Gödölloi Királyi Kastély (Royal Palace of Gödöllo)

Gödölloi Királyi Kastély (Royal Palace of Gödöllo) Review

This baroque mansion and former royal residence may not be quite the Hungarian Versailles, which is what it is sometimes called, extensive restoration early in the new millennium did restore some of the glitter it lost while being used as a barracks by Soviet troops after 1945. In particular, the royal quarters have come out looking positively royal anew. Built in 1735 by local nobleman Antal Grassalkovich I, the palace was bought by the Hungarian state in 1867 and given as a wedding present to Emperor Franz Josef I and his beautiful and charismatic wife Elizabeth (known as Sissi). Sissi's violet-colored rooms contain secret doors, which allowed her to avoid tiresome guests. For a rewarding half-day excursion here, go to the Örs Vezér tere—last stop on the red metro line, and take the HÉV suburban train to the Szabadság tere stop. The palace is across the street.