Veloregio tours: medieval churches and castles

Vas County is an area rich in castles and manor houses: the Veloregio project has therefore set up a route that includes several of them. Starting from Szombathely, the first settlement is Táplánszentkereszt, also known as the village of the seven castles. There are three listed castles in the village: the former Inkey, Széchényi Castle and its garden in Szentlőrinc, now owned by restorer Ervin Kisterenyei; the Erdődy Castle in Bakófa; and the Széchény, Inkey, Sigray-Saint-Marsan Castles in Szentkereszt. And the Széll and Rosenberg castles in N táplánfa (shown in the video) are listed buildings.

The route leads through Tanakajd to Vasszécseny, where two castles of the Ebergényi family are special: the Old Ebergényi Castle is of medieval origin.

In Csempeszkopács you can see the castle of the late Kuruc brigadier Béri-Balogh, and one of the jewels of the village's Romanesque churches.

In the outskirts of Rum, the road leads past the Bezerédj (later Széchenyi) castle. The exact date of its construction has not been found. It is probable that it was built in the first decades of the 19th century, possibly even earlier, in the neoclassical style.

Zsennye Castle, also a medieval castle, was once owned by the Bezerédj family. In the 16th century, it was enlarged by Ferenc Sennyey and surrounded by moats. The last major extension was carried out by the owner Antal Bezerédj in 1867. The castle of Püspökmolnár was destroyed, but there are several mansions in Sorkifalud. On the outskirts of the village, Taródháza was once an independent settlement, the former noble manor house is mentioned in the late 1580s. In Sorokpolány, the former Szapáry manor house has been reconstructed by the new owner, who opens the imposing building once a year, usually in the summer - the exact date can be found on the village website.

The tour guide László Bognár will introduce the tour, which leads along a cycle path between Szombathely and Rum. Recommended for families, whether you choose the longer or shorter version. Visiting the castles takes some ingenuity, many of them are public buildings, some are closed to the public. But the setting and historic atmosphere of these centuries-old buildings make them well worth a visit.