Kaštieľ v Betliari
Just 3 kilometers north of the village of Rožňava lies the picturesque village of Betliar, which proudly boasts a luxurious 17th-century noble residence. Kaštieľ Betliar was originally built as an advanced fortification of Hrad Krásna Hôrka. Did you know that Kaštieľ v Betliari is the only manor house in Slovakia that has been preserved with its original furnishings and collections after the end of World War II? All the exhibits that you can view in its interior once belonged to the Hungarian noble family of Andrássy. They were considered the most prominent aristocrats in Europe. In Slovakia, they were known thanks to four hundred years of ownership of Hrad Krásna Hôrka and Kaštieľ Betliar.
On the site of the original older Renaissance manor house, a truly luxurious residence was built between 1881 and 1886, which Count Emanuel I Andrássy had renovated. A member of the Hungarian Parliament and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, he was inspired by English country estates. His son Gejza I was responsible for further modernization, resulting in a lavish residence featuring electric lighting, central heating, 16 bathrooms, a magnificent library, and numerous apartments that were inhabited by the social elite during times of legendary hunts. The Andrássy family were passionate travelers, which was also reflected in the interior decoration. They filled the manor house with numerous valuable pieces of furniture, works of art, and extensive collections consisting of exotic objects, hunting trophies, and paintings by 19th-century realists.
The manor house served as the family residence until 1945. In the post-war period, it was nationalized, and today it houses a museum capturing the life of this prominent noble family. The exhibition of noble domestic culture from the 18th and 19th centuries was established and opened to the public after a complete reconstruction of the building in 1994. The museum exhibition is set up on the first and second floors and covers an area of 2,308 m². It consists of nearly 50 living rooms and several utility spaces, such as bathrooms, a wardrobe, and workspaces. Alongside exclusive pieces of furniture with tasteful textiles and upholstery, you can also view silver objects, utility porcelain, glass and ceramics, as well as oriental carpets and curtains. Ancient Egypt has long fascinated not only scientists and researchers but also passionate travelers, and it was no different in the case of the Andrássy family. The ground floor of the manor house is therefore dedicated to a unique collection of egyptological valuables. Perhaps the most attractive artifact is the mummy of the priest of the god Amun brought from the burial ground in Giza. Its age is estimated to be from the 12th century BC. Another rarity is the mummified body of an unknown Egyptian child and grave finds in the form of amulets and their fragments.
The Andrássy family were also passionate hunters. An Exhibition of Exotic Trophies has been established for this hobby combined with a fascination for exotic countries. Count Emanuel, who undertook an adventurous journey to India in 1849, is considered the founder of this unique collection. His footsteps were followed by his son Gejza I, who became famous as an exceptional hunter and an enthusiast of everything thrilling and dangerous. The exhibition contains specimens from Africa and Asia and is installed in the premises of the winter garden to evoke an engaging and adventurous atmosphere for visitors. Among the museum's greatest attractions is also the main library, founded in 1790 by Leopold Andrássy. At the time of its inception, it contained 565 books, mainly in the fields of history, medicine, physics, and philosophy. Today, it consists of more than 14,000 volumes of theological, philosophical, historical, and geographical works from the 15th to the 19th century, written in six different languages. The most valuable specimens are incunabula. The oldest is a medical book published in Venice in 1486. Your tour ends in a magnificent English park with a waterfall, a cave, and three fountains, which was inscribed in the list of historic gardens and parks of the world in 1977.
After an exhausting but all the more exciting tour of the manor house, take a walk to the nearby Hermes Well. Crown your nice day in a stylish room of a family guesthouse. However, if you are looking for more privacy, click on the accommodation in Betliar page, and the complete offer of accommodation near Kaštieľ Betliar will be displayed to you. You will find a variety of romantic cottages and stylish apartments there. Reserve the following days for exploring the beauties of Slovenské rudohorie and Volovské vrchy.
