Miskolc - Diósgyor Castle

To the west of Miskolc town center lies the district of Diósgyor, the industrial quarter and site of the iron works, the giant machine tool factory and other large concerns. The state co-operative organizations such as the Cultural Centre and Uránia Observatory are also to be found here. However, the impressive castle ruins are Diósgyor's main attraction.

It was probably the invading Magyars who erected a fortress on the site of the present castle. This was destroyed by the Mongols in 1241. In 1271 Ban Ernye of Ákos had an oval-shaped stone castle built on this raised site. After it had passed into the possession of the throne in 1340, King Louis had the present castle built; modeled on those found in southern Italy, it is flanked by four towers and is protected by an outer ring of fortifications. After King Sigismund had given it to his queen to be used as a summer -residence it became the practice for each successive queen to reside there. In the second half of the 15th C, Queen Beatrix of Aragon, wife of King Matthias, furnished it in luxurious Early Renaissance style. All that remains of these furnishings is the Diósgyor Madonna, probably part of an altar from the castle chapel and the work of the Dalmatian artist Johannes Duknovich de Tragurio, who also carried out work in other royal palaces. In the 16th C there were several changes of ownership, and additional fortifications were added, such as the round bastion in the northeast and the pentagonal one in the northwest. During the 16th C the castle gradually fell into decay, and in 1678 it was blown up by Habsburg troops. During the 19th C the debris was used as building rubble. Since 1968 the outer foundations have again been uncovered and parts of the inner fortifications reconstructed.

As a result it is now possible to see the size of the great Knights' Hall in the north wing and the castle chapel in the east wing. Three of the four corner towers have been reconstructed, and in the southwest tower (where there is a viewing platform) the Late Gothic vaulting of the corner room has been rebuilt. Some of the stone-masonry and other castle finds are on display in the castle museum in the northeast bastion.

Open-air events are held in the castle courtyard during the summer months.