Since the theme for February is travel, we decided to explore the sights in the surrounding villages on one of the chilly Tuesdays. I had previously visited the Alcsút Arboretum with my family around this time of year, as this is when the Snowdrop Festival takes place. During this period, snowdrops bloom across the country—in gardens, doorways, and even beneath the bare trees. At the arboretum, you can witness the blooming of an extensive collection of various snowdrop species. As a good guide, let me share a bit about the history of the arboretum, which I found truly fascinating:
The Alcsút Arboretum is Hungary's most authentic English garden, its establishment in the 1820s is associated with Archduke Joseph. He was the Palatine of Hungary, the first Habsburg who settled in Hungary and acquired an estate, and his descendants are referred to as the Hungarian branch of the Habsburgs. The landscape garden of the Archduke's palace was among the finest in the entire empire due to its richness in rare plants. He was so eager about gardening that he was doing a great part of the garden maintanence and planning, he was even talking to visitors and showing them around, giving them insights about the species and the place itself.
The magnificent neoclassical palace of Archduke Joseph, who introduced 300 plant species to the region, is now only remembered by its pedimented main facade. The palace was designed by Mihály Pollack and was one of the largest neoclassical palaces in Hungary. The English garden was designed in collaboration with Károly Tost, the garden master of Schönbrunn. The chapel, which was originally built as part of the stable wing, still stands today. It was redesigned in a Neo-Romanesque style in 1880 by Ferenc Storno. The palm house in the park was built according to the plans of Miklós Ybl, although only its remnants remain. However, the old English garden structures, such as the Dollhouse, the Gloriette, and the Bear House, have survived intact.
It was a long and beautiful walk, I can only imagine how even more romantic it can look in other seasons as well. Definitely worth a visit!
Oh, and don’t forget to check out what is in your own surroundings and be a tourist in your neighboring areas too. You can never know, maybe there is a great adventure close to home!
Kata
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