Architects: SKARDELLI György, KELEMEN Bálint
The excavated and assembled elements of the carved stone gate vault proved to be the starting point for the design of the Lower Castle, which has become the reception area of the reconstructed castle complex on the top of the volcanic hill, surrounded by magnificent natural landscape.
Füzér Castle, built in the early 13th century, is one of the oldest castles in Hungary. It is located close to Füzér village, on the top of a volcanic hill. It had been in a ruined condition for centuries, restauration work started in the 1990s. Between 2014 and 2016, a large scale reconstruction took place, the chapel, residential quarters and lower bastion of the Upper Castle were renewed and the Lower Castle was rebuilt. Based on the results of archeological and historic research, the gate of the Lower Castle and the new castle walls, erected on reinforced medieval foundations, have been built by a reconstructive method. This way the Lower Castle has become the entrance for the Upper Castle again, the road leading up to it starts here. The visitors take a forest road from the village up to the Lower Castle gate, which has a working drawbridge. A Visitor Centre is located inside the walls, with ticket and information desk, a small exhibition and a toilet block. There is a battlement on the top of the wall, which is walkable. The visitors can pass over the gate, then through the gallery of the Visitor Centre and finally reach the Beamed Cellar, which is the starting point and exhibition area of the Rock Vegetation Visitor Path (designed by Radványi György DLA – Ulyssys Kft), which circles the hill and leads to the Upper Castle.
The building materials used, similarly to the medieval upper castle, are mainly locally quarried andesite stone and durable timber. The andesite has been used especially for the castle wall and the paving of the courtyard, larch and oak can be found as structural beams and furniture, both in the interior and outdoors. The roofing is made of double-nailed stone slates. In order to save the original castle wall, the longitudinal wall section is supported by a reinforced concrete beam located below ground level, mounted on micro-piles and anchored backwards. This way the original wall and foundations are in situ preserved, the upper wall sections have been rebuilt in the same place, on the original foundations. The carved stone elements of the double gate, briefly mentioned in a 17th century castle inventory, had been found almost completely in the scree of the dry moat and they were erected again after 333 years by Kovács István stone conservator. The imposing, semicircular stone frame has been rebuilt in the wall according to his academic research, using the original andesite pieces. The new, modern wing accommodates the up-to-date function of tourist reception. The natural building materials evoke an ambience similar to the historic Lower Castle: a reception area of the whole castle complex, a massive and characteristic deffensive point surrounded by amazing natural environment.
Location: Füzér Built: 2016 Architects: SKARDELLI György, KELEMEN Bálint Area: 270 m2
