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Sümeg Castle today

Hungary · Restored

Sümeg Castle

Sümegi vár

Sümeg Castle is a medieval hilltop fortress above the town of Sümeg in Veszprém County, Hungary. Built from the mid or late 13th century and expanded and fortified in later centuries, it retains two main towers, curtain walls and an internal gatehouse and courtyard and is operated today as a restored tourist site.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1552

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1552

What Sümeg Castle looked like in its prime.

Irregular stone fortress set along a north–south axis on a steep, grassy conical hill called Castle Hill; roughly 125 m long and 80 m wide. Two square stone towers with red tiled pyramidal roofs anchor the curtain walls, which are crenellated with narrow arrow-slit windows and irregularly spaced embrasures. Walls step down the slope and enclose a compact main courtyard reached through an internal arched gatehouse; exterior masonry is weathered grey limestone.

Its story

The story of Sümeg Castle.

Sümeg Castle was built in the mid or late 13th century by Béla IV of Hungary atop the mountain called Castle Hill, twenty miles north of Lake Balaton. Expanded several times over its existence, it was fortified in the 15th century, when the second of its two towers was built, and it endured several sieges and two fires.

The irregular fortress, 125 metres long and 80 metres wide, is entered along a walled pathway leading to an internal gatehouse that opens into the main courtyard. Privately held since 1989 and restored, it is today the main attraction for visitors to Sümeg.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1552.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Sümeg Castle, including 3 interiors: internal gatehouse entrance, walled pathway inside the ramparts, main courtyard. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

View from the plain looking upAscent along the steep pathExterior curtain wall and battlementsSouth tower (exterior)Internal gatehouse entranceWalled pathway inside the rampartsMain courtyard

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1552, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Castle Siege

Play Castle Siege at Sümeg Castle.

A strategy game played on Sümeg Castle’s real ground plan: the same surveyed walls shown in the archive below. Post your finite garrison on the battlements between assaults, then hold out as rams, siege towers, trebuchets and sappers arrive in ever-worse waves.

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From the archive

Sümeg Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Az Öregtorony a Köves-bástya felöl nézve, Sümeg Castle

Az Öregtorony a Köves-bástya felöl nézve

1941 · Fortepan (via Europeana)

CC BY-SA

Questions about Sümeg Castle

What is the history of Sümeg Castle?

Sümeg Castle began as a fortress built in the mid or late 13th century by Béla IV of Hungary. It was expanded several times, fortified in the 15th century and involved in several sieges. In 1552 it was rebuilt as a frontier fortress, while in 1713 Austrian troops set it on fire after the occupation during Rákóczi's War for Independence. Restoration began during the 20th century.

What is inside Sümeg Castle?

Inside Sümeg Castle are a walled pathway, an internal gatehouse entrance and a main courtyard. The pathway runs inside the ramparts and leads to the gatehouse, which opens into the courtyard. These spaces form the route through the irregular fortress.

Why was Sümeg Castle built, and what was it used for?

Sümeg Castle was built as a strong stone fortress and later served as a frontier fortress. In 1552, after the capture of Veszprém by the Turks, it was rebuilt and fortified for frontier defence. Its military role continued during Rákóczi's War for Independence, when it was an important base for the insurgents.

Where is Sümeg Castle?

Sümeg Castle is by the town of Sümeg in Veszprém County. It stands on Castle Hill, a steep, grassy, conical hill, about 20 miles north of Lake Balaton. The fortress rises above the surrounding town and plain.

When was Sümeg Castle built?

Sümeg Castle was built in the 13th century, with its earliest recorded phase dating to the mid or late part of that century. The lower level of its old tower was built in the 1260s, while the fortress walls were completed about a century later. It was expanded and fortified in later centuries.

Was Sümeg Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Sümeg Castle was besieged several times. In 1440, nobles supporting Queen Elisabeth of Luxembourg attacked the castle, but its garrison successfully defended it. In 1709, during the kuruc war, the garrison surrendered without a cannon shot; four years later, imperial troops set the buildings on fire.

What did Sümeg Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Sümeg Castle was an irregular grey-limestone stone fortress about 125 metres long and 80 metres wide. It followed a north–south axis on a steep conical hill. Two square towers with red tiled pyramidal roofs anchored crenellated curtain walls pierced by narrow arrow slits and irregular embrasures.

Is Sümeg Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Sümeg Castle is still standing and has been restored. Parts of the castle were restored during the 20th century, followed by large-scale restoration after 1989. It retains two main towers, curtain walls, an internal gatehouse and a courtyard, although its exterior masonry is weathered grey limestone.

Who built Sümeg Castle?

Sümeg Castle was built by order of Béla IV of Hungary. The castle was raised on Castle Hill by the bishop of Veszprém, following the king's command. No architect is named in the supplied material.

Can you visit Sümeg Castle?

Sümeg Castle can be visited as a restored tourist attraction. It is operated today as a tourist site and is described as the main tourist attraction for visitors to Sümeg. Its present use includes events and tournaments.

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