By 2035, the hilltop castle complex above Visegrád where medieval royals gathered in 1335 will be completed renovated, according to plans just announced. Reconstruction will take place of the citadel and royal palace, as well as the lower castle, Solomon's Tower, the valley barrier and the water bastion. All is an easy and pleasant 40km day trip from Budapest, accessible by car, bus and boat.
The meeting of key royals at Visegrád took place during the autumn of 1335. King Károly Róbert of Hungary hosted Bohemian King John of Luxembourg and Polish King Casimir III the Great. Their accord resulted in peace between the Czechs and Poles, and co-operation between the three countries against the House of Habsburg.
Centuries later, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland set up the Visegrád Four, a loose alliance to advance mutual economic and strategic interests.
The condition of the buildings around Visegrád Castle has greatly deteriorated in recent decades, and entire arches have collapsed in the citadel. The whole area will become step-free and the two points of the castle system will be connected, thus ensuring free passage. Ageing exhibitions will also be revamped to meet the needs of 21st-century visitors.
