Gúr called the region the ?hallway? to the famous Aggtelek Caves and said the renovated castle could draw visitors to the caves as well as equestrian tourists. The castle could also take on more functions, operating as a museum, an exhibition space, a cultural centre, a library and a place for weddings and concerts.
The government recently made the renovation of the castle a "priority" project, allowing faster access to funding and permits. The HUF 2.2 billion project involves both the exterior and interior of the castle. An additional HUF 139 million has been earmarked for landscaping along the river channels that surround the castle. The renovation is expected to start in the spring of 2009 and be completed in 2011.
The L'Huillier-Coburg Castle is one of Hungary's largest and most important baroque castles, rivalling even the Fertőd Castle, the renovation of which was also recently made a "priority" project by the government. The castle was constructed between 1716 and 1730 by János Ferenc L'Huillier, who was awarded the title of baron for his bravery in retaking the Buda Castle from the Turks.
The castle was designed by Giovanni Battista Carlone, the architect for the bishop of Eger. The palace is U-shaped, with a three-storey flat-roofed central wing, flanked by cylindrical towers at the corners, and two single-storey mansard-roofed side wings. Murals by Ferenc Lieb - who used Maria Theresa as his model for the female figures in the paintings - are found in seven of the rooms on the top floor of the castle.
During the 19th century, the castle was acquired by the Szász-Coburg-Gothai family, who allowed it to be used by the local court. In 1928, the castle was acquired by the Justice Ministry, which turned one of its wings into a prison. After WWII, the castle served as the local public prosecutor's office, accommodations and even a kindergarten.
The building was neglected for much of the 1990s. But in 2001, the National Office of Historic Monuments took over its management and made urgently needed repairs.
Source: Múlt-kor / Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
