Discover Erlau: Castle, Minaret and Thermal Bath History

Erlau brings together several distinct themes: the history of Eger Castle, Ottoman architecture, archiepiscopal culture and thermal baths. You can plan your stay around what interests you most: historic rooms and exhibitions, city views from the minaret, or the history of a bathhouse.

Castle and Minaret: History and City Views

In 1552, Eger Castle held back the Ottoman army and has since been regarded as a symbol of patriotic steadfastness. Within the castle, the István Dobó Castle Museum features several permanent exhibitions. The historic defense against the army and the museum’s exhibitions thus offer distinct perspectives on the castle’s history.

The minaret also tells the story of the Ottoman era: it was built beside the Ketkhuda Mosque, using the medieval Chapel of Saint Catherine for its construction. The minaret is probably the northernmost in Europe dating from the period of Ottoman rule. You can climb its 97 steps to enjoy views over the city from a height of 32 metres. This landmark thus combines historical context with a clearly described city panorama.

The Palace and Archiepiscopal Culture

The Visitor Centre of the Archiepiscopal Palace opened in 2016 and presents the world of the Archbishops of Eger in an authentic setting. It features historic interiors: a prelate’s study, a salon, a reception room, a bedroom and a chapel. The sequence of rooms ranges from work and reception spaces to a chapel, giving the visitor centre a clearly defined historical character.

At the visitor centre, the Archiepiscopal Vinoték introduces the four wine regions within the territory of the Archdiocese. The connection with wine adds another facet of archiepiscopal culture to the palace’s themes. Together with the historic rooms, it offers a different perspective from the castle’s military history or the minaret’s Ottoman architecture.

Thermal Baths and Their Distinctive Features

The Török Pool at the Török Fürdő was built between 1610 and 1617 during Ottoman rule. Its date gives the pool a specific connection to the Ottoman era. The Török Fürdő has six pools as well as wellness and medical services. Check the latest details about the pools and services before visiting.

Several protected plant species grow at the Egri Thermal Bath, including an Oriental plane tree that is more than 250 years old. This makes a distinctive botanical feature part of the local landscape alongside the bathing culture. The two themes are distinct: the Török Pool is associated with a specific construction period, while the plane tree at the Egri Thermal Bath adds to the area’s protected plant life.

Heves as a Regional Setting

In the wider travel destination of Heves, the Hevesi Füves Puszták Landscape Protection Area lies in the southern part of Heves County. It covers 16,114 hectares, was designated in 1993, and reached its present extent after expansions in 2005 and 2008. The 6.5 km-long Ilona Valley Nature Trail along the Ilona Stream passes the geological features of the Eastern Mátra Mountains and traces of former ore mining. These regional nature and landscape themes offer a different perspective from the castle, minaret and historic interiors in Erlau.

Discover more destinations: Felsőtárkány, Feldebrő, Egerbakta, Verpelét, Noszvaj, Szarvaskő, Egerszalók, Egerszólát.

For the wider travel overview: Egri.