A Castle Built from Pure Love: The Extraordinary Bory-vár 🏰♥️

Our last trip from Székesfehérvár took us to a place that charmed me completely. Even before we went, the Czech TV show “Caravanning Through Hungary” had gotten me hooked on the Bory castle (Bory-vár). So we decided we simply had to see it with our own eyes. And you know what? The reality exceeded every expectation. 🙂

First glimpse of Bory-vár

If you’re not a fan of long hikes up steep hills, I have great news for you – this castle is easy to reach by car, with no strenuous climb waiting for you. It’s just a stone’s throw from the centre of Székesfehérvár (about 5 kilometres), so you’ll get there in a few minutes. We parked nearby completely free of charge, but as I always say, it’s best to check the parking options on their official website before you go. Parking rules can change. 🅿️

The entrance tower and the information board with a map of the grounds

No plan at all, just 40 years of pure love and DIY spirit

When we arrived at the castle, we paid the admission fee at the ticket office (4,000 HUF, which converts to under 270 CZK) and stepped into a completely different world. Since we came on a weekday, at first we practically had the whole castle to ourselves. It was only later that a bus full of other tourists showed up.

The story of this place reads like a romance novel. The Hungarian architect and sculptor Jenő Bory (1879–1959) built it out of pure love for his wife Ilona. And he built it alone, with only his friends to help, in his spare time – for an incredible 40 years! What’s fascinating is that the castle never had a fixed plan. Everything took shape gradually, ideas came as he went along, and the castle simply kept being built onto and expanded. Bory’s castle is the most famous landmark of Székesfehérvár, and it’s even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest structure ever built by a single person.

The story of the Bory family and a model of the entire castle grounds

Mr. Bory was also an incredible visionary. He was one of the first to use concrete for building and for sculpting alike. Yes, you read that right – those hundreds of gorgeous statues, columns, and fountains that look like ancient stone are actually works of art made of concrete. 🗿

Concrete statues and details decorated with coins and shells

A family secret hidden in the towers

The castle also doubles as a private museum, so you’ll find a huge number of beautiful artworks there. As you walk around, you’re sure to notice the two main towers. The tallest ones symbolise Mr. Bory himself and his beloved wife Ilona. Inseparable from them are three smaller domes, representing their three children – daughters Ilona and Klára, twins, and son György.

The two main towers and three domes symbolising the Bory family

This family spirit still lives on at the castle today. It’s not owned by the state – instead, it has a whole host of owners among the direct descendants of its founders, who lovingly care for it. So every part or corner of the castle belongs to someone different.

The courtyard and arcades that still belong to the Bory family's descendants

Details that will take your breath away, and doors wide open

What surprised me most was that we could really go in absolutely everywhere. You can climb to the tops of the towers, walk along the galleries, and explore the interior spaces too. Wherever you look, there are paintings hanging (his wife Ilona was a wonderful painter) and there must be countless statues. 🖼️

Staircases, stained glass, and vaulted corridors with a gallery of paintings by Ilona

Even on the building facades, you’ll find an incredible number of tiny details and works of art that you could easily miss on a quick visit. We spent a really long time here before we’d calmly seen everything. There are facilities on site of course, including toilets, and you’ll also find a small café. But we were so overwhelmed by all that beauty and absorbed in exploring that we completely forgot about coffee.