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Gyula Castle
This towered, Gothic castle built between 1403 and 1445 has the best-preserved Gothic keep and chapel in Hungary. The building complex includes the Castle Baths. Theatrical productions are staged here in summer.The surviving round bastion (rondella) is part of the defensive mid section built around the inner castle. Next to this central section the more spacious hussar castle was built to accommodate the cavalry. It stretched all the way to the outside wall of the current Harruckern-Wenckheim-Almásy Mansion. Today, the hussar tower is attached to the mansion's north wing.
A stream of healing water surfaced near the mansion and the first swimming pools were opened on the former equestrian grounds. As a result the castle baths were built within the complex.
Built of fired bricks the inner castle is a gloomy structure measuring 60 by 27 metres with walls 14 metres high. Two gates afford access to the castle; on the southwest side the arched Kerecsény Gate opens onto the castle courtyard and a path leads steeply up to the other entrance at the 20 metre high gatetower on the long, southeastern side.
The reconstructed drawbridge in front of the tower leads across a deep moat to a smaller, arched entrance, that of the ground floor of the tower. A spiral staircase winds up to the roof from where a splendid view over the surroundings is afforded. In clear weather even the mountains near Arad and Oradea/Nagyvárad can be seen from here.
The courtyard is surrounded by two-storey buildings. On the ground floor there were workshops and storage units with residential space above. Next to the tower and behind deeply set Gothic windows is the chapel dedicated in 1445 across from which is the knights' hall. The rooms of the palace are enhanced by cross vaulted stone door frames, stone windows and corner fireplaces. The imposing facade on the northwest remains to be restored.
Museum exhibitions invite visitors on an authentic time journey to the history of the castle in the Middle Ages and to the everyday life of those living in the Renaissance period.
The castle courtyard is the venue for one of the best known theatrical summer series in the country.
Opening times :
1 Sept - 14 June: 9am - 5pm
15 June - 31 Aug.: 9am - 7pm
Gunpowder bastion
A round cannon bastion was built of bricks at the end of the 15th century on the site of the western bastion of the central castle built around the inner castle. The so-called 'rondella' was later used to store gunpowder.
The brick wall surrounding the inner castle structure was built as a protective wall in the 15th century. With the exception of the round bastion, the remains of the bastion and the ramparts have been dismantled. The round bastion that had been used as gunpowder storage was repaired during the renovations in 1905.
100 years old confectionery
The 'Százéves' Confectionery was furnished by its first
owner, Andrew Salis, in 1840. Its original furniture has been restored recently, other rooms furnished and an open chimney confectioners museum was added.
Its name, Százéves cukrászda, literally means the Hundred Year Old Confectionery. Although it is getting older each year, its name has remained since its centenary. From the middle of the 19th century it was named the Reinhardt Confectionery after the owner.
Having stayed unchanged for one and a half centuries, the furnishings of the corner room of the confectionery are now listed heritage. The two adjoining rooms are furnished with Biedermeier furniture according to the original design. There is a small exhibition of confection and pastry-making equipment in the corridor while the cake-shop itself evokes the world of the mid 19th century.
Opening times :
1 Nov - 31 Mar: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm
1 Apr - 31 Oct. Mon-Sun 10am-10pm
Gyula
is a nice, small town located in southern great plains, near Bekescsaba and the Romanian border, close to Arad.Gyula is famous for its renovated gothic castle and its improved thermal bath, which makes the town worth to visit.
The thermal bath actually next to the castle and it was improved in the past decade. The spa was in use during socialism area, but more and more hotels were built during 90s, now Gyula has several three star wellness hotel and cheaper family owned pansions as well.
Know more about Gyula Castle Bath
The area give you lot of places to travel and things to do in your spare time. Like you can rent a bike and biking around to river koros (black koros) which is flowing only a few kms away (you can swim in the river as well).
Spend a day to discover Bekescsaba, which is the largest city in the region, offers many museums, churches.
Or you can spend one day in Szeged, which is not far by car or by train.
