Discover Egervár: Castle History, Church Art and Nature

There are several ways to plan a stay in Egervár: explore the history of Nádasdy-Széchenyi-várkastély, the architecture of Alexandriai Szent Katalin-templom, or birdwatching by the Sárvíz stream. These themes also differ in how visitors can experience them: an exhibition traces the castle’s history, the church preserves a medieval furnishing, and the birdwatching site is freely accessible for independent visits.

Castle history at the Renaissance Látogatóközpont

Nádasdy-Széchenyi-várkastély is the oldest architectural monument in the village of Egervár and is protected as a historic monument. At the Renaissance Látogatóközpont, an exhibition documents its history with an interactive timeline spanning 1288 to 2013. The presentation therefore covers a long period, using the sequence of years as its guiding thread.

The exhibition also presents significant archaeological finds from excavations at the castle. It introduces the Egervári, Kanizsai, Nádasdy, Széchenyi and Solymosy families, who owned the castle. The timeline, finds and family history each offer a different perspective: you can consider the historical development, excavation finds and owner families separately, without reducing them to a single narrative.

Church architecture and a medieval tombstone

Alexandriai Szent Katalin-templom stands on a small rise in the centre of Egervár. It is considered the largest late Gothic brick church in southwest Transdanubia. It is distinguished both by its location in the town centre and by its classification as a late Gothic brick building.

Inside the church is a full-length red marble tombstone made in 1515. It is considered the only surviving medieval furnishing in the church interior. For historical context, it is worth distinguishing between the two: the church as a late Gothic building, and the tombstone as a single surviving piece of its interior furnishings. Its date, material and full-length form give this furnishing a distinctive character in terms of both period and design.

Birdwatching and group visits

A birdwatching site is located on the banks of the Sárvíz stream, north of Nádasdy-Széchenyi-várkastély. It is freely accessible for independent visits.

Visiting Kolostortemplom and Barokk Istálló is different: visits are available to groups. If you plan to visit these two sites, check the current booking conditions in advance. This makes it easy to distinguish between the freely accessible birdwatching site and visits reserved for groups when planning your trip.

More themes in the wider destination of Zala

The wider destination of Zala offers another perspective on landscape and culture. Zalai Borvidék developed on the slopes and plateaus of Zalai-dombság and on the northwestern slopes of Keszthelyi-hegység. It comprises two wine-growing districts and 38 settlements.

Kotsy-vízimalom in Zalaszántó offers a different highlight: visitors can see a working 390 cm overshot waterwheel mechanism. Kis-Balaton, meanwhile, is Zala’s largest body of water, is under strict protection and covers 14,745 hectares. It is also the setting for István Fekete’s classic novels Tüskevár and Téli berek. The watermill, protected wetland and literary connection thus represent different themes within Zala.

The regional calendar also includes the Water Buffalo Festival at Kápolnapuszta Bivalyrezervátum. It takes place every year in May or June; the exact date can vary from year to year. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the dates for the year in question.

Discover more destinations: Szentkozmadombja, Nagypáli, Pusztaszentlászló, Baktüttös, Petrikeresztúr, Lickóvadamos, Pusztaederics, Lakhegy.

Return to the wider travel overview: Zalaegerszegi.