish or simply admire its beauty.
Let’s not forget that Lake Balaton is also a natural habitat — home to diverse flora, fauna, and fish species, many of which are introduced in the museum. The aquatic life can even be observed in a 3,000-liter aquarium.
Among the permanent exhibitions is the memorial exhibition of painter János Halápy, who bequeathed his Balaton-themed paintings to the museum. Recently, the museum has also opened the Festetics Escape Room, adding a playful, interactive twist to the experience. There are also fascinating exhibits about Balaton’s connection to sports, fortresses, and human life. Ever heard the legend of the Balaton giant? You’ll hear the full story right here at the museum!
Source: Keszthely.hu
