Holloko, Hungary

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On approaching Hollóko the visitor will first of all see the ruins of the once proud castle high above the village. Built in the 13th/14th C and the scene of fierce battles during the wars with the Hussites and Turks, the castle was destroyed by the Habsburgs in 1701. From the round north bastion there is a beautiful panoramic view over the surrounding countryside.

The old center of Hollóko contains 54 houses, some of them under a protection order, which have survived almost unchanged since the Middle Ages in spite of a number of fires; some of these buildings are also rented out as tourist accommodation. The simple little church marks with a wooden tower the center of the village. Characteristic of these houses is the cellar with access from street level, its rough stone finish contrasting with the whitewashed walls of the front of the house, and also the pergola leading from the courtyard side and often extending all the way around the house. A narrow hipped roof covers the pergola on the gable side, and wooden railings and balconies are artistically carved - a Paloc specialty. Everyday objects and furnishings from years gone by are exhibited in three rooms in the little museum at Kossuth Lajos utca 82. The women's costumes are particularly beautiful; a number of short dresses are worn one on top of the other, then a blouse with very wide sleeves followed by a shawl. A wide black apron is worn to protect the dresses, and on the head sits a bonnet of several layers, decorated with pearls. In cold weather an embroidered fur jacket or waistcoat may also be worn.