| Duration: | 1 Day(s) - 0 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
BOOK a guided tour for min. 2 people during our promotion period and we PRESENT you a 72h Budapest Card to explore beautiful Budapest!
Visit the Sissy palace, the largest baroque palace in Hungary!
It was the favorite Summer residency of Empress and Queen Elisabeth, known as Sissi, who was extremely popular among the Hungarians. The tour gives an insider look into the life, customs, and memories of Hungary during the time of the double monarchy, Austria-Hungary. The excursion is accomplished with a pleasant walk in the palace garden.
More About Palace:
The palace is one of the most important, largest monuments of Hungarian palace architecture. Its builder, Count Antal Grassalkovich I (1694–1771) was a typical figure of the regrouping Hungarian aristocracy of the 18th century. He was a Royal Septemvir, president of the Hungarian Chamber, and confidant of Empress Maria Theresa (1740–1780). The construction began around 1733, under the direction of András Mayerhoffer (1690–1771) a famous builder from Salzburg who worked in Baroque and Zopf style.
The palace has a double U shape and is surrounded by an enormous park. The building underwent several enlargements and modifications during the 18th century; its present shape was established in the time of the third generation of the Grassalkovich family. By then the building had 8 wings, and - besides the residential part - it contained a church, a theatre, a riding hall, a hothouse, a greenhouse for flowers, and an orangery.
After the male side of the Grassalkovich family died out in 1841, the palace had several owners, and in 1867 it was bought for the crown. The decision of parliament designated it the resting residence of the King of Hungary. This state lasted until 1918, thus Francis Joseph (1867–1916) and later Charles IV and the royal family spent several months in Gödöllő every year.
During this period the palace became the symbol of independent Hungarian statehood, and, as a residential center, it had a political significance of its own. It was Queen Elisabeth (1837–1898) who especially loved staying in Gödöllő, where the Hungarian personnel and neighborhood of the palace always warmly welcomed her. She was able to converse fluently in Hungarian. Following her tragic death, a memorial park adjoining the upper garden was built.
The period of the royal decades also brought their enlargements and modifications. The suites were made more comfortable, and a marble stable and coach house were built. The riding hall was remodeled.
