kastély

A kastély is a Hungarian term for a large, stately residence built for nobility or royalty, typically serving as a country seat or palace rather than a fortress. It is distinct from vár, which denotes a fortified castle or fortress. While some buildings in the countryside originated from medieval fortified manor houses, the term usually refers to refined, non-military architecture from the Renaissance onward, especially Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles.

Historically, kastélys emerged as the homes of powerful landlords in peacetime regions of Hungary and Central Europe. In the 16th–19th centuries, many were rebuilt or newly constructed to emphasize comfort, ceremony, and landscape gardening, often with decorative interiors and extensive parkland.

Architectural features commonly include symmetrical façades, grand staircases, salons, libraries, decorative plasterwork, pilasters, and other elements signaling status rather than fortification. Interiors prioritize comfort, display, and cultural functions.

Today, many kastély are protected cultural monuments. They are used as museums, hotels, conference venues, schools, or government offices; others remain private residences or have fallen into ruin. Some are open to the public as cultural sites or host events.

In Hungarian usage, the term kastély denotes aristocratic country houses and palaces, while vár denotes a castle or fortress built for defense.